Indian Turmeric Yellow Rice

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

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 loves the taste, similar to my lemon rice, saffron rice, and peas pulao recipe.

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

Watch How to Make Indian Turmeric Yellow Rice

What is Turmeric?

Growing up in India, Turmeric is “The” spice found in every Indian home. It is one of the primary ingredients 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 it is very difficult to remove the stain.

Turmeric Benefits

And turmeric has a ton of benefits like:

• It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties
• Lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer
• Gives glowing and clear skin
• Boosts brain function

So, mixing it with rice gives it flavorful, colorful, and healthy turmeric yellow rice, just like my golden turmeric milk recipe.

Why you will love this Easy Turmeric Rice?

• Easy to make
• Takes less than 20 minutes to make.
• Its rich, vibrant color adds a beautiful color to the lunch or dinner spread.
• Healthier than plain white rice

Ingredients

This healthy turmeric rice has the usual ingredients:

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. You can also add grated ginger to this turmeric rice recipe.

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 the case of turmeric, a little goes a long way. So add 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon.

Cilantro: Garnish with cilantro leaves

How to Make Indian Yellow Rice?

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.

• Heat a spoonful of ghee or oil in a pot on medium heat. You can also use butter for extra flavor in place of oil.
• 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 and salt and give it a good stir.

• Then add the rinsed rice and sauté for about 30 seconds before adding the water. I have used water to cook the rice, but you can also use vegetable broth here.
• Stir all the ingredients together well, bring it to a boil, lower the heat to the lowest setting, and simmer for a few minutes until the rice absorbs all the liquid.

• Garnish with chopped cilantro leaves. And serve.
• You can remove the whole spices after the rice is cooked or while serving.

Instant Pot Turmeric Rice

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

Pro-Tips

• Soak the rice for 15 minutes to reduce the cooking time and to get a fluffier texture
• Ensure the water runs clear until the starch is completely removed for a 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 22 minutes on high pressure in the instant pot. Cook the same for about 35-45 minutes covered on the stovetop.
• Turmeric Rice with raisins – Sauté the raisins in 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 how to make it here.

How to Serve?

• You can serve this vibrant rice with a side of veggies, grilled meat, or vegetables.
• Serve it alongside 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 to replace the usual white rice.

How to Store?

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

To reheat the rice, microwave for 30 seconds. You can cover it with a wet paper towel while heating it 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?