Easy Jeera Rice Recipe (Restaurant Style Cumin Rice)

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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 Time5

Cook Time15

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Servings:

Author: Shreya Walia

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