Looking to make a delicious side for the curries? Try this simple golden Turmeric Rice Recipe. Make it using basmati, brown or wild rice, it’s going to taste awesome always!
Sometimes, I feel Pulao or Mixed Rice recipes are God sent. No, I am not joking!
There are some of the Rice recipes, that are so easy and quick to make that nowadays I don’t stress over what to make on super busy and hectic days.
Just add in some rice, veggies, spices, give it a good stir and your rice dish is ready.
Yes, some of them are as simple as that!
And therefore, today, I am sharing one of my go-to rice recipes with you, Turmeric Rice or Haldi Chawal.
It is my favourite dish to make when I am literally struggling between work.
It just takes 30 minutes to get this dish ready and even less if you already have some cooked rice.
Best Part! It is a great dish to use up your leftover rice and create a new yummy dish for your weekday meals.
Sometimes, it is also served as a side dish with my festive meals.
As it is a lightly spiced rice recipe, it even goes well with creamy and rich Curries and Dal.
Plus it’s vegan too!
Here are some more easy Rice recipe, that will make your weekday easier – Lemon Rice, Gobi Pulao, Palak Rice, Matar Pulao, Sabz Badi Pulao and Pudina Rice.
What is Turmeric Rice?
It is a simple yellow coloured Indian rice preparation where cooked rice is sautéed along with whole spices, onions, turmeric powder and salt.
Well, don’t underestimate this dish because of its simple ingredients, it will surely satisfy your cravings for a nice Pulav.
For the whole spices, I have used cumin seeds, cloves and cinnamon, but you can go ahead and also add a bay leaf or black cardamom for extra flavour.
The onions are slightly browned before adding the rice, which gives it an amazing taste with a delicious bite.
You can even add in some finely chopped garlic, while adding the onions, it adds to the taste of this rice dish.
You can also add in the goodness of vegetables such as cauliflower, carrot, green peas or even mushrooms to make it more nutritious and filling.
Turmeric Coconut Rice and Turmeric Cauliflower Rice, are two variations of this recipe which are quite popular too.
Health Benefits of Turmeric
As we all know, turmeric has a lot of health benefits and therefore it is also an essential part of Ayurvedic treatment too.
Turmeric is great for cough and cold.
Turmeric contains Curcumin which is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
Because of its antiseptic, qualities, it is applied to wounds and burns.
Other than this, turmeric is said to boost brain function, fights heart disease and cancer.
It is known to improve symptoms of depression and arthritis too.
Turmeric also keeps blood sugar levels steady and therefore could be useful to prevent or treat type 2 diabetes.
Ingredients
Serving Suggestions
I love eating this humble rice with simple plain Curd or Raitas such as Boondi Raita, Tomato Onion Raita, Easy Cucumber Raita, Kaddu Ka Raita or even Carrot Raita.
Papad and pickle on the side will surely enhance the flavour of this rice raita combination.
As it is highly spiced, you can also serve it along with Dals and Curries or serve it as a side dish with your festive meals.
Make it using Fresh Turmeric
To make this rice using fresh turmeric, you can grate the fresh turmeric and add in the cooked rice.
Make sure you do not overdo the quantity of fresh turmeric, as has very strong flavours.
For every one cup of cooked rice, add 1/2 tsp grated fresh turmeric.
Instant Pot Turmeric Rice
Making any rice recipe is an easy process in the Instant Pot, but only if you get the ratio right.
Wash the rice properly and keep it aside for later use.
Press the Saute mode and add ghee in an Instant Pot.
Once the ghee is hot, add in cumin seeds, cloves and cinnamon.
After 30 seconds, add in the onions and let it cook till they turn light brown in colour.
Once done, add in turmeric powder and salt.
After a minute, add in the rice and stir for about a minute again.
Add the required water (1:1 ratio works fine for me) and close it with the lid.
Seal the vent and pressure cook on Manual or Pressure Cook mode for about 6 minutes.
Let the pressure release naturally.
Which rice is best to make this dish?
Basmati Rice is best to make turmeric rice, as it comes out fluffy and grains are separated from each other.
Also, Basmati Rice is full of aroma and flavours, that goes well with the ingredients of Turmeric Rice recipe.
You can try this recipe with other rice variations too such as Brown Rice or Wild Rice.
Can I Freeze it?
Yes, this recipe freezes well.
You can freeze it an airtight container or a freezer-safe ziplock bag.
Step By Step Recipe
Heat ghee in a pan. Once the ghee is hot, add cloves, cinnamon and cumin seeds and let them crackle for a few seconds.
Add onion and fry until they turn slightly brown.
Add turmeric powder and salt and cook for a few seconds.
Now add cooked rice and mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.
Turmeric Rice Recipe
Looking to make a delicious side for the curries? Try this simple golden Turmeric Rice Recipe. Make it using basmati, brown or wild rice, it's going to taste awesome always!
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Ghee
- 2 Cloves
- 1 inch Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
- 1/2 cup Onion chopped
- 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
- Salt to taste
- 2 cups Cooked Rice
Instructions
Heat ghee in a pan.
Once the ghee is hot, add cloves, cinnamon and cumin seeds and let them crackle for a few seconds.
Add onions and fry until they turn slightly brown.
Add turmeric powder, salt and cook for a few seconds.
Now add cooked rice and mix well.
Cook for 2-3 minutes. Serve hot.
Recipe Notes
You can make this rice in oil to make it vegan.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!