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    Home » Recipes » Rice & Grains

    Indian Turmeric Yellow Rice

    January 20, 2023 . By Meeta Arora . 8 Comments | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe
    indian turmeric yellow rice in a bowl garnished with cilantro leaves

    This fragrant and flavorful Indian Turmeric Yellow Rice is a healthy alternative to your usual white rice. Try my recipe to know how to easily make this vibrant rice on the stovetop or in the instant pot.

    indian turmeric yellow rice in a bowl garnished with cilantro leaves

    Easy and simple to make, this turmeric rice is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. It gives a lovely golden hue to the rice and my family absolutely love it, similar to my Lemon Rice recipe.

    It gets ready in less than 20 minutes and all you need is your staple pantry ingredients and spices.

    What is Turmeric?

    Growing up in India, Turmeric is "The" spice found in every Indian home. It is one of the primary ingredient found in every spice box and recipe.

    It is the root of the Curcuma Longa plant. The main ingredient in Turmeric is "curcumin" which gives it that bright yellowish tinge. Be careful, when using this spice as it can stain easily, and is very difficult to remove the stain.

    Turmeric Benefits

    And turmeric has a ton of benefits like:

    • It has anti-inflammatory d anti-oxidant naproperties
    • Lowers the risk of heart dieseases and cancer
    • Gives a glowing and clear skin
    • Boosts brain function

    So mixing it with rice gives a flavorful, colorful and healthy Turmeric Yellow rice.

    Why you will love this Easy Turmeric Rice?

    • Easy to make
    • Takes less than 20 minutes to make.
    • Its rich, vibrant color adds beautiful color to the lunch or dinner spread.
    • Healthier than plain white rice
    golden Turmeric rice in a bowl garnished with cilantro

    Ingredients

    This healthy turmeric rice has the usual ingredients like:

    Basmati rice: I like to use long grain rice when making this recipe. You can use jasmine rice or other white rice too.

    Onions & Garlic: We love to add these aromatics to the rice. You can skip onions if you like, the rice will still turn out well.

    Whole Spices: I add cinnamon, bay leaf, green cardamom and star anise to the rice. These add a wonderful aroma to the rice. (Note: it is okay to skip if you don't have these in your pantry)

    Ground turmeric: This is the star ingredient in this recipe. In case of turmeric, a little goes a long way. So just add ½ to ¾ teaspoon.

    Cilantro: Garnish with cilantro leaves

    How to Make?

    It is very easy to make this side dish of Turmeric Rice. Just a few basic steps, and they will be ready in 20 minutes.

    • Take the required amount of basmati rice and rinse it well till the water runs clear.
    How to wash rice
    • Heat a spoonful of ghee or oil in a pot on medium heat.
    • Once it heats, add the whole spices like bay leaf, cinnamon sticks, star anise and cardamom.
    • Sauté the spices for about 30 seconds till their aroma is released.
    • Then add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot and sauté till the onions turn translucent.
    • Now it is time to add the ground turmeric, salt and give it good stir.
    steps to make turmeric rice with whole spices, onions and garlic
    • Then add the rinsed rice and sauté for about 30 seconds before adding the water.
    • Stir all the ingredients together well, bring it to boil and lower the heat to the lowest setting and simmer for a few minutes until the rice absorbs all the liquid.
    How to make turmeric rice on the stovetop
    • Garnish with chopped cilantro leaves. And serve.
    • You can remove the whole spices after the rice is cooked or while serving.
    Perfectly cooked basmati turmeric yellow rice garnished with cilantro

    Instant Pot Turmeric Rice

    • Follow the same steps as above until adding the rice and water in the instant pot on Saute mode.
    • Then pressure cook the rice for 4 minutes at high pressure and when it beeps, let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
    • Then manually release the pressure, fluff the rice with a fork and enjoy!!
    Indian yellow turmeric basmati rice in a bowl

    Pro-Tips:

    • Soak the rice for 15 minutes to reduce the cooking time and to get a fluffier texture
    • Make sure the water runs clear till the starch is completely removed for non-sticky texture.
    • Use oil instead of ghee to make a vegan version of this healthy rice.

    Variations

    You can make this healthy turmeric rice with different combinations such as:

    • Turmeric Brown Rice - Follow the same steps above to prep the rice. Then cook all the ingredients for about for 22 minutes on high pressure in instant pot. Cook the same for about for 35-45 minutes covered on stovetop.
    • Turmeric Rice with raisins - Sauté the raisins in some ghee or oil, and set aside. Then garnish the turmeric rice with them at the end. You can also use dried cranberries for a festive look.
    • Turmeric Rice with vegetables - This is just like the everyday pulao that is commonly made in India. You can easily know to make it here.
    Yellow Turmeric rice topped with dried cranberries

    How to Serve?

    • You can serve this vibrant rice with a side of veggies, grilled meat or vegetables.
    • Serve it alongside with simple yogurt or raita like boondi raita along with papad and your favorite pickle.
    • You can serve it with a curry such as chicken tikka masala or vegetable korma, or with dal fry as a replacement for the usual white rice.

    How to Store?

    This turmeric rice can be stored in an air-tight container and refrigerated for up to two days. Or freeze it for uptown 3 months in a freezer safe container. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.

    To reheat the rice, microwave for 30 seconds. You can cover with a wet paper towel while heating so that the rice retains its moisture.

    More Rice Recipes

    Try some more rice recipes to make your everyday meal a delight:

    • Brown Rice Mushroom Pilaf
    • Spanish Rice
    • Beet Rice
    • Spinach Rice
    • Coconut Rice
    • Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
    • How to cook Calrose Rice?
    Tried this recipe?Give a rating by clicking the ★ below
    Indian Yellow Turmeric Rice in a white bowl

    Indian Turmeric Yellow Rice

    Meeta Arora
    This fragrant and flavorful Turmeric Rice is a healthy alternative to your usual white rice. Try my recipe to know how to easily make this vibrant rice on the stovetop or in the instant pot.
    4.84 from 18 votes
    Print Save Saved! Pin
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 219
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Gluten-free, Vegan
    Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker, Stovetop
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 20 mins
    Total Time: 25 mins

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 tablespoon Ghee or Oil
    • 1 Bay leaf (Tej Patta)
    • 1 inch Cinnamon (Dalchini)
    • 1 Star anaise optional
    • 3 Green Cardamom (Elaichi) optional
    • ½ cup Onion diced
    • 2 cloves Garlic minced
    • 1 cup Basmati Rice or another long-grain white rice
    • ¾ teaspoon Ground Turmeric (Haldi powder)
    • ¾ teaspoon Salt
    • 2 cup Water (1 ¼ cup for instant pot method)
    • Cilantro leaves to garnish
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Wash the rice with water 2-3 times, until the water is clear.
    • Heat ghee or oil in a pot on medium heat. Then add the whole spices - bay leaf, cinnamon, star anise, and cardamom. Saute for 30 seconds until they release their aroma.
    • Add the diced onion and garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes until the onions are soft and translucent.
    • Add the turmeric, salt and stir. Then add the rinsed rice and saute for 30 seconds. Now add the water and give it a stir.
    • Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat down to the lowest setting , cover with the lid. Let it simmer for 12 minutes or until all the water is absorbed.
    • Remove from heat and keep the pot covered for another 8-10 minutes. Then remove the lid, and fluff the rice with a fork. Enjoy!

    Instant Pot Method

    • Follow the same steps as above until adding the rice and water in the instant pot on Saute mode. Then pressure cook for 4 minutes at high pressure. When the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. Then manually release the pressure. Fluff the rice with a fork and enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    • Soak the rice for 15 minutes to reduce the cooking time and to get a fluffier texture
    • Make sure the water runs clear till the starch is completely removed for non-sticky texture.
    • Use oil instead of ghee to make a vegan version of this healthy rice.

    Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 219kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 4gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 446mgPotassium: 116mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword indian yellow rice, Turmeric rice, yellow basmati rice
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @PipingPotCurry or #pipingpotcurry

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    292 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lori Flores says

      August 03, 2022 at 10:31 am

      Rice came out amazing, thank you!!!

      Reply
      • Piping Pot Curry says

        August 04, 2022 at 9:58 am

        Hi Lori - So good to hear that 🙂

        Reply
    2. Simón says

      July 12, 2022 at 3:56 pm

      Made this today in my rice cooker. Had every ingredient except garlic. Came out great anyway. Excellent and easy recipe! Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Piping Pot Curry says

        July 14, 2022 at 10:43 am

        Hi Simon - That makes me really happy. Thank you for sharing it back 🙂

        Reply
    3. Eddina Brunovszky says

      May 26, 2022 at 4:46 pm

      I just came across this page and I am glad I did. I haven't made the rice yet but it sounds like it will turn out well. I like how she says "If you don't have certain ingredients it will turn out fine" That's how I was taught to cook. Don't over think it. I'm going to start the rice now!

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        June 07, 2022 at 10:49 am

        H Eddina - Glad to hear you liked the recipe. Would love to hear how it turned out. Thanks!

        Reply
    4. Susan says

      April 05, 2022 at 8:13 am

      Thank you very much for sharing such a delightful recipe!

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        April 19, 2022 at 6:49 am

        Hi Susan - So happy to hear you enjoyed the turmeric rice!

        Reply

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    Meeta Arora of Piping Pot Curry

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