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Recipes > Sides & Snacks > Easy Jeera Rice Recipe (Restaurant Style Cumin Rice)
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Easy Jeera Rice Recipe (Restaurant Style Cumin Rice)

Jeera rice is one of those quiet MVPs of the Indian kitchen. It’s subtle, it’s aromatic, and it somehow makes every curry or dal feel a little more luxurious. This cumin-scented basmati rice is super easy to make and turns out fluffy and flavorful every time. I’ve been making it this way for years, and…

 

Recipe by:

Shreya’s Kitchen

August 4, 2021
April 23, 2025
prep time :5 minutes mins
cook time :15 minutes mins
Serves 4
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

Jeera rice is one of those quiet MVPs of the Indian kitchen. It’s subtle, it’s aromatic, and it somehow makes every curry or dal feel a little more luxurious. This cumin-scented basmati rice is super easy to make and turns out fluffy and flavorful every time. I’ve been making it this way for years, and once you learn the layering of the spices (and why the order matters), you’ll never go back to plain rice again. Make sure to serve this jeera rice recipe as a side dish with my butter paneer, chole, or rajma recipes!

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close up of rice with bay leaves

Table of contents

  • Why Basmati Rice?
  • How to Make Jeera Rice
  • Common Mistakes to Avoid
  • Whole Spices vs. Crushed Spices
  • FAQ

What Is Jeera Rice?

Jeera rice, also known as cumin rice, is a popular North Indian recipe made by cooking basmati rice with cumin seeds and warm whole spices. It’s light, aromatic, and acts as the perfect base for rich dals and curries. While it’s simple, the flavor is anything but basic—and it comes together in under 30 minutes.

final recipe photo in a plate

Key Ingredients (And Why They Matter)

Basmati Rice: Long-grain, fragrant, and ideal for soaking up flavor. Wash it well to prevent stickiness and help the grains stay separate after cooking.

Cumin Seeds (Jeera): The star of the show. When toasted in oil or ghee, they bloom and release a nutty, earthy aroma that defines this dish.

Whole Spices (bay leaves, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper): These spices infuse the rice as it cooks. The bay leaves bring a gentle bitterness, cinnamon adds warmth, cardamom lends sweetness, cloves punch up the aroma, and pepper gives subtle heat.

Green Chilies: Adds a gentle spice that lifts the whole dish. You can adjust or omit depending on your heat tolerance.

Oil, Butter, or Ghee: Fat carries flavor—especially from spices. I prefer ghee for the most depth, but oil works fine too.

Salt: Crucial for seasoning the rice itself—not just the curry you’re pairing it with.

Water: Seems obvious, but the ratio matters! For 1 cup of rice, 2.5 cups of water gives you soft, fluffy grains without being mushy.

jeera rice recipe ingredients

Why Basmati Rice?

Basmati is the gold standard for Indian rice dishes for good reason. Its long grains cook up fluffy and separate, not sticky. It also has a naturally aromatic flavor that pairs beautifully with warm whole spices. While you could technically use jasmine or another long-grain rice, the result just won’t hit the same. For classic jeera rice, basmati is the way to go.

jeera rice recipe method

How to Make Jeera Rice

  1. Rinse basmati rice until water runs clear.
  2. Heat oil or ghee in a pan; add spices in this order: bay leaves, cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, cloves, cumin, then chilies.
  3. Toast for a few seconds, then add rinsed rice and stir to coat in spices.
  4. Pour in 2.5 cups water and season with salt.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 10–12 minutes, or until rice is fluffy and water is absorbed.
  6. Fluff gently with a fork and serve warm.
jeera rice recipe in a large pot

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overcooking the rice: Always keep the heat low and the pot covered. Resist the urge to stir—it’ll make your rice gummy.

Skipping the rinse: Don’t skip rinsing the rice. It’s the key to non-sticky, separated grains.

Using cumin powder: For true flavor, you need whole cumin seeds. The powder won’t toast or bloom the same way.

rice close up

Whole Spices vs. Crushed Spices

Whole spices slowly infuse the rice as it cooks, giving you that deep, mellow flavor without overpowering any one note. Cumin seeds toasted in oil release essential oils that give jeera rice its signature aroma. Cumin powder, on the other hand, can taste harsh or bitter when cooked too long. If you’re after restaurant-style flavor, whole is the way to go.

whole cumin seeds close up

FAQ

Why not sauté with spices after cooking the rice?

Sautéing the spices after cooking the rice won’t let their flavors fully infuse into the grains. When you toast the spices first and cook the rice with them, it allows the rice to absorb the spice-infused fat and become fragrant from the inside out. That’s what gives this jeera rice recipe it’s depth of flavor. Also, this method prevents the rice from being mushy! If you stir-fry or sauté freshly cooked rice, it will get sticky and mushy.

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jeera rice recipe pinterest pin
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(1)

Easy Jeera Rice Recipe (Restaurant Style Cumin Rice)

This jeera rice recipe is fragrant, fluffy, and full of cumin-scented flavor. Made with basmati rice and whole spices, it’s a simple Indian side dish that comes together in under 30 minutes.
prep time :5 minutes mins
cook time :15 minutes mins
Serves 4
pin recipe Print recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 6 small dried bay leaves
  • 4 thai green chilies, chopped
  • 4 cloves
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 4 whole cardamoms
  • 1 large whole cinnamon stick
  • 1 tsp lightly crushed black pepper
  • salt (to taste)
  • 1 c basmati rice
  • 2.5 c water

Instructions

  • Rinse the Rice: Wash the basmati rice under cold water until the water runs mostly clear. This removes excess starch and helps the grains stay fluffy and separate after cooking.
  • Sauté the Spices: In a pan over medium heat, add your oil, butter, or ghee. Add the spices in this order for best flavor layering: bay leaves, cinnamon stick, lightly crushed black pepper, green cardamom pods, whole cloves, cumin seeds, and chopped green chilies. Let everything sizzle for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
  • Add the Rice: Stir in the rinsed basmati rice and toast for 1–2 minutes. This step coats the rice in the fat and spices, locking in flavor.
  • Add Water & Cook: Pour in 2.5 cups of water and season with salt to taste. Stir once, then cover the pan with a lid. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10–12 minutes, or until the water is fully absorbed and the rice is cooked through.
  • Rest & Fluff: Turn off the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Then fluff gently with a fork.

Notes

(1) Rinse basmati rice thoroughly to avoid sticky grains.
(2) Use whole cumin seeds, not powder, for best flavor.
(3) For a richer flavor, I recommend using salted butter or ghee instead of oil.
(4) Don’t stir while cooking—let the steam do the work. Otherwise your rice will get mushy!
(5) Fluff gently with a fork after resting at the end for best texture.
(6) Instead of thai chilies, you can substitute with one large serrano chili instead for less of a kick! Or, just use less thai chilies. 
Nutrition Facts
Easy Jeera Rice Recipe (Restaurant Style Cumin Rice)
Amount per Serving
Calories
243
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
8
g
12
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Trans Fat
 
0.03
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
5
g
Sodium
 
12
mg
1
%
Potassium
 
101
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
40
g
13
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
0.2
g
0
%
Protein
 
4
g
8
%
Vitamin A
 
54
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
 
8
mg
10
%
Calcium
 
42
mg
4
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Keyword rice

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4 from 1 vote

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  1. Beth
    08.04.2021

    Commenting because as soon as I saw the video for this I asked my partner to buy cloves and Cardamom, I never cook with them (so I’m gonna have to find more recipes to make with them but oh well)
    I’m going to make this in about 2 hours but adding canned lentils to mine because I need to use them up and I’m too lazy to make another dish. So I will either reply to myself or edit this comment with my results

    Reply

    1. Beth
      08.04.2021

      4 stars
      Update, this recipes using spices I don’t use much (cloves and cardamom) not because I don’t use spice, but just because they happen to rarely come up in recipes I make. But sautéing them smelt so good! I wasn’t sure how much cumin seeds to use so I kind of just winged that. The waiting time for cooking smelt so good as well.

      I did add canned lentils to mine, I’m hoping that’s not some “omg never do that you ruined the dish type thing” but as said in my previous comment I needed to use them up. Also I didn’t have balsami rice, I only had a huge bag of plain white rice so I used that, but other than that I stuck to the recipe

      Anyway, I think this is pretty good but I did make it as a by itself dish, I think next time I’d make it as a side dish

      Reply

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