10 Healthy Rice Recipes for Indian Cuisine
Rice is the staple grain in many Indian households. However, falling into a rut of plain, boring meals is easy. Are you bored with eating only plain white rice every day? In this blog, we have compiled a list of the top 10 healthy rice recipes, especially meant for Indian cuisine. These recipes will shake things up for you and make all your meals delicious and nourishing. Whether you crave simple dal chawal, khichdi, veg pulao, paneer biryani, or curd rice, every meal brings a fresh twist and enhances your dining experience. Stuffed with colourful vegetables and flavourful spices, these dishes are ideal for busy weekdays and mindful meal prep. So, bid farewell to repetitive rice meals and welcome wholesome, fulfilling meals that satiate your taste buds and meet your health goals.
10 Healthy Rice Recipes
Bid adieu to boring, bland, and mushy rice! These simple rice recipes will help you make the most of this tasty grain. These include weeknight dinners, flavourful rice meals, and much more. Discussed below are some tasty, healthy rice ideas:
Mushroom Rice
Are you searching for healthy rice recipes that is wholesome, fulfilling, and flavourful at the same time? Mushroom rice is that savoury and satisfying dish. Give it a try!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of any Keshar Kali rice
- 1½ cups of sliced mushrooms
- 1 sliced onion
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 1 slit green chili
- ½ teaspoon of cumin seeds
- ½ teaspoon of garam masala
- Salt as per taste
- 2 tablespoons of cold-pressed cooking oil
- 2 cups of water
Recipe:
- Wash and soak any Keshar Kali rice for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, gather and prepare the other ingredients. Cook until the rice is fluffy and keep it aside.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
- Add garlic, onion, and green chili. Sauté until onions turn golden.
- Add mushrooms and cook until they release moisture and shrink.
- Toss in garam masala and salt. Stir well.
- Add rice and gently combine. Allow the rice to cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Ensure that the cooked rice is fluffy.
- Serve hot with raita or salad.
Jeera Rice
Simple and fragrant, jeera rice is an all-time favourite among all healthy rice ideas. Jeera rice is an excellent base for dals and curries and your go-to option when you need something easy to cook.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of any rice
- 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon of ghee
- Salt as per taste
- 2 cups of water
Recipe:
- Wash and soak rice for 20 minutes.
- Heat ghee in a pot. When warmed, add cumin seeds and let them make a crackling sound.
- Add rice and sauté for 1 minute.
- Pour in water and add salt.
- Cover and cook until rice is done.
- Fluff with a fork and serve with dal or curry.
Carrot Rice
Vibrant, colourful, and filled with the goodness of essential nutrients, the delicious carrot rice is one of those healthy rice recipes that both kids and adults enjoy.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of any rice
- 1 cup of grated carrot
- ½ teaspoon of mustard seeds
- 6 curry leaves
- 1 chopped green chili
- ½ inch grated ginger
- ¼ teaspoon of turmeric
- 1 tablespoon of cold-pressed edible oil
- Salt as per taste
Recipe:
- Wash rice and soak it in water for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Heat oil in a pan. Once warmed, add mustard seeds and allow them to pop.
- Add curry leaves, green chili, and ginger. Sauté briefly.
- Add grated carrot and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add turmeric and salt and mix well.
- Add rice and stir well and allow the rice to cook. Once the rice is properly cooked stir and until evenly combined.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and peanuts and your dish is ready to be served.
Saffron Rice
Craving something festive with a slight touch of sweetness? Saffron is a must try dish. The meal brings elegance to your plate and dining table and fits well in your healthy rice ideas list.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of any rice
- A pinch of saffron strands
- 2 tablespoons of warm milk
- 2 cardamom pods
- 2 cloves
- 1 tablespoon of ghee
- Salt as per taste
- 2 cups of water
Recipe:
- Soak saffron in warm milk for 10 minutes.
- Wash and soak rice for 20 minutes.
- Heat ghee in a pot. When heated, add cardamom and cloves.
- Add rice and sauté for 1 minute.
- Pour in water, saffron milk, and salt.
- Cover and cook until rice is fluffy and spongy.
- Enjoy it as a standalone dish or pair it with any side dish.
Tamarind Rice
Tangy and bold, tamarind rice is one of the most loved dishes in South Indian households. It is one of the most flavourful healthy rice ideas, which you can have whenever you wish to give a twist to your regular meal.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of any rice
- 2 tablespoons of tamarind pulp
- ½ teaspoons of mustard seeds
- 6 curry leaves
- 2 dry red chilies
- A pinch of hing or asafoetida
- ¼ teaspoon of turmeric
- 2 tablespoons of roasted peanuts
- 2 tablespoons of oil
- Salt as per taste
Recipe:
- Rinse and soak any Keshar Kali rice in water for a few minutes. Meanwhile, extract the pulp of tamarind using a blender.
- Heat oil in a pan. Once heated, add mustard seeds, curry leaves, red chilies, and asafoetida.
- Add turmeric and tamarind pulp. Stir till it thickens and turns aromatic.
- Add salt and mix well.
- Add rice and let it cook for 5 to 6 minutes.
- Toss in roasted peanuts.
- Mix thoroughly and serve with papad or curd.
Dal Chawal
Regarded as the most comfort food, dal chawal is the staple among all healthy rice recipes. It is a classic dish that soothes the mind and soul.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of mixed dal (toor, moong, masoor)
- 1 cup of any rice
- 1 chopped onion
- 2 chopped tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon of garlic paste
- ½ teaspoon of mustard seeds
- 7 curry leaves
- ½ teaspoon of turmeric
- 1 teaspoon of red chili powder
- 2 tablespoons of oil
- Salt as per taste
Recipe:
- Rinse and soak dal and rice in water for a few minutes.
- Cook dal with turmeric and salt until soft.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and curry leaves.
- Add onion and garlic paste. Sauté until golden.
- Add tomatoes and cook until soft.
- Add chili powder and mix into the cooked dal. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Cook rice separately in pressure cooker or a deep-bottomed pan. If you use a pressure cooker, cook rice for 3 to 4 whistles. If you use a pan, let rice cook properly for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Serve dal over rice with pickle, salad, pickles or papad.
Palak Khichdi
Palak Khidchi is a satisfying and fulling combination of rice, dal, and spinach. Ideal for anyone searching for healthy rice ideas, it has the goodness of spinach, lentils, rice, and other ingredients.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of moong dal
- ½ cup of any rice
- 1 cup of spinach puree
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 chopped tomato
- 1 teaspoon of ginger-garlic paste
- ½ teaspoon of cumin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon of turmeric
- 2 tablespoons of ghee
- Salt as per taste
- 4 cups water with turmeric and salt until soft.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and curry leaves.
- Add onion and garlic paste. Sauté until golden.
- Add tomatoes and cook until soft.
- Add chili powder and mix into the cooked dal. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Cook rice separately in pressure cooker or a deep-bottomed pan. If you use a pressure cooker, cook rice for 3 to 4 whistles. If you use a pan, let rice cook properly for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Serve dal over rice with pickle, salad, pickles or papad.
Recipe:
- Wash rice and dal and soak them in water for 15 to 20 minutes
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker and add cumin seeds.
- Toss in onion, ginger-garlic paste, and tomato. Sauté the mixture until soft.
- Add spinach puree, rice, dal, turmeric, and salt.
- Pour water and pressure cook for 3 to 4 whistles.
- Serve hot with curd or pickle. Garnish with peanuts for adding crunchiness.
Cabbage Rice
Palak Khidchi is a satisfying and fulling combination of rice, dal, and spinach. Ideal for anyone searching for healthy rice ideas, it has the goodness of spinach, lentils, rice, and other ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of any rice
- 1½ cups of shredded cabbage
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 chopped tomato
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- ½ teaspoon of cumin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon of turmeric
- ½ teaspoon of red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon of garam masala
- 2 tablespoons of cooking oil
- Salt as per taste
Recipe:
- Wash and soak any rice variety in water for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and garlic.
- Add onion and tomato. Sauté until soft.
- Add cabbage and cook until wilted.
- Add turmeric, chili powder, garam masala, and salt.
- Mix in cooked rice and stir well.
- Serve with dal or yogurt. You can also garnish the dish with peanuts and cashwes to add crunchiness.
Coconut Milk Rice
You have heard of coconut rice, have you? Did you try it? Coconut rice is usually cooked grated coconut. But coconut milk rice is different. Creamy and comforting coconut milk has a tropical twist It is among those healthy rice recipes that feels light but indulgent.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of any rice
- 1½ cups of coconut milk
- 2 cups of water
- 2 teaspoons of ginger-garlic paste
- 2 green chilies
- 1 cup of mixed vegetables (carrots, capsicum, beans, peas corns, broccoli, beetroot, etc)
- Whole spices (bay leaf, cardamom, cloves)
- 2 tablespoons of edible oil
- Salt as per taste
Recipe:
- Wash and soak any rice for 20 minutes.
- Heat oil in a pot. Add whole spices.
- Add ginger-garlic paste, chilies, and vegetables. Sauté briefly.
- Add coconut milk, water, and salt.
- Add rice and cook until done.
- Garnish with toasted coconut or cashews.
Potato Rice
Do you love potatoes over other vegetables? Are you thinking of how to include potato in your rice meal? Try the potato rice recipe! It is one of the most unique healthy rice ideas.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of any rice
- 2 cubed potatoes
- 1 sliced onion
- 1 chopped tomato
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 inch ginger
- 2 green chilies
- ½ teaspoon of cumin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon of turmeric
- ½ teaspoon of garam masala
- 2 tablespoons of cold-pressed cooking oil
- Salt as per taste
Recipe:
- Wash and soak any Keshar Kali rice in water. Meanwhile, prepare the other ingredients required.
- Put tomato, garlic, ginger, chilies, and cumin in a blender and make a smooth paste.
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Add sliced onion and sauté.
- Add the paste and cook until aromatic.
- Cut 2 potatoes into small cubes. Add cubed potatoes, turmeric, garam masala, and salt.
- Add soaked rice and 2 cups water.
- Pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles. Your potato rice dish is ready.
- Open the cooker, fluff the cooked rice, and serve with raita, pickles or chutney.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! That’s the top 10 healthy rice recipes for Indian cuisine. It is significant to note that whole rice is a nutrient-rich grain for any kind of diet. Cooking it healthily is important to avoid the consumption of excessive calories. Boil or steam rice to decrease the calorie content. Also, avoid including too much butter or oil in your meals. Instead, add herbs, spices, veggies, and sources of lean protein to make your dish more fulfilling and wholesome. Keep these tips in mind, and you can enjoy delicious rice meals.
Ready to cook smarter and eat better? Discover premium-quality rice with Keshar Kali and bring these recipes to life. Visit our website today, explore rice varieties, and shop now!