Curd rice recipe, also called yogurt rice, is an easy, comforting restaurant-style south India dish made with cooked rice curd (yogurt) and tempered with Indian spices. It tastes best when served with papad and mango pickle. Curd rice is also known as Thayir Saddam, Mosaranna, and Daddojanam in different parts of India.
It is most popular in the Southern Indian states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. It is also known by mosaranna, daddojanam, thayir Sadam, or Dahi Bhaat in India.
Curd rice is offered as prasadam in most South Indian temples. It is the perfect baby food for infants, toddlers, and adults as it soothes the stomach and aids in digestion.
To make the best Restaurant style curd rice at home, add fresh or heavy whipping cream at the end. It makes curd rice creamy and yummy.
My blog's other Curd (Yogurt) recipes are Curd Quinoa, Chia seed curd rice, Curd Sandwich, Dahi Tadka, and Raita recipes.
Difference between Yogurt and Curd
Curd and yogurt are two very different things. Curd or Dahi is made by curdling the milk with edible acidic substances such as lemon juice or vinegar whereas Yogurt is made by fermenting milk using bacteria.
The curd is often used for yogurt in India, so if any Indian recipe says curd, you can use yogurt instead.
Curd Rice Health Benefits
Curd rice aids in digestion and is the best home remedy for an upset stomach because it is easy to digest and works against bloating and indigestion.
The curd (yogurt) is also rich in probiotics that help to keep the intestines healthy. In addition, the curd is rich in antioxidants that give the body power to fight infections.
How to Make Curd Rice
ON STOVETOP IN A VESSEL: Cook the rinsed rice with 3 cups of water on medium-low heat until cooked and let it cool a bit.
IN TRADITIONAL PRESSURE COOKER ON STOVETOP: Pressure cook the rinsed rice with 2.5 cups of water for three whistles on medium-low heat. Let the pressure release naturally.
IN INSTANT POT (ELECTRIC PRESSURE COOKER): Pressure cook the rinsed rice with 2.5 cups of water on MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK mode for 6 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.
When the rice is a little warm, slightly mash the rice with the back of a spoon or your hands.
Once the rice has cooled completely, add whisked curd (yogurt), milk, crushed black pepper, salt, and mix everything well.
Add milk to avoid sourness when prepared in advance. But do not skip adding milk.
For Tempering: Heat coconut oil in a pan. Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds let them splutter. Then add urad dal, cumin (jeera), dried red chilies, and fry until dal turns light brown.
Now add the hing (asafetida), chopped ginger, curry leaves, and chopped green chilies, and fry for a few seconds.
Transfer the tempering/tadka to the bowl of yogurt rice and add coriander leaves, cream (optional), adjust salt, and mix everything well.
Garnish with pomegranate seeds. Serve authentic Yogurt rice recipe, or Thayir Saddam chilled, and enjoy pickle and papad.
What to serve with Curd Rice?
Serve Curd Rice or Thayir Saddam recipe with papad and pickle. I usually garnish with coriander leaves and pomegranate seeds or grapes.
If you are serving kids, then skip adding green chilies. It tastes great when served chilled, and you can pack it for the lunch box too.
Tips & Variations
- I like to overcook rice a little bit with some extra water. It makes the curd rice soft and mushy.
- Curd rice always tastes best when made with freshly cooked rice than leftover rice.
- Do not add curd to the hot rice, it will curdle.
- Add milk to avoid sourness if you are preparing in advance.
- You can also add grated carrots and add grapes for a yogurt rice recipe variation.
- You can replace rice with quinoa and millets.
- For KIDS-FRIENDLY CURD rice skip green chilies and top with more fruits like grapes, pomegranate, and nuts.
More Rice recipes
Curd Rice Recipe (Thayir Saddam)
Ingredients
measuring cup used 1 cup = 250 ml
- ¾ cup small grain rice
- 2.5 cups water for cooking rice
- 2 cups curd (yogurt) (about ½ liter)
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ cup cream (fresh or heavy whipping cream)
- salt to taste
- crushed black pepper to taste
For Tempering:
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon cumin (jeera) seeds
- 1 teaspoon urad dal
- 2 dried red chilli
- 2 green chili slit length wise
- ½ teaspoon grated ginger (optional)
- 8-10 curry leaves
- a pinch hing (asafetida)
Garnish:
- 2 tablespoon coriander leaves finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon pomegranate seeds
Instructions
On Stovetop in a Vessel
- Cook the rinsed rice with 3 cups of water on medium-low heat until cooked and let it cool a bit.
In Instant Pot (Electric Pressure Cooker)
- Pressure cook the rinsed rice with 2.5 cups of water on MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK mode for 6 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.
In traditional Pressure Cooker on Stovetop
- Pressure cook the rinsed rice with 2.5 cups of water for three whistles on medium-low heat. Let the pressure release naturally.
- When the rice is a little warm, slightly mash the rice with the back of a spoon or your hands.
- Once the rice has cooled completely, add whisked curd (yogurt), milk, crushed black pepper, salt, and mix everything well.Note: Milk is added to avoid sourness when prepared in advance. But do not skip adding milk.
- For Tempering : Heat coconut oil in a pan. Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds let them splutter. Then add urad dal, cumin (jeera), dried red chilies, and fry until dal turns light brown.
- Now add the hing (asafetida), chopped ginger, curry leaves, and chopped green chilies, and fry for a few seconds.
- Transfer the tempering/tadka to the bowl of yogurt rice and add coriander leaves, cream (optional), adjust salt, and mix everything well.
- Garnish with pomegranate seeds. Serve authentic Yogurt rice recipe, or Thayir Saddam chilled, and enjoy pickle and papad.
Notes
Tips & Variations
- I like to overcook rice a little bit with some extra water. It makes the curd rice soft and mushy.
- Curd rice always tastes best when made with freshly cooked rice than leftover rice.
- Do not add curd to the hot rice, it will curdle.
- Add milk to avoid sourness if you are preparing in advance.
- You can also add grated carrots and add grapes for a yogurt rice recipe variation.
- You can replace rice with quinoa and millets.
- For KIDS-FRIENDLY CURD rice skip green chilies and top with more fruits like grapes, pomegranate, and nuts.
Nutrition
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Ashwini says
Comforting dish, I must say!
CURD RICE
bhavana says
Thanks Ashwini 🙂