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Summary
The simplest way to make plain rice taste like it has friends.
If you are looking for an Indian rice recipe so you can make what you get at an Indian restaurant, this is it. Classic basmati rice cooked with whole cumin seeds (that’s what “jeera” means)—clean, fluffy, and ridiculously useful next to curries, grilled chicken, or basically anything saucy. The cumin blooms as the rice cooks, so you get that warm, toasty aroma without needing extra steps.
4
10
minutes20
minutes170
kcal30
minutesThe simplest way to make plain rice taste like it has friends.
Ingredients
185 g 1 cup basmati rice
3 g 1 1/2 tsp whole cumin seeds
360 g 1 1/2 cups water
Directions
Before We Start
Not all basmati rice is created equal: Ideally get your rice at an Indian grocery store. It is a lot better than what you will get at your big box store which is typically just jasmine rice relabeled. You can also get it on Amazon.
Water ratios vary by rice cooker: This recipe uses 1 1/2 cups water per 1 cup basmati for a dependable, tender result. It is best to follow what your rice cooker recommends for other long grain rices like jasmine. You may need to adjust the water amount based on your setup.Rinse the Rice
Add the basmati rice to to your rice cooker bowl or pot, and add cold water. Swirl with your hands and drain. Repeat 4–5 times (or until the water runs mostly clear). Then drain well.Add Cumin and Water
Add the whole cumin seeds and water to your rice cooker/pot.
If using a rice cooker that has water lines, follow the measurements for Jasmine Rice or Long Grain Rice.
If using a pot, add the 1 1/2 cups (360 g) water.
Cook
Rice Cooker Method: Cook on your rice cooker’s Jasmine Rice or Long Grain Rice setting until done.
Stove Top Method: In a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. As soon as it boils, give it one quick stir, then cover and reduce heat to low.
Simmer 12–15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and you can see little steam holes on top. Turn the heat off and let it sit covered for 10 minutes (don’t skip this—this is where the fluff happens).
Tip: We are typically not fans of single use gadgets, but a quality rice cooker is a must in our kitchen. It makes rice easy to cook and to keep warm and fresh. With ours we can literally wake up in the morning, set the rice and have it perfectly cooked for dinner. Then we can leave it on keep warm overnight and have the left over rice the next day.
Fluff and Steam to Finish
Once it’s done, fluff the rice with a fork or rice paddle. Close the lid again and let it sit on Warm for at least 10 minutes. For stove top method, let it rest in the pot off the heat for the same amount of time.
This short rest lets the moisture redistribute and enables it to absorb any remaining moisture, so the texture is dry and fluffy all the way through.
Once it is done resting, serve and enjoy with your favorite curry. We love it with our Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe.
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Additional Details About This Recipe
What does “jeera” mean?
Jeera is the Hindi word for cumin. So “jeera rice” is literally “cumin rice.”
Can I use jasmine rice instead of basmati?
Not really. The texture is very different. You can use jasmine in a pinch, just know that it will not fool anyone expecting Indian Rice. Indian Rice is drier and separates cleanly with very minimal clumping.
Why do we rest it after cooking?
Rice finishes cooking and absorbing moisture with residual heat and steam. Resting prevents mushy bottoms and helps the grains separate and dry.
Can I scale this up?
Totally. Keep the ratio the same and avoid overfilling your rice cooker. Large batches usually need a slightly longer rest (like 15-20 mins).
What should I serve this with?
Curries, butter chicken, tikka masala, dal, grilled meats, or anything with a sauce that deserves a starchy landing pad.
Nutritional Facts (per serving)
(Values are estimates. Nutrition will vary by rice brand and serving size.)
- Calories: 170 kcal
- Protein: 3 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Sugars: 0 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 0 mg
*Estimated weights: basmati rice and cumin seed weights can vary by brand and grain size. If you have a scale, use grams for consistency.