Indian Style Basmati Rice

4.7
(364)
248 Reviews
41 Photos

Savory Indian rice flavored with toasted and fragrant whole spices and fried onions. Soaking the basmati rice before cooking makes all the difference. Serve with your favorite Indian curry or dal. Make sure you warn people not to bite into the whole spices!

Submitted by DHANO923
Updated on April 10, 2024
41
A bowl of Indian style basmati rice with a small dish of spices
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41
41
Cook Time:
35 mins
Additional Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
50 mins
Servings:
6
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 1 ½ cups basmati rice

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 1 (2 inch) piece cinnamon stick

  • 2 pods green cardamom

  • 2 whole cloves

  • 1 tablespoon cumin seed

  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced

  • 2 ½ cups water

  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Ingredients to make Indian style basmati rice

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  2. Place rice into a bowl with enough water to cover. Set aside to soak for 20 minutes.

    A hand pouring a measuring cup of water over basmati rice in a glass bowl

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. In the last 10 minutes of soaking, heat oil in a large pot or saucepan over medium heat. Add cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, and cloves, then stir in cumin seed.

    A pot with a cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves, and cumin seed being stirred with a spatula

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  4. Cook and stir until fragrant and toasted, about a minute. Add sliced onion and stir.

    A pot with toasted slices and sliced onion being stirred with a spatula

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  5. Sauté until the onion is tender and a rich golden brown color, about 10 minutes.

    A pot of caramelized onions and toasted spices

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  6. Drain water from rice, and stir into the pot. Cook and stir rice until lightly toasted, about 3 minutes.

    A pot of soaked basmati rice with caramelized onions and toasted spices

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Add water and salt, and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer until all the water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.

    A pot of cooked Indian style basmati rice

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork before serving.

    A bowl of Indian style basmati rice with a small dish of spices

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
470 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

216 Calories
5g Fat
39g Carbs
4g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 216
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 5g 7%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 394mg 17%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 4g 8%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 26mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 39mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.