Jeera Rice

Jeera  Rice can be served in lots of different ways and my favourite is with a curry especially this Cannellini beans curry.  Plain rice is something we tend to make regularly but when we want to serve something special, we tend to cook biryani, saffron rice  or Jeera Rice.  Jeera rice gives rice a lovely fragrance and is easy to make if you are using basmati rice.

Jump to Recipe

Recently, Nayna Kanabar  and I cooked Jeera rice and alu chole  on Instagram live.  A few months ago I would not have thought that this was possible!!  We had great fun and amazingly the rice turned out great. You can just about make out both our dishes on the screen shot below:

What is jeera rice:  Jeera rice is rice with cumin seeds.  tempering the cumin seeds in oil before adding the basmati rice, gives the rice a lovely fragrance.

Recipe for Jeera rice for 2 large servings:

Ingredients

  • 1 cup basmati rice (get a good quality basmati rice)1 tsp salt
  • Pinch of turmeric
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
  • 1 tbls cooking oil
  • 1 tblbutter (optional)
  • 3-4 cashews for garnishing (optional).

Method:

1. Wash the rice and soak for  at least 30 minutes or more

2. Heat the oil in a saucepan or wok with a tight fitting lid.  When the oil gets hot add the cumin seeds.  Once they go brown, drain the rice and add it to the hot oil.

3. Stir the rice to ensure the rice grains are covered in oil . Add the butter, salt turmeric and 2 cups water and bring the rice to boil.

4.  Once you see it boiling, cover the pan and lower the heat.  Cook for 10 mins and do resist the temptation to open the lid.  After 10 minutes switch off the heat and check the rice

6. Garnish the rice with cashews and serve with any curry.

 

Print

Jeera Rice

Jeera rice gives rice a lovely fragrance and is easy to make if you are using basmati rice.
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4
Author Mina Joshi

Ingredients

  • 1 cup basmati rice (get a good quality basmati rice)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Pinch of turmeric
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
  • 1 tbls cooking oil
  • 1 tbl butter (optional)
  • 3-4 cashews for garnishing (optional)

Instructions

  • Wash the rice and soak for  at least 30 minutes or more
  • Heat the oil in a saucepan or wok with a tight fitting lid.  When the oil gets hot add the cumin seeds.  Once they go brown, drain the rice and add it to the hot oil.
  • Stir the rice to ensure the rice grains are covered in oil . Add the butter, salt turmeric and 2 cups water and bring the rice to boil.
  • Once you see it boiling, cover the pan and lower the heat.  Cook for 10 mins and do resist the temptation to open the lid.  After 10 minutes switch off the heat and check the rice
  • Garnish the rice with cashews and serve with any curry.

How do you like your rice?

If  you have a hunger for Authentic Vegetarian Food then subscribe to my blog and receive delectable recipes and new Innovative foodie updates! Hungry for more Vegetarian Tips ? LIKE us on facebook,  Follow us on Twitter,  Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/GiveMeSomeSpice/and Instagram.  All the recipes are with step by step instructions and photographs and all of them have been tried, tested, easy to cook and delicious.

If you are interested in one to one or group cookery lessons, or any corporate team building events  – email me on givemesomespice@gmail.com for more information.  

Mina Joshi

I am a busy working mum who aims to make quick and healthy authentic vegetarian and vegan dishes for my family. I am also a face to face and online cookery teacher, recipe developer, restaurant and product reviewer. I share all recipes with step by step instructions.

Disqus Comments Loading...

Recent Posts

How Is Everyone’s Veganuary Going?

Everyone must be asking you by now about your veganuary journey. So how is it going? By now, some of…

19 January 2026

What People Are Afraid Of When Cooking Indian Food

When I ask this question in my cookery classes, people often laugh first — and then admit their worries. I…

15 January 2026

Why My Focus Has Shifted from Blogging to Teaching

From 2010, Give Me Some Spice was all about blogging; creating recipes, styling food, taking photos, and sharing them online.…

7 January 2026

Veganuary Made Easy: My Top Vegan Recipes

First of all, well done to everyone taking part in Veganuary — you’re doing great.  If you’re finding it a…

6 January 2026

Year 2025 Roundup

In case you’re wondering, I’m still around — my focus has simply shifted from blogging to teaching. Sharing knowledge and…

31 December 2025

3 Drinks That Taste Deliciously Boozy But Have Zero Alcohol Content

The way we interact with alcohol has changed substantially in the last decade. Many responsible drinkers like the occasional glass,…

26 March 2025