Best Recipe for Jeera Rice 2024

Recipe for Jeera Rice

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Almost as common as naan and equally satisfying, this Recipe for Jeera Rice is a delightful Indian restaurant-style dish. Fragrant basmati rice is flavored with cumin, cardamom, and green chilies for a lovely, long grain that pairs beautifully with any curry you like.

What is the Recipe for Jeera Rice?

What you know as Jeera is also known as cumin in Hindi. This is the story of how this well-known rice dish got its name! Whether you call it jeera rice or cumin rice, this is an aromatic rice dish that is lightly spiced with aromatic spices and has the earthy flavor of cumin.

Jeera rice is one of the most popular dishes in Indian restaurants; many people prefer the Recipe for Jeera Rice normal basmati with dal or curry. The tempering of cumin and aromatic whole spices takes the simple rice dish to a whole new level.

Making a Recipe for Jeera Rice is easy! It’s flavorful enough for prized guests, yet simple enough for a weeknight cookout. Learn how to make this traditional Indian side dish in no time—your everyday meals will thank you!

About Recipe for Jeera Rice

This recipe for Jeera Rice tastes like it came from your favorite restaurant. It is mildly spicy, and aromatic, and tastes very good with the earthy flavor of cumin and the heat of the whole spices.

This method involves cooking rice grains with whole spices to enhance the flavor profile. Then a dash of ground cumin seeds and green chilies are added to the cooked rice. This method of making cumin rice is used in most restaurants.

Optionally, the rice can be cooked with a few strands of saffron to add color and a warm flavor.

This method is also valuable when you have excess cooked rice that you want to use for garnishing. If using leftover cooked rice, scale the ingredients accordingly depending on the amount of rice.

How to Make Recipe for Jeera Rice

Cook the Rice

1. Rinse 1 cup of basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear of starch. Soak the rice in enough water to cover the grains for 20 to 30 minutes. Then, drain all the water and set the soaked rice aside.
2. Boil 4 cups of water until it is hot. Add all the spices listed below:

1 Tej patta (Indian bay leaf)
2 green cardamoms
1 black cardamom
½ inch cinnamon
2 cloves
Mace: 1 to 2 single strands

Whole spices in water to make a Recipe for Jeera Rice

1. Add the soaked rice and 1 teaspoon of salt, or add more salt to your taste. Cover the rice on low heat.

Also, test the taste of the water; it should taste a little salty.

Rice is added to fragrant water

1. Cook the rice grains until they are tender but still separate.

Simmering Rice for Recipe for Jeera Rice

1. Behold the texture of the cooked rice grains as depicted in the figure below. I usually cook it a little softer than what is served in restaurants.

This is because if there is even a bit of bite in the grain of rice, it causes indigestion.

1. After cooking the rice, use a colander or strainer to drain the water. Then, set the rice aside to cool until it’s warm or reaches room temperature.

You have the option to rinse the rice with room temperature water if desired, as this will halt the cooking process and prevent the grains from sticking together.

Washing with water reduces the hot temperature of the rice and cools the rice quickly. Before adding the tempered mixture to the rice, ensure that the rice is at room temperature.

Temper Recipe for Jeera Rice

1. When the rice grains are warm or completely cooled, we can start with tempering.

Note that folding the tempered mixture into hot rice can cause the delicate grains to break.

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil or 1.5 tablespoons of ghee in a small pan over medium-low or medium heat. Add 2 teaspoons of cumin.

Cumin Rice Recipe

1. Let them crackle. They should be roasted well; otherwise, you will taste uncooked cumin in the rice.

Recipe for Jeera Rice for Cumin Rice

1. Add half a teaspoon of chopped green chilies. Stir for a few seconds. There is no need to brown the peppers.

You can skip adding green chilies if you want.

1. Add the tempering to the rice.

Recipe for Jeera Rice

1. With a fork, delicately combine the seasoning with the rice grains. A few broken rice pieces are acceptable. Be cautious not to crush the rice grains.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of chopped coriander leaves and mix or garnish gently with coriander while serving.

Variations of Recipe for Jeera Rice

While the traditional Recipe for Jeera Rice is delightful on its own, there are several variations you can try to enhance its flavor and presentation.

1. Recipe for Jeera Rice with Peas
   Add a handful of green peas while cooking the rice for a pop of color and added nutrition. The sweetness of peas complements the cumin flavor beautifully.
2. Recipe for Jeera Rice with Nuts and Raisins
   For a festive touch, include cashews, almonds, or raisins in your Jeera Rice. Sauté the nuts and raisins in ghee before adding the rice for a deliciously rich flavor.
3. Recipe for Jeera Rice with Spices Elevate the flavor by adding whole spices such as cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon to the cooking water. This will infuse the rice with aromatic flavors, making it even more enticing.
4. Recipe for Jeera Rice with Vegetables
   For a wholesome meal, incorporate vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, and beans into the Jeera Rice. This variation adds texture, color, and essential nutrients to the dish.

Serve cumin rice with a gravy dish like paneer makhan masala, curry mushrooms, or even any dal like chana dal or dal palak.

Jeera can be served with bhat dal (lentil), North Indian curries, and gravy dishes. Enjoy!

Simple cumin rice garnished with fresh coriander leaves in a brown and silver bowl

Expert Tips

1. Basmati Rice Quality

   – To get perfectly fluffy, non-sticky jeera rice or pulao, you need high-quality basmati rice. Each grain should expand and fluff after cooking and still remain separate. Aged basmati rice works very well for this purpose, or you can opt for parboiled basmati rice (sela basmati chawal), which also yields excellent results.

2. Soaking the Rice

   – As a practice, you should soak the rice for a minimum of 20 minutes to a maximum of 30 minutes. Soaking the rice is essential to ensure the grains expand and cook evenly. Soaked rice grains require less water to cook, which also reduces cooking time.

3. Rinsing the Rice

   – I suggest you make it a habit to wash your rice before cooking. Washing removes some of the starch from the grains, which prevents them from sticking after cooking.

4. Rice-to-Water Ratio

   – The rice-to-water ratio always depends on the quality of rice used. Generally, I have found that cooking organic basmati rice requires more water than regular basmati rice.

   • 1:2 Rice soaked in water in a pot on the stove.
   • 1:2-2.5 Rice soaked in water in a pot on the stove.
   • The rice-to-water ratio in a pressure cooker: is 1:1.5 or 1.75.

5. Stirring the Rice

   – If you need to stir the rice grains while cooking, be sure to use a fork, not a spoon. A spoon will break up more grains than a fork. Also, keep stirring to a minimum to prevent breakage as much as possible.

6. Roast Cumin Seeds (Jeera) and Spices

   – The cumin seeds and whole spices should crackle and become fragrant before you proceed further. “To achieve the right level of browning and crispiness the oil/ghee should be medium-hot when you add the spices.

“As soon as” you add the spices, they will crack and release their essential oils. At this point, work quickly to move on to the next step of the recipe. Also, remember not to burn the spices.

1. My Secret Ingredient

   – One spice that I never miss adding The addition of mace (javitri) enhances the flavor of my cumin rice. Mace gives a unique flavor and aroma, so don’t forget to add this aromatic spice.

Since mace is quite strong, use it sparingly; just one or two strands are enough for a cup of raw rice.

Is Recipe for Jeera Rice Healthy?

While I always recommend that you talk to a certified professional about your nutritional needs, the short answer is: Yes! Basmati— that beautifully fragrant, long-grain rice— is lower on the glycemic index than other types of white rice. Each serving contains about 5 grams of protein.

What Goes with Cumin Rice?
This cumin-scented rice is a natural pairing for any Indian staple you can think of! It goes particularly well with dal (a lentil-based dish) and curries. Any leftovers would be great for making fried rice!

1. Materials
   

   For Cooking Rice

   
   ▢ 1 cup basmati rice
   ▢ 4 cups of water
   ▢ 1 tej patta (Indian bay leaf)
   ▢ 2 green cardamoms
   ▢ 1 black cardamom
   ▢ ½ inch cinnamon
   ▢ 2 cloves 1 to 2 single maces
   ▢ 1 tsp salt or as required

Cook Mode
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Instructions

Cook Rice

Wash basmati rice until the water runs clear of starch. Soak the rice for 20 to 30 minutes, and then drain all the water. Keep it aside.
Heat 4 cups of water until boiling. Add whole spices. Add the rice and salt. Cover and cook the rice on low heat. The rice grains should be cooked until they become mushy and then set aside. Drain the water and keep the cooked rice aside.
You can also rinse the rice with room-temperature water if you want. This stops the rice from cooking and separates the grains.
Washing with water lowers the hot temperature of the rice and cools the rice grains faster.

Make sure the cooked rice is hot or at room temperature before proceeding to the next step. Adding the tempering mixture to the hot rice will break the tender rice grains.

Making Cumin Rice

Heat oil in a small pan. Add cumin seeds. Let them crackle. They should be roasted well; otherwise, you will taste uncooked cumin in the rice.
Add green chilies. Stir for a few seconds. There is no need to brown the peppers.
Add the tempering to hot or steamed rice.

With a fork, gently mix the tempering with the rice grains. Even if some rice grains are broken, it is okay. Be careful not to break the rice grains.
Add coriander and gently mix the rice with coriander while serving or garnish.
Serve cumin rice hot with your choice of dal or vegetable/cheese curry.

Note
If using leftover rice, you will need about 3 cups of cooked rice to use the same ratio of ingredients as mentioned in the recipe.

Use aged basmati rice for the best results. Even parboiled basmati rice (sella basmati rice) works well. Soak basmati rice for about an hour before cooking.
For a more aromatic Recipe for Jeera Rice, mix cumin and spices with ghee instead of oil.
Garnish cumin rice with mint leaves instead of cilantro.

Serving Suggestions for Recipe for Jeera Rice

Jeera rice complements a variety of Indian dishes beautifully. Enhance your meal with these serving suggestions:

1. Pair with Curries
   Jeera rice complements rich and flavorful curries like:
2. Paneer Butter Masala: A creamy paneer dish that pairs well with aromatic rice.

• Chana Masala: A spicy chickpea curry that balances the mild flavor of jeera rice.
• Chicken Curry: The rice acts as a perfect base for a hearty chicken curry.
• Serve with Raita
  Raita, a yogurt-based side dish, is a refreshing accompaniment to jeera rice. The coolness of the raita balances the spices in the rice and curry. Try serving it with:
• Cucumber Raita: Enjoy grated cucumber mixed with yogurt and spices, a flavorful blend of mint leaves, yogurt, and spices.
• Enjoy with Lentils
  Lentil dishes like dal or sambhar make a nutritious and wholesome meal when paired with jeera rice. Some delicious options include:
• Dal Tadka: Yellow lentils tempered with spices and herbs.
• Sambhar: A spicy lentil soup with vegetables.

• Incorporate into Pulao

• Jeera rice can also be transformed into a flavorful pulao by adding vegetables and spices. Simply sauté vegetables like peas, carrots, and beans in ghee, then mix them with the cooked jeera rice for a delicious one-pot meal.

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                    Nutrition Facts

                    (Approximate Values)

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Nutritional Information: Cumin Rice (Restaurant Style)

Amount per serving:

• Calories: 241
• Calories from fat: 72

% Daily Value*

• Total Fat: 8g (12%)
  • Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)
  • Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g
  • Monounsaturated Fat: 6g
• Sodium: 602mg (26%)
• Potassium: 91mg (3%)
• Total Carbohydrates: 39g (13%)
  • Dietary Fiber: 1g (4%)
  • Sugars: 0.1g (0%)
• Protein: 4g (8%)

Vitamins and Minerals:

• Vitamin A: 24IU (0%)
• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): 0.04mg (3%)
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 0.03mg (2%)
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 1mg (5%)
• Vitamin B6: 0.1mg (5%)
• Vitamin C: 1mg (1%)
• Vitamin E: 3mg (20%)
• Vitamin K: 1µg (1%)
• Calcium: 38mg (4%)
• Vitamin B9 (Folate): 4µg (1%)
• Iron: 1mg (6%)
• Magnesium: 22mg (6%)
• Phosphorus: 61mg (6%)
• Zinc: 1mg (7%)

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*Percent Daily Value is based on a 2,000-calorie diet.