Jeera Rice (Cumin Rice)

Jeera Rice is a simple, fragrant cumin rice. “Jeera” is hindi for cumin. The toasted cumin along with some lemon zest make this simple dish pop with flavor.

When I was 11 I developed an obsession with Jeera Rice. I refused to eat anything unless this rice was on my plate. Not long after I learned how to make simple basmati rice, I quickly learned to make Jeera rice for myself and for a good three month period I made it nightly. Often, when I was being picky and didn’t want to eat the family dinner, I would just have this rice and some yogurt for dinner.

Even though I loved this rice, I’m not the kind of person to eat the same thing over and over again. I rarely even eat leftovers. So this jeera rice was the first dish I did some real experimenting with.

I would vary the amount of cumin, the kind of rice, andandi often I added other ingredients. Sometimes it was frozen peas or lemon juice or sometimes yogurt. My favorite was when I made it super lemony.

I don’t think I would like that super lemony rice now as an adult but I do like a hint of lemon. I use lemon zest when I make jeera rice now. I just love the subtle lemon flavor. Y

Jeera (Cumin) Rice

Simple, fragrant cumin rice. The toasted cumin along with some lemon zest make this simple dish pop with flavor.

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4 people

Calories 205 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup basmati rice
• 1 tbsp ghee
• 2 tsp whole cumin seeds
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 cups water

Instructions

 

• Rinse the rice 3-4 times.
• In a medium sized sauce pan, heat the ghee over medium heat.
• Add the cumin seeds and cook until they sizzle.
• Add the rice. Cook for 1 minutes while stirring.
• Add the water, lemon zest and salt. Stir. Bring to a boil.
• Cover and lower the heat to low. Cook for 12 minutes, do not stir and do not remove the lid.
• Fluff with a fork before serving.

Notes

I like to eat it with plain yogurt – about 1/2 cup yogurt stirred into 1 cup cooked rice while the rice is still hot.

Nutrition

Serving: 85gCalories: 205kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 3gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 301mgPotassium: 71mgVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 0.7mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 1.1mg

Keyword basmati rice, cumin, jeera, rice

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