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Category: Rice Recipes

These rice recipes are great as one-dish meals or as part of an elaborate lunch or dinner. Give them a try.

If you’ve had Indian food at restaurants, then you’ve most certainly had basmati rice, either plain or as some form of flavored rice such as vegetable pulao, or biryani, or as dessert such as kheer and pongal. While basmati rice is extremely popular for parties and special occasions, it’s the other short-grained and long-grained varieties of rice that are preferred for everyday food in India, as they are more nutritious.

In South India, all main meals are rice-based. Vegetable curries, dals, and chutneys, and yogurt are accompaniments. In the North, roti or the Indian flat bread is the staple. Rice is consumed in smaller portions or occasionally. These days, those who are health-conscious try to include both rice and roti in their daily meals along with lentil and vegetable dishes as they make well-balanced meals and provide better nutrition.

Many rice recipes such as tamarind rice, lemon rice, tomato rice, coconut rice, and vegetable rice can serve as one-dish meals.

Rice is also used in other forms in a lot of Indian recipes. For instance, rice rava (cream of rice) is used to make breakfast dishes like upma, idli, and vada.

Rice is used in dosas, and rice flour in fritter batters for snacks like pakodas, bhajias, and chaklis to contibute crunchiness or as thickening agents in soups and gravies.

Pressed rice or poha is used in breakfast dishes like Pohe and snacks like chivda and bhel puri. Puffed rice is used in dishes like Spicy Puffed Rice and other snacks.

For nutrition information, check out Health Benefits of Rice.

Yogurt Rice

Yogurt Rice

| March 19, 2013 Comment

Yogurt Rice or Curd Rice as it’s known in India, is the easiest dish to make, and makes any festive meal even more delicious. In South India, no meal is complete without plain yogurt and rice; and on special occasions, vegetables are added to give it a special touch. Made with plain yogurt, yogurt rice […]

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Vegetable Khichdi

Vegetable Khichdi

| March 19, 2013 Comment

Vegetable Khichdi is great if you don’t have time to make elaborate meals and are just looking for something quick and healthy. Made with rice, split mung beans (with peel), and vegetables, this dish is easy to make. The mung beans with peel provide protein and fiber, and the vegetables several vitamins and minerals. Servings: […]

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Vangi Bhath (Eggplant Rice)

Vangi Bhath (Eggplant Rice)

| March 19, 2013 Comment

Vangi Bhath (Eggplant Rice) is a popular vegetarian dish in South India. If you’re tired of eating the usual fare, spice up your meals with Vangi Bhath. This is an easy recipe for this flavored rice, especially if you have the store-bought masala handy. This recipe uses no onions or garlic. Servings: 4-6 Cooking Time: […]

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Tomato-Onion Rice

Tomato-Onion Rice

| March 19, 2013 Comment

Tomato-Onion Rice is a great option if you’re looking for some quick dinner ideas that are vegetarian. This is an easy recipe and makes a tangy one-dish meal. Servings: 2-3 Cooking Time: 20 minutes Ingredients 1 1/2 cups rice 2 cups tomatoes, cut lengthwise 1 1/2 cups onions, cut lengthwise and halved 2-3 green chillies, […]

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Plain Basmati Rice

Plain Basmati Rice

| March 14, 2013 Comment

Plain basmati Rice has a wonderful fragrance and a taste all its own. Fluffy and aromatic, this rice is usually served with North-Indian vegetable curries, lentil soups, raitas, and pappadums. You can cook this rice in a pressure cooker, rice cooker, or as in this recipe, in the old-fashioned way – in a pan on […]

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Masala Rice

Masala Rice

| March 13, 2013 Comment

This quick Masala Rice is perfect for a one-dish meal. If you’re not in the mood for a regular full-course meal, and want to put together a quick, healthy meal, try this masala rice. If you don’t like onions, add more peas. You can also add some potatoes to make this dish more filling. Servings: […]

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Khichadi (Pongal)

Khichadi (Pongal)

| March 13, 2013 Comment

Khichadi (Pongal) is a healthy one-dish meal made with rice and moong dal. It’s known as Khara Pongal in South India. Khichadi is easy to make and makes a great vegetarian brunch as well. Serve it with a spoonful of ghee, lemon or any other pickle, rasam, and papads, and you have simple yet delicious […]

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Jeera Rice

Jeera Rice

| March 13, 2013 Comment

Try this simple Jeera Rice the next time you want to have a special meal. Serve this cumin-flavored rice with a vegetable curry and plain yogurt or raita for a light but healthy meal. This is a traditional North Indian rice recipe. Servings: 2 Cooking Time: 20 mins ( 30 minutes for soaking) Ingredients 1 […]

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Fried Rice

Fried Rice

| March 12, 2013 Comment

Fried rice is a wonderful dish that adds fragrance and taste to any party meal. Lightly spiced with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and cumin, this flavored rice is sure to be a great hit with your family and friends. Serve it with a nice gravy dish like Chana Masala or Chana Kurma. This is a quick […]

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Carrot Pulao

Carrot Pulao

| March 10, 2013 Comment

Carrot Pulao is wholesome amd nutritious and can be served as a one-dish meal. Make it even more nutritious by using brown basmati rice instead of white. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A and potassium and are great for heart, skin, and eye health. Servings: 2 Cooking Time: 20 minutes (+ 10 minutes […]

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Bisi Bele Bhath

Bisi Bele Bhath

| March 8, 2013 Comment

Bisi Bele Bhath is a delicious and spicy dish popular in South India. Made with rice, lentils, and vegetables, this makes a perfect one-dish meal for a cold winter night, or any night you don’t feel like making an elaborate meal. Bisi Bele Bhath is the South Indian version of the Italian risotto. Bisi Bele […]

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Vegetable Rice

Vegetable Rice

| March 6, 2013 Comment

Vegetable Rice is a homemade gourmet dish and can be made with any vegetables you like. This is a tasty one-dish meal that’s quick and easy. Leave out the onions for a no-onion version. Served with plain yogurt, pickles, and papadums, this spicy vegetable rice makes a healthy, light meal. Servings: 6-8 Cooking Time: 30 […]

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