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    Home » Easy Rice Dishes For Dinner

    Nov 9, 2022 by Emily · Leave a Comment

    Jeera Rice

    Jump to recipe card

    Fluffy, soft, and simple jeera rice. An easy one pot dish packed full of flavor.

    Jeera rice on a black plate with curry in a bowl on the side.
    Jump to:
    • A Bit About Jeera
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Cost To Make
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Tips for Success
    • Storage
    • FAQ
    • More Mains Recipes
    • Recipe

    Jeera rice is also known as cumin rice. It is a dish originating from India. It’s fragrant, slightly spicy, fluffy, and so easy to make.

    Jeera rice is perfect for lunch or dinner, or even to bring in a lunch box.

    This jeera rice recipe can be made with a handful of ingredients, most of which you may already have in your pantry.

    The spices in this rice are perfectly balanced by the plain basmati rice.

    This means the spices are not overpowering, creating a delicious dish. Jeera rice can be eaten on its own or served with curry or dal.

    This recipe for making jeera rice is for the stovetop.

    A Bit About Jeera

    The word jeera translates to cumin from the Indian language. It is the main ingredient in this easy rice recipe, hence the name, Jeera (or cumin) rice.

    Cumin typically comes in seed form or ground into a powder. It is a spice.

    Cumin seeds in a wooden scoop.

    When used in cooking, it gives a earthy and warm flavor to the dish. It’s great to use in curries, soups, stews, and even meat dishes.

    Cumin seeds come from the herb Cuminum Cyminum, which is a plant from the parsley family.

    By using cumin in rice, it adds both texture and flavor. It also adds a pop of color to the rice.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • This cumin rice recipe is a one pot dish that is quick and easy to make.
    • Most of the ingredients needed for this jeera rice recipe you may already have in your pantry.
    • Perfect to eat on its own or as a side dish.
    • Jeera rice is great for lunch or dinner.
    • This jeera rice recipe is gluten free.

    Cost To Make

    Estimated cost = $3.15, or $0.79 a serve

    Ingredients

    Please note that below is a guide for some of the ingredients we used in the recipe. The printable recipe further down the page has the complete list of ingredients, including quantities and step-by-step instructions.

    Ingredients for jeera rice.
    • Butter or ghee
    • Bay Leaf
    • Green Cardamom Pods
    • Cinnamon stick
    • Cloves
    • Ground Nutmeg
    • Cumin seeds (jeera seeds)
    • Green or red chilli: If you want your rice to be less hot in terms of spice, deseed your chilli.
    • Basmati Rice: Soak your basmati rice for at least 20 minutes before you cook it. By soaking the rice before cooking, it makes the rice soft and fluffy.
    • Water
    • Salt

    Instructions

    Step One: In a small bowl, rinse the rice until the water runs clear. Then soak the rice in water for at least 20 minutes. Completely drain the rice after soaking. Set aside.

    Step Two: In a medium sized pot, heat the butter over low to medium heat. Sauté the bay leaf, cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg for 2 to 3 minutes.

    Step Three: Add the cumin seeds, and chili until they begin to sizzle. This may take 2 to 3 minutes.

    Step Four: Place soaked and drained rice in the pot and fry for 3 to 4 minutes.

    Mixing rice and spices in a saucepan for jeera rice.

    Step Five: Add water and salt. Stir until combined. Taste for salt, if you find it lacking, you can add more now.

    Step Six: Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Once boiled, reduce the temperature to low and cover. Cook simmering for 25 minutes.

    Step Seven: Turn off heat and rest rice covered for 10 minutes. By allowing the rice to rest, it keeps cooking even off the heat. 

    Step Eight: Fluff the rice with a fork or spoon. Remove spices. Garnish with coriander leaves or parsley if desired and serve.

    Tips for Success

    It is important to soak your rice. This will make your cooked rice fluffy and soft. If you don’t soak your rice, you could end up with gritty and hard rice.

    Close up image of jeera rice on a black plate.

    Storage

    Store any leftover jeera rice in an air tight container in the fridge for 1 to 2 days. One way you can reheat your jeera rice is by using the microwave.

    FAQ

    Is jeera rice gluten free?

    Yes, this recipe for jeera rice is gluten free.

    Cumin rice in a black plate.

    Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below! We'd love to hear how it turned out.

    More Mains Recipes

    • Singapore Fried Rice
    • Pad Mee
    • Vietnamese Egg Omelette
    • Crispy Rice Paper Rolls
    • Korean Rice Balls
    • Purple Korean Rice

    Recipe

    Close up image of cumin rice with spices and chili.

    Jeera Rice

    Fluffy, soft, and simple jeera rice. An easy one pot dish packed full of flavor. Great for an easy weeknight dinner or lunch.
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Rest and Soaking Time 30 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
    ESTIMATED COST : $3.15, or $0.79 a serve
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 4 serves
    Calories 311 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoons (35 grams, 1.25 ounces) butter or ghee
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 3 green cardamom pods
    • 1 to 2 inch (2.54 cm to 5.08 cm) cinnamon stick
    • 3 cloves
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 1 ½ teaspoons cumin seeds (jeera)
    • 1 green or red chili slit and deseeded, chopped fine, optional
    • 1 cup (200 grams, 7.05 ounces) basmati rice
    • 1 ½ cups water
    • ¾ teaspoon salt or to taste

    Instructions
     

    • In a small bowl, rinse and then soak the rice in water for at least 20 minutes. Completely drain the rice after soaking. Set aside.
    • In a medium sized pot, heat the butter over low to medium heat. Saute the bay leaf, cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg for 2 to 3 minutes.
    • Add the cumin seeds, and chili until they begin to sizzle. This may take 2 to 3 minutes.
    • Place soaked and drained rice in the pot and fry for 3 to 4 minutes.
    • Add water and salt. Stir until combined. Taste for salt, if you find it lacking, you can add more now.
    • Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Once boiled, reduce the temperature to low and cover. Cook simmering for 25 minutes.
    • Turn off heat and rest rice covered for 10 minutes.
    • Fluff the rice with a fork or spoon. Remove spices. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves or parsley if desired and serve.

    Notes

    • It is important to soak your rice. This will make your cooked rice fluffy and soft. If you don’t soak your rice, you could end up with gritty and hard rice.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 serveCalories: 311kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 5gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 570mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 10gSugar: 1g
    Nutrition Disclosure
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it went!

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    Hi, I'm Emily! There's much more to rice than just cooking it on the stove. It's so versatile and you can create so many beautiful dishes with it. From puddings and desserts to main meals and even finger foods. There is something for everyone!

    More about me →

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