Peanut Rice, also known as Groundnut Rice, is a spicy, flavorful South Indian dish made with roasted peanut powder, lentils, and a blend of aromatic spices. It's a simple yet delicious recipe perfect for a quick meal or lunchbox option.
Peanuts are a staple ingredient in many Indian homes, and it's great that you incorporate them regularly into your cooking as they provide a good source of protein. I usually make peanut chutney powder, peanut chutney, kakdi koshimbhir, with them on a daily basis.
Today, I'm excited to share an easy and flavorful rice dish made using peanuts. This recipe is perfect for both kids school lunch boxes, and adults, as it's rich in protein from the peanuts and lentils. While I love using basmati rice for its aroma and texture, you can also prepare this dish with other types of rice, like sona masoori.
I usually make peanut rice when I have leftover rice from the previous night. It's a quick and delicious way to repurpose it! Some other go-to leftover rice recipes in my kitchen are milagai podi rice, raw mango rice, curry leaves rice, and carrot rice.
More Peanut Recipes, you may like
- Mint Peanut Chutney
- Shenga Saaru (Peanut Sambar)
- Boiled Peanut Salad
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Ingredients for Groundnut Masala Rice
- Peanuts: This is the main ingredient. It is required for making the peanut masala powder and tempering. You can also use roasted peanuts.
- Urad dal, Chana dal, and Sesame Seeds: are used to make peanut masala powder.
- Dry Coconut: Use dried or desiccated coconut.
- Dry Red Chilies: I used bydagi red chilies. If you don't have them, use 1 teaspoon of red chili powder while blending the peanut powder.
- Curry leaves: Used for flavor and tempering, dont skip it.
- Cooked rice: You can either use basmati rice or sona masoori rice. I used cooked basmati rice in this recipe. Check out the detailed recipe on How to cook basmati rice in Instant Pot.
How to Make Peanut Rice (Groundnut Rice)
In a pan, heat 1 teaspoon of oil and roast ¼ cup peanuts, 2 teaspoons urad dal, 2 teaspoons chana dal, 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, 3-4 dried red chilies, and 1 stalk of curry leaves over medium-low flame until the dals become aromatic and well-roasted. Stir frequently to ensure even roasting without burning.
Then add 1 tablespoon dry shredded coconut and roast for another minute.
Remove the roasted ingredients from the pan and allow them to cool completely. Once cooled, grind everything into a fine powder without adding any water. Keep aside.
Now, in a large Kadai, heat 1 tablespoon of oil (or ghee), add 2 tablespoons peanuts, 1 teaspoon mustard seeds, and 1 teaspoon urad dal, and saute till peanuts are roasted well.
Next, add 1 stalk of curry leaves, ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera), and 1 pinch of hing (asafetida) to the pan, and sauté for about 30 seconds until the spices become aromatic.
Then add 2-2.5 cups of cooked basmati rice along with the finely ground peanut powder, and salt and give it a mix.
Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the rice fully absorbs the flavors and the dish is fragrant.
Peanut rice is now ready! Serve it hot.
What to Serve with Peanut Rice?
Serve peanut rice as a main dish with a side of cucumber raita, crispy papad, and plain yogurt for a complete meal.
Expert Tips
- The rice should be cooled before using. In fact, leftover rice works best, allowing the dish to come together quickly and easily.
- Peanut masala powder can be made in bulk and can be refrigerated for up to 2-3 days in a refrigerator.
- If you dont have dried coconut, you can skip it.
- When grinding the peanut-lentil mixture, be cautious not to over-grind, as the peanuts can release oil and turn the powder into a paste.
- Peanut rice tastes great when prepared slightly spicy.
Variations
- You can also use homemade ghee for tempering, making it extra flavorful.
- You can also add roasted cashews along with peanuts while tempering rice.
More Easy Rice Recipes
Peanut Rice Recipe (Groundnut Rice)
Ingredients
For Peanut Masala Mixture
- 1 teaspoon oil
- ¼ cup peanuts
- 2 teaspoons urad dal
- 2 teaspoons chana dal
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 3-4 dried red chilies
- 1 stalk curry leaves
- 1 tablespoon dry coconut
- salt to taste
For Tempering Peanut Rice
- 1 tablespoon oil (or ghee)
- 2 tablespoons peanuts
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon urad dal
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
- 1 stalk curry leaves
- 1 pinch hing (asafetida)
- 2 cups cooked and cooled basmati rice (about 1 cup of raw basmati rice)
Instructions
- In a pan, heat 1 teaspoon of oil and roast peanuts, urad dal, chana dal, sesame seeds, dried red chilies, and curry leaves over medium-low flame until the dals become aromatic and well-roasted. Stir frequently to ensure even roasting without burning.
- Then add dry coconut and roast for another minute.
- Remove the roasted ingredients from the pan and allow them to cool completely. Once cooled, grind everything into a fine powder without adding any water. Keep aside.
- Now, in a large Kadai, heat 1 tablespoon of oil, add peanuts, mustard seeds, and urad dal, and saute till peanuts are roasted well.
- Next, add curry leaves, cumin seeds (jeera), and a pinch of hing (asafetida) to the pan, and sauté for about 30 seconds until the spices become aromatic.
- Then add cooked basmati rice along with the finely ground peanut powder, and salt and give it a mix.
- Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the rice fully absorbs the flavors and the dish is fragrant.
- Peanut or groundnut Rice is ready and serve warm along with some papad and yogurt.
Notes
Expert Tips
- The rice should be cooled before using. In fact, leftover rice works best, allowing the dish to come together quickly and easily.
- Peanut masala powder can be made in bulk and can be refrigerated for up to 2-3 in a refrigerator.
- If you dont have dried coconut, you can skip it.
- When grinding the peanut-lentil mixture, be cautious not to over-grind, as the peanuts can release oil and turn the powder into a paste. Aim for a coarse texture to avoid this.
- Peanut rice tastes great when prepared slightly spicy.
Variations
- You can also use homemade ghee for tempering, making it extra flavorful.
- You can also add roasted cashews along with peanuts while tempering rice.
Nutrition
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Kala
Authentic. I tried and have been making this for trips.
bhavana
Thank you so much!