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Jeera Rice

Jeera rice is a flavorful Indian dish made with basmati rice and cumin seeds. It’s lightly spiced and often served with curries and dals, making it a simple yet aromatic side dish.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Rice
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4 People
Calories 280 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Cup Basmati rice (200 grams)
  • 1½ Cup Water (for cooking rice)
  • 2 tablespoon Ghee or oil
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds (jeera)
  • 2-3 Cloves
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 1 Small cinnamon stick (1-inch)
  • 1-2 Green cardamom pods
  • 1 teaspoon Salt (or to taste)
  • 2 tablespoon Fresh coriander leaves (chopped, optional)
  • 1 Small green chili (optional for added spice)

Instructions
 

Preparing the Rice

  • Rinse the rice thoroughly to remove excess starch.
  • Soak the rice for about 30 minutes if you want fluffier grains.

Tempering the Cumin

  • Heat oil or ghee in a pan.
  • Add cumin seeds and let them crackle, releasing their aroma.

Adding Aromatics

  • Optionally, add whole spices like bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, or cardamom.
  • Sauté briefly to release their flavors.

Cooking the Rice

  • Add the soaked and drained rice to the pan.
  • Lightly sauté to coat the rice with the flavored oil.
  • Add water (1:2 ratio of rice to water) and adjust for your rice variety or altitude.

Cooking and Resting

  • Bring the rice to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
  • Let it cook on low heat, then allow the rice to rest for a few minutes. This ensures fluffy rice.

Garnishing

  • Garnish with fresh cilantro, mint, or a squeeze of lime juice.
  • This adds freshness and enhances both flavor and presentation.

Notes

Tips for Perfect Jeera Rice 

1. Rest Before Serving: Let rice rest for a few minutes to firm up and absorb flavors.
2. Use Ghee for Authentic Flavor: Ghee adds richness and aroma that oil can’t match, giving your rice an authentic taste.
3. Water-to-Rice Ratio: Stick to 1 cup rice to 2 cups water for fluffy rice, but adjust based on rice type and soaking.
4. Soak Rice: Soak rice for 30 minutes to prevent breaking and ensure even cooking.
5. Cook on Low Heat: After boiling, reduce heat to low and cook in steam to avoid mushy rice.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Jeera Rice
Amount per Serving
Calories
280
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
10
g
15
%
Saturated Fat
 
5
g
31
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
4
g
Cholesterol
 
15
mg
5
%
Sodium
 
200
mg
9
%
Potassium
 
150
mg
4
%
Carbohydrates
 
45
g
15
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Protein
 
5
g
10
%
Vitamin A
 
5
IU
0
%
Vitamin B1
 
0.1
mg
7
%
Vitamin B2
 
0.02
mg
1
%
Vitamin B3
 
1.5
mg
8
%
Vitamin B5
 
0.5
mg
5
%
Vitamin B6
 
0.1
mg
5
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Vitamin E
 
0.2
mg
1
%
Vitamin K
 
0.5
µg
0
%
Calcium
 
10
mg
1
%
Iron
 
1.5
mg
8
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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