Jeera Rice (Cumin Rice)

Jeera Rice (Cumin Rice)

Jeera rice is a simple rice dish flavored with cumin seeds. Jeera Rice or Cumin Rice makes a delicious side dish that can be served with any kind of gravy meal and makes it festive.

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Course rice

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  

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• 1 cup rice I preferred basmati rice
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
• 4 whole dried red chili (sabut lal mirch)
• 1 inch piece of cinnamon stick (dal chini)
• 2 cardamoms crushed (Malachi)
• 2 bay leaves (tajpat)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup cilantro chopped (hara dhania)
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons ghee clarified butter for garnishing

Instructions

 

• Wash the rice gently and soak it in lukewarm water for about 15 minutes. Drain the water and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a saucepan moderately. Oil is the right temperature when one cumin seed drops into the oil cracks immediately.
• Add the cumin seeds. When they crack, add all the spices red chili, cinnamon, bay leaves, and cardamom, and stir for a few seconds.
• Add the rice. Stir-fry one minute.
• Bring the water and salt to a boil, and turn the heat to low. Cover the pan.
• Cook for 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water has evaporated. Turn off the heat add cilantro and fluff the rice. Jeera rice is ready, serve hot.
• Garnish the rice with ghee but this is optional. Jeera rice is very aromatic and delicious. This can enhance any meal.

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Master Art of Jeera Rice: A Guide to Indian Cumin Rice Recipe 

Jeera rice is commonly served as a side dish in Indian cuisine and pairs well with a variety of main courses. It is often served alongside dishes such as Toor Dal, Kala Chana, Palak Kadhi, Urad Dal Tadka, Dal Tadka, Aam ki Dal  Vegetable curries, or paneer dishes. The mild and aromatic flavor of jeera rice complements the rich and spicy flavors of these dishes, making it a popular choice to balance out the meal. 

Additionally, jeera rice can also be enjoyed on its own with a dollop of yogurt or raita for a simple and satisfying meal. Overall, jeera rice is a versatile and delicious dish that adds a fragrant and flavorful touch to any Indian meal.

1. Preparing the Rice: Washing and Soaking 

To start this flavorful jeera rice recipe, gently wash the rice and then soak it in lukewarm water for approximately 15 minutes. This step helps to ensure that the rice grains absorb enough water, resulting in a perfectly cooked and fluffy texture. After soaking, drain the water from the rice and set it aside, ready for the next stage of preparation.

2. Heating the Oil: Ensuring the Right Temperature

In a saucepan, heat the oil to the right temperature. You’ll know the oil is ready when a cumin seed dropped into it crackles immediately, indicating that it’s at the perfect temperature for cooking. This ensures that the jeera rice will be infused with the rich flavors of the spices and cumin seeds.

3. Tempering the Spices: Infusing Flavor

Once you’ve completed the crucial step of tempering the spices in your jeera rice preparation, it’s time to introduce the rice to the flavorful mixture. Adding the rice to the saucepan after the spices have been tempered ensures that it absorbs the rich aromas and flavors, resulting in a truly delicious jeera rice recipe.

4. Adding the Rice: Stir-Frying for Flavor

As you add the rice to the saucepan, begin stir-frying it for about a minute. This process allows the rice grains to come into contact with the aromatic spices and oil, enabling them to absorb the flavors deeply. Stir-frying the rice ensures that each grain is coated with a flavorful mixture, thereby enhancing its taste and aroma.

5. Cooking the Rice: Simmering to Perfection

Once the rice is stir-fried, bring the water and salt to a boil in the saucepan. Then, reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. Allow the rice to cook undisturbed for about 15 minutes, or until it is tender and the water has evaporated. This gentle simmering process ensures that the jeera rice cooks evenly and achieves the desired fluffy texture.

6. Finishing Touches: Adding Freshness

After the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and add freshly chopped cilantro. Gently fluff the rice with a fork to incorporate the cilantro and distribute the flavors evenly. This final step adds a burst of freshness to the jeera rice, enhancing its aroma and visual appeal. Your delicious Indian cumin rice is now ready to be served and enjoyed as a flavorful side dish or accompaniment to your favorite curry.

If you loved our recipe of jeera rice then you must also check out other variants of Rice: Vegetable Biryani, Masala Khichdi, chole biryani, Quinoa Vegetable Pilaf, and Lemon Rice.