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This Indian Turmeric Basmati Rice is a great side dish to serve with curries or lentils. Make it in an instant pot or a traditional pressure cooker using my easy recipe (vegetarian, gluten-free, and can be easily made vegan).
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4 from 5 votes

Turmeric Rice Recipe (Indian Yellow Rice)

This Indian Turmeric Rice is a great side dish to serve with curries or lentils. Make it in an instant pot or a traditional pressure cooker using my easy recipe.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Servings: 4 people
Author: Neha Mathur

Ingredients

  • 2 cups long grain white basmati rice
  • 2 tablespoons ghee
  • 2-3 whole cloves (laung)
  • 1 inch piece of whole cinnamon stick (dalchini)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ cup chopped onions
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (fresh coriander leaves)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Rinse basmati rice with water 2-3 times until the water clears.
  • Soak the rice in 4-5 cups of water for 15 minutes.
  • Press the SAUTE button on the instant pot.
  • Add ghee to the pot and let it heat up.
  • Once the ghee is hot, add cloves, cinnamon, and cumin seeds, and let them crackle for 4-5 seconds.
  • Add onions and fry until they turn golden brown, stirring frequently.
  • Now add turmeric powder and cook for 3-4 seconds.
  • Drain the water from the rice and add the rice to the pot along with 2 cups of water and salt.
  • Stir gently.
  • Close the lid and set the valve to the sealing position.
  • Press PRESSURE COOK and set the timer to 6 minutes at high pressure. The instant pot will take 10-12 minutes to build pressure and start the timer.
  • Once the timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
  • Release the remaining pressure manually by moving the valve to the venting position. Use the back of a spoon to move the valve to prevent steam burn.
  • Open the lid and fluff the rice gently using a fork.
  • Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.

Video

Notes

I made this turmeric rice recipe in my 3-quart instant pot, but if you want to double or triple it, use a 6-quart instant pot. The cooking time will remain the same.
If not basmati rice, you can make this recipe with any white rice that is readily available.

Nutrition

Calories: 362kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 160mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
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