This Restaurant Style Jeera Rice (Cumin Rice) recipe is an easy one-pot, flavorful Indian rice dish made with basmati rice, jeera (cumin) seeds, and whole spices in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker or Stovetop. Enjoy this aromatic rice with any curry or lentil dishes for a perfect dish.
If there’s one rice dish that’s a staple across Indian restaurants and dhabas, it’s Jeera Rice. This fragrant rice dish is aromatic, flavorful, and infused with the earthy flavor of cumin seeds. It is a great alternative to plain basmati rice. It pairs perfectly with Indian curries, dal fry, and a variety of other dishes.
I’m sharing an easy one-pot Jeera Rice recipe using an Instant Pot, stovetop pressure cooker, or a regular pot. You can also make it effortlessly with leftover steamed rice!
Jeera (cumin) is commonly used in Indian cooking and has been used for its taste and medicinal properties for centuries. It is an excellent source of iron, manganese, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin B1. It helps promote digestion, boosts immunity, lowers the risk of iron-deficiency anemia, and helps fight common colds.
If you love cumin seeds, then learn How to make roasted cumin powder at home in just 10 minutes.
Jump to:
- What is Jeera (Cumin) Rice?
- Ingredients
- How to Make Jeera (Cumin) Rice in Instant Pot
- Stovetop Pressure Cooker Instructions
- Stovetop Pot Instructions
- What to Serve with Indian Jeera/Cumin Rice?
- Storage Suggestions
- Tips to Make the Perfect Jeera Rice
- Variations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Instant Pot Indian Rice Recipes
- Instant Pot Jeera Rice (Indian Cumin Rice)
What is Jeera (Cumin) Rice?
Jeera rice, or Zeera rice, is a popular rice dish in North India where basmati rice is tempered with cumin seeds and whole spices in ghee.
"Zeera" is the Indic word for cumin seeds, often pronounced Jeera. - Wiki
Want more Basmati Rice Recipes? Check out this collection of 20+ Basmati Rice Recipes from my blog.
Ingredients
- Rice: Use good quality long grain Basmati rice for the restaurant-style jeera rice recipe. You can also use small-grain rice like sona masuri or seeraga samba rice, but adjust the water accordingly.
- Ghee (or oil): I like to use homemade ghee for this recipe. The best flavors come from the ghee, so I highly recommend adding it. If you are vegan, you may use oil.
- Cumin Seeds: Use whole cumin seeds. They add a nutty aroma and flavor to the dish when sauteed in oil/ghee.
- Whole Spices: cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, green cardamom, and star anise (optional).
How to Make Jeera (Cumin) Rice in Instant Pot
Rinse the basmati rice 2-3 times until the water runs clear (removes extra starch), and drain the remaining water.
Firstly, Press Saute on the Instant Pot. Heat 1-2 tablespoons ghee (or oil), add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1 bay leaf, 1-inch cinnamon stick, 2 green cardamom, and 2-3 cloves, and saute for a few seconds (until aromatic).
Then add 2 green chilies (slit lengthwise). Saute for another 30 seconds.
Add 1 cup of rinsed basmati rice, 1.5 cups of water, salt, and give a quick stir.
Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
Once the pot beeps, Do a quick pressure release (QR) Manually.
Lastly, remove the lid away from you, and garnish with 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro/coriander leaves.
Restaurant Style Perfect Jeera Rice is ready. Serve with raita, lentils, or any curry.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Instructions
Follow the same process as you would with the Instant Pot. Cook the cumin rice for 2 whistles on medium heat in a stovetop pressure cooker and allow the pressure to release naturally. All other steps remain unchanged.
Stovetop Pot Instructions
To make jeera rice on a stovetop pot, follow the steps above until adding water and then cook covered on medium-low heat until the water is absorbed and then turn off the heat. Allow it to rest for some time, and then open the lid and fluff the rice.
What to Serve with Indian Jeera/Cumin Rice?
Serve Jeera pulao with curries, dal, stir-fries, or just serve with a side of yogurt or cucumber raita along with a salad.
I love to pair with the below North Indian Curries:
- Dal Tadka
- Chana Masala
- Paneer Butter Masala
- Vegetable Kurma
- Rajma Masala (Kidney Beans Curry)
Storage Suggestions
- Store: Leftover jeera rice keeps well in the fridge for 2-3 days. Let it cool completely, and then store it in an airtight container.
- Freeze: Cool down the rice completely and store it in the freezer-safe airtight container for up to 1-2 months.
- Reheat: Sprinkle some water to moisten and reheat the cumin rice pilaf in the microwave or stovetop until it warms. If Frozen, allow it to defrost in the refrigerator for a few hours and then reheat it on the stovetop or microwave for a steamy fresh cumin rice.
Tips to Make the Perfect Jeera Rice
- Basmati Rice: Use good quality basmati rice for making the fragrant jeera rice. However, you can use any premium-quality rice.
- Rinsing the Rice: Always rinse the uncooked basmati rice before you cook it. This helps to remove excess starch, make it less sticky, and prevent it from clumping together.
- Water-Rice Ratio: To make non-sticky, fluffy cumin rice, adjust the water correctly, depending on the quality and type of rice used. I have used basmati rice in this recipe.
- 'Rice' Setting: You can follow the same instructions and Press the Rice button instead of Pressure Cook/Manual mode. It will default to 12 minutes at LOW pressure. The results are pretty much the same.
Variations
- Vegetable Jeera Pulao: Add 1 cup of mixed fresh/frozen vegetables (like carrot, green beans, and peas) to this recipe to make a Vegetable pulao/pilaf. You can also garnish it with some roasted nuts.
- Onion Jeera Rice: You can add 1 medium onion (thinly sliced) to this rice to make Onion jeera rice.
- Vegan: Use ghee to get the best flavors in jeera rice. To make vegan jeera rice, use either olive oil or any cooking oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, I have used Ghee in this recipe. To make it vegan, substitute ghee with any cooking oil.
Yes! Jeera rice is healthy for all age groups as it's a great source of carbohydrates. Cumin seeds are packed with iron, zinc, copper, and antioxidants. It aids digestion, boosts the immune system, and has anti-inflammatory properties.
It's optional. I find this step unnecessary when cooking rice in an electric pressure cooker.
However, soaking the rice will help to reduce the cooking time when you cook rice on the stovetop pot, making the rice soft and fluffy.
Instant Pot Jeera Rice (Indian Cumin Rice)
Ingredients
Whole Spices
- 1 teaspoon cumin (jeera) Seeds
- 1 inch cinnamon
- 2-3 cloves
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 green cardamom
Other Ingredients
- 1-2 tablespoons oil or ghee
- 1 cup basmati rice rinsed
- 2 green chilies split lengthwise
- 1.5 cups water
- salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons coriander (cilantro)
Instructions
Instant Pot Method
- Press Saute on Instant Pot. Add ghee or oil and once it's hot add cumin/jeera seeds, bay leaf, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, and cloves. Saute for 30 secs (till aromatic).
- Then add green chilies. Saute for another 30 secs.
- Add Basmati Rice, water, salt, and give a stir.
- Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
- Once the pot beeps, Do a Quick Pressure Release (QR) Manually.
- Lastly, remove the lid away from you, garnish with fresh cilantro/coriander leaves.
- Jeera Rice is ready.
Indian Pressure Cooker Method
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker on medium heat and once it's hot add bay leaf, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, cloves, cumin/Jeera. Saute for 30 seconds (till aromatic).
- Then add green chilies. Saute for another 30 secs.
- Add basmati rice, water, salt and stir well.
- Close the lid of the cooker, Pressure cook it for 2 whistles on medium heat.
- When rice is cooled, fluff the rice with a fork. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
- Jeera Rice is ready
Stovetop Pot Method:
- To make jeera rice recipe or pulao on a stovetop pot, follow the steps as above until adding water and then cook covered on a low heat until the water is absorbed and then turn off the heat. Allow it to rest for some time and then open the lid and fluff the rice.
Notes
Tips to Make the Perfect Jeera Rice
- Basmati Rice: Use good quality basmati rice for making the fragrant Jeera Rice. However, you can use any premium-quality rice.
- Rinsing the Rice: Rinse Always rinse the uncooked basmati rice before you cook it. This helps to remove excess starch, make it less sticky, and prevent it from clumping together.
- Water-Rice Ratio: To make non-sticky, fluffy cumin rice adjust the water correctly, depending on the quality and type of rice used. I have used basmati rice in this recipe.
- Vegan: Use ghee (clarified butter) to get the best flavors in Jeera Rice. To make vegan jeera rice, use either olive oil or any cooking oil.
- 'Rice' Setting: You can follow the same instructions and Press the Rice button instead of Pressure Cook/Manual mode. It will default to 12 minutes at LOW pressure. The results are pretty much the same.
- Vegetable Jeera Pulao: Add 1 cup of mixed fresh/frozen vegetables (like carrot, green beans, and peas) to this recipe to make a Vegetable Pulao/Pilaf. You can also garnish it with some roasted nuts.
Nutrition
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Gary Kaetzel
I made this today to include in some wraps I made using some tamales I made. I have these Korean green chiles that are bigger than the one you used but it gave the rice a little bite which is good! When I first saw Jeera Rice I thought it would make a good add to Mexican dishes and it does! I looked at other recipes and decided to add 1/4 tsp. of hing to it. I can't taste the difference but I gave it a try! Thanks for another very very good recipe and dressing up my pedestrian tamale wraps!!!
Bhavana Patil
Thank you so much for trying Gary, glad you liked it..