JEERA RICE


JEERA RICE

Jeera Rice is basically rice flavored with cumin and lightly spiced with whole garam masala. Goes very well with some north indian curries & dals like punjabi dum aloo, methi mushroom, mah ki dal, punjabi kadhi pakora, panchmel dal and gujarati kadhi.

PREPARE TIME

30 mins

COOK TIME

20 mins

TOTAL TIME

50 mins

INGREDIENTS

FOR COOKING THE RICE:

  • 1.5 cup basmati rice
  • 5 cups water
  • 1 indian bay leaf/tej patta
  • 2 green cardamom//hari elaichi/choti elaichi
  • 1 black cardamom/badi elaichi
  • ½ inch cinnamon/dalchini
  • 2 cloves/lavang
  • 1 to 2 strands of mace/javitri
  • 1 tsp salt or as required

TEMPERING THE RICE:

  • 2 tbsp oil or 1.5 tbsp ghee
  • 2 tsp cumin seeds/jeera
  • 1 green chilli/hari mirch, chopped, optional
  • 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves/dhania patta

HERBS AND SPICES FOR THE ASSEMBLING:

  • ½ cup chopped coriander/cilantro leaves/dhania patta
  • ½ cup mint leaves/pudina patta
  • 100 gms whisked yogurt/curd/dahi
  • Few saffron/kesar, strands
  • 1 tbsp milk

 INSTRUCTIONS

  • Rinse basmati rice till the water runs clear of starch. soak the rice for 30 mins and then drain them. keep aside.
  • Heat 5 cups water. add all the whole spices. add rice and salt. simmer the rice on a low flame uncovered.
  • The rice grains should be cooked till tender and yet separate. drain the water and keep the cooked rice aside.
  • If you want you can rinse also the rice with water at room temperature. this stops the cooking of the rice and keeps the grains separate.
  • Heat oil in a small pan. add cumin/jeera.
  • Let them crackle. they have to be fried well otherwise you will taste uncooked cumin in the rice.
  • Add the green chilies. stir for a few seconds. no need to brown the chilies.
  • Add the tempering to the hot or warm rice.
  • With a fork, gently mix the tempering with the rice grains. even if some rice grains break, its alright. do gently taking care so as not to break the rice grains.
  • Add coriander and gently mix or garnish jeera rice with coriander at the time of serving.
  • Serve jeera rice hot or warm with a dal or vegetable/paneer curry of your choice.