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    Whisk Affair » Recipes » Rice » Tahri (Tehri, UP Style Spiced Vegetable Rice)

    Published: Jan 30, 2022 | Last Updated On: Dec 31, 2022 by Neha Mathur

    Tahri (Tehri, UP Style Spiced Vegetable Rice)

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    Jump to Recipe

    Tahri (Tehri) is UP-style spiced vegetable rice. This one-pot meal comes together using a few simple ingredients (vegetarian).

    Here are some more rice recipes that you may like – Hariyali Pulao, Peas Pulao, Basanti Pulao, Shrimp Pulao, Chicken Pulao, Veg Pulao, Paneer Pulao, Mumbai Style Tawa Pulao, and Gucchi Pulao.

    Tahri served in a bowl.
    Jump to:
    • About Tahri (Tehri)
    • Ingredients
    • How To Make Tahri
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage Suggestions
    • You Might Also Like
    • Recipe Card

    About Tahri (Tehri)

    Tahri (Tehri or Tahari) is an easy and comforting one-pot meal from Uttar Pradesh (Awadhi cuisine) made using rice, vegetables, and basic spices.

    It is made mostly in winter when fresh green peas and cauliflower are in season. Aloo Matar Gobhi ki Tahri is also a treat made for the festival of Sankranti.

    It comes together using a few simple ingredients.

    You can make tahri in a traditional pressure cooker, an instant pot, or in a pot over the stovetop.

    I am sharing all the 3 methods in the post below.

    This tahri recipe serves 6 people but you can scale it up or down as per your requirements.

    Ingredients

    Tahri ingredients 1
    Tahri ingredients 2
    Tahri ingredients 3

    Rice – I prefer using long-grain basmati rice to make Tahri as the grains are fluffy and separate post-cooking. It is very flavorful too.

    Having said that, you can use any white rice that you have.

    Vegetables – Traditionally, green peas, cauliflower, and potatoes are used to make Tahri but feel free to add any vegetables of your choice. Green beans, carrots, broccoli, etc are some options.

    Sometimes the cauliflower has tiny insects hidden inside the florets. To get rid of any, I like to blanch my cauliflower before using them in any recipe.

    Spice Powders – Spice up the tahri with basic everyday spice powders such as coriander powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and garam masala powder.

    Others – You will also need vegetable oil, ghee, asafetida (hing), cumin seeds, cloves, whole black peppercorns, whole black cardamoms, onions, and fresh tomatoes.

    Avoid adding hing (asafetida) to make gluten-free tahri.

    To make vegan tahri, replace ghee with oil. You can use vegetable oil, canola oil, mustard oil, sesame oil, or any cooking oil of your choice.

    You can also add a teaspoon of rose water or a few drops of kewra essence to this recipe.

    How To Make Tahri

    Rinse 2 cups of long-grain basmati rice with water 2-3 times until the water runs clear.

    Soak it in 4 cups of water for 30 minutes.

    Rice soaked in water.

    Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon ghee in a pressure cooker over medium-high heat.

    Oila nd ghee heating in a pressure cooker.

    When the oil is hot, add ¼ teaspoon asafetida (hing), and 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and saute for 3-4 seconds.

    Cumin and asafetida added to the cooker.

    Add 3-4 cloves, 4-6 whole black peppercorns, and 2 black cardamoms, and saute for 4-5 seconds.

    Whole spices added to the cooker.

    Add 1 cup chopped onions and fry till it turns slightly brown (5-6 minutes). Stir frequently while frying.

    Onions added to the pan.
    Slightly browned onions.

    Add ½ cup chopped tomatoes and fry for a minute.

    Tomatoes added to the pan.
    Cooked tomatoes.

    Now add 1 cup green peas, 1 cup potatoes (peeled and cubed), and 2 cups cauliflower (cut into small florets and blanched) and fry for 2-3 minutes. Stir frequently.

    Veggies added to the pan.

    Add 3 teaspoon coriander powder, 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder, 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon garam masala powder, and 2 teaspoon salt, and fry for another minute.

    Spice powders added to the pan.
    Everything mixed well.

    Drain the water from the rice and add it to the pressure cooker.

    Add 3 and ½ cups of water and stir gently.

    Rice and water added to the pan.
    Stirred gently.

    Close the lid of the pressure cooker and pressure cook for 1 whistle on high heat.

    Lid of the cooker closed.

    Remove the cooker from the heat and let the pressure release on its own.

    Once the pressure is completely released, open the lid of the cooker.

    Gently fluff the tahri using a fork and serve hot.

    You can garnish the tehri with some golden fried onions and chopped cilantro (coriander leaves).

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How to make tahri in an instant pot?

    Rinse 2 cups of long-grain basmati rice with water 2-3 times until the water runs clear. 
    Soak it in 4 cups of water for 30 minutes.
    Press SAUTE button on the instant pot.
    Add 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon ghee to the pot and once they are hot, add ¼ teaspoon asafetida (hing), 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, 3-4 cloves, 4-6 whole black peppercorns, 2 black cardamoms, and saute for 4-5 seconds.
    Add 1 cup chopped onions and fry till it turns slightly brown (5-6 minutes). Stir frequently while frying.
    Add ½ cup chopped tomatoes and fry for a minute.
    Now add 1 cup of green peas, 1 cup of cubed potatoes, and 2 cups of cauliflower (cut into small florets) and fry for 2-3 minutes. Stir frequently.
    Add 3 teaspoon coriander powder, 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder, 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon garam masala powder, and 2 teaspoon salt, and fry for another minute.
    Drain the water from the rice and add it to the pressure cooker.
    Add 2 and ¼ cups of water and stir gently.
    Close the lid of the instant pot and set the valve to the sealing position.
    Press PRESSURE COOK and set the timer to 6 minutes at high pressure.
    Once the timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
    Release the remaining pressure manually and open the lid of the pot.
    Gently fluff the tahri using a fork and serve hot.

    How to make tahri in a pot over the stovetop?

    Follow the steps until adding rice and water to the pot. Now cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Reduce the heat to low and cook undisturbed for 20-25 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed by the rice and it is tender. Remove the pot from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes. Fluff using a fork and serve hot.

    What is the difference between tahri, pulao, and biryani?

    Tahri has more spices added to it as compared to a pulao and is more robust and complex in flavor while pulao is mild and light.

    Biryani on the other hand is even more complex in flavor than tahri and the process to make biryani involves layering the rice with the veggies or meat while to make tahri, everything is cooked together.

    How to blanch cauliflower?

    To blanch the cauliflower, cut it into small florets. Heat 4-5 cups of water in a large pot. Once the water comes to a boil, add the cauliflower florets to the pot and cook for 30 seconds. If you see any worm floating on top of the water, then discard it using a spoon. Drain the water and run the cauliflower under cold water. Drain well and use as desired.

    Serving Suggestions

    Tahri tastes best when served hot with a dollop of ghee.

    Do not forget to serve papad, raita, or curd and green chutney on the side.

    To make it more filling, serve an Indian salad such as Kachumber Salad, Sprouts Salad, Kidney Bean Salad, etc along with it.

    You can also serve a pickle of your choice to perk up the taste. My favorites are Chilli Pickle, Hing Ka Achar, and Nimbu Mirch Ka Achar.

    Storage Suggestions

    Tahri tastes best when served right out of the pan.

    Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

    Reheat tahri in a pan or microwave to serve again. Sprinkle a little water to add moisture, as it becomes a little dry after refrigeration.

    You Might Also Like

    • Maharashtrian Masale Bhat
    • Vegetable Dalia Khichdi (Broken Wheat Khichdi)
    • Hyderabadi Bagara Rice (Bagara Khana, Bagara Chawal)
    • Kerala Style Ghee Rice (Nei Choru, Neychoru)

    Recipe Card

    Loved this recipe?Click here to leave a review and give us a five star rating ★★★★★
    Tahri is UP-style spiced vegetable rice. This one-pot meal comes together in under 30 minutes using simple ingredients.

    Tahri Recipe (Tehri, UP Style Spiced Vegetable Rice)

    Tahri (Tehri) is UP-style spiced vegetable rice. This one-pot meal comes together in under 30 minutes using simple ingredients.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Soaking Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 322kcal
    Author: Neha Mathur

    Ingredients 

    • 2 cups long grain basmati rice
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 1 tablespoon ghee (replace with oil for vegan)
    • ¼ teaspoon asafetida (hing) (skip for gluten-free)
    • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 3-4 cloves (laung)
    • 4-6 whole black peppercorns (kali mirch)
    • 2 whole black cardamoms (badi elaichi)
    • 1 cup chopped onions
    • ½ cup chopped tomatoes
    • 1 cup green peas
    • 1 cup peeled and cubed potatoes (½-inch cubes)
    • 2 cups cauliflower (cut into small florets and blanched)
    • 3 teaspoons coriander powder
    • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
    • ½ teaspoon garam masala powder
    • 2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
    US Customary or Metric
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    Instructions

    • Rinse basmati rice with water 2-3 times until the water runs clear.
    • Soak it in 4 cups of water for 30 minutes.
    • Heat vegetable oil and ghee in a pressure cooker over medium-high heat.
    • When the oil is hot, add asafetida and cumin seeds and saute for 3-4 seconds.
    • Add cloves, black peppercorns, and black cardamoms and saute for 4-5 seconds.
    • Add onions and fry till it turns slightly brown (5-6 minutes). Stir frequently while frying.
    • Add tomatoes and fry for a minute.
    • Now add peas, potatoes, and cauliflower and fry for 2-3 minutes. Stir frequently.
    • Add coriander powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, and salt and fry for another minute.
    • Drain the water from the rice and add the rice to the pressure cooker.
    • Add 3 and ½ cups of water and stir gently.
    • Close the lid of the pressure cooker and pressure cook for 1 whistle on high heat.
    • Remove the cooker from the heat and let the pressure release on its own.
    • Once the pressure is completely released, open the lid of the cooker.
    • Gently fluff the tahri using a fork and serve hot.
    • You can garnish the tehri with some golden fried onions and chopped cilantro (coriander leaves).

    Video

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uPng9W8oAY

    Notes

    Sometimes the cauliflower has tiny insects hidden inside the florets. To get rid of any, I like to blanch my cauliflower before using them in any recipe.
    Instant Pot Recipe – Press SAUTE button and follow the recipe until adding rice to the pot. Add 2 and ¼ cups of water and stir gently.
    Close the lid of the instant pot and set the valve to the sealing position.
    Press PRESSURE COOK and set the timer to 6 minutes at high pressure.
    Once the timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
    Release the remaining pressure manually and open the lid of the pot.
    Gently fluff the tahri using a fork and serve hot.
    Pot Recipe – Follow the steps until adding rice and water to the pot. Now cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 20-25 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed by the rice and it is tender. Remove the pot from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes. Fluff the tahri using a fork and serve hot.
    This tahri recipe serves 6 people but you can scale it up or down as per your requirements.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 828mg | Potassium: 487mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 317IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 2mg
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    More Rice Recipes

    • South Indian Lemon Rice (Chitranna)
    • Gucchi Pulao
    • Ellu Sadam (South Indian Sesame Rice, Til Rice)
    • Best Hibachi Fried Rice (Japanese Style Fried Rice)

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. atul sethi

      May 09, 2020 at 7:05 am

      5 stars
      Made it for my mother. She simply loved it. Thanks

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        May 11, 2020 at 2:08 am

        Awesome 🙂

        Reply

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