A really great Curried Rice that won’t disappoint! This pilaf-style fluffy basmati rice recipe is flavoured with everyday curry powder plus extra spices to give it a punch of flavour.
With sweetness from carrots and peas, a sprinkle of cashews and a garlic flavour base, this is a rice side dish that will jazz up any meal. Or serve it with crispy fried eggs for a super quick meal!
Curried Rice – think of the possibilities!
Just 2 hours ago, I left 8 big containers of this Curried Rice with the wonderful team at my local veterinary clinic (one of the regular places to which I take surplus food) along with a note that went along the lines of this:
“Curried basmati rice, not too spicy, fab rice side but can also eat plain. Use to make quick meal eg. eggs sunny side up or slice hard boiled, simple Crispy Pan Fried Fish or Garlic Prawns (recipes on my site!!!), even a can of tuna, salmon etc Yogurt highly recommended.”
And in that shorthand note I left with the food, I’ve just hit up all the high points about this recipe. I should do that more often! 😂
What you’ll need
This recipe calls for a few more spices than just Curry Powder because I typically find that things made with just curry powder sometimes lack flavour (though this simple Everyday Chicken Curry and Curried Sausages are an exception to that rule!)
So I dial up the curry flavour with a few extra spices – cumin, coriander and paprika, plus chilli powder for spiciness which is optional.
This Curried Rice is a basmati rice recipe because it’s on-point. The nutty flavour is ideal for the flavours in this recipe, but there’s plenty of other rice options that I’ve covered in the recipe notes.
I added grated carrots and peas for extra flavour and texture – they add sweetness which really elevates this from your usual pilaf recipe. Plus cashews and fresh coriander/cilantro.
Look at these ingredients. You know this is going to be a winner! 😇
The secret to fluffy, tender Basmati rice
This recipe starts like any usual pilaf, sautéing aromatics – in this case garlic, ginger (optional), onion and carrot. After this, the raw rinsed basmati rice is added, the spices, then chicken or vegetable broth/stock.
The next steps are the key to ensure you have fluffy tender rice that’s not gluey or unevenly cooked:
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Push any protruding rice grains under the surface of the liquid;
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Bring the liquid to a simmer.
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When there are bubbles across the entire surface of the liquid (not just around the edges of the pot), clamp the lid on, turn the heat down to LOW and cook for 14 minutes. No peeking!
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Remove from heat and rest undisturbed for 10 to 15 minutes. The rice continues to cook and absorbs any residual liquid.
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Fluff with a rubber spatular NOT a fork (breaks the long grains), marvel at how soft yet fluffy the rice is, and serve!
Why do you rinse the basmati rice? You don’t usually do that!
That’s true, most rice recipes on my site do not call for the rice to be rinsed, not even when cooking plain basmati rice.
The step of rinsing the rice is called for because in this pilaf style rice, there are vegetables which leech liquid that can cause the basmati rice to become a bit gluier than ideal.
This is unique to basmati rice. Other flavoured rice recipes like Greek Lemon Rice, Coconut Rice and Mexican Red Rice are made with other types of white rice that are not as sensitive when cooking with vegetables.
You do not need to rinse basmati rice when cooking it plain because there’s no other ingredients to affect the cooking process, so it can be cooked without rinsing and it will come out fluffy.
I’m a big fan of flavoured rice recipes because it makes mealtime interesting / quick and easy. When you’ve got a side with this much flavour, it takes centre stage so it’s just about rounding out the meal with some easy vegetables and protein. I’ve popped some ideas below! – Nagi x
How / what to serve with Curried Rice
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Great to take to gatherings as part of a banquet (reheats very well)
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Dollop of plain yogurt – essential!
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Add some plain tomato and cucumber wedges for juicy freshness, or this Everyday Cabbage Salad
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Some cooked protein suggestions:
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Super quick meal – eggs sunny side up or boiled (very typical Asian/Indian sub-continent way of adding protein to meals)
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Add a can of tuna or salmon, or try hot smoked salmon or trout
Curried Basmati Rice Recipe
Watch how to make it
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Curried Rice (Basmati rice)
Ingredients
Spices:
- 3 tsp yellow curry powder (Note 1)
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder (adjust spiciness to taste) (Note 2)
Rice:
- 40g (3 tbsp) butter (or ghee or oil) (Note 3)
- 1 onion , finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves , minced
- 2 tsp ginger , finely chopped or grated
- 1 1/2 cups (275g) uncooked basmati rice (Note 4)
- 2 small carrot , peeled and grated
- 2 1/4 cups (560 ml) chicken or vegetable broth, low sodium (Note 5)
- 2 cups (300g) frozen peas
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Finishes:
- 1 cup (150g) cashews , roasted, unsalted
- 1/2 cup coriander/cilantro leaves , finely chopped
- Yogurt , for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse rice until water runs pretty clear, then drain well. (Note 4)
- Melt butter in a small to medium pot (or large saucepan) over medium high heat.
- Add garlic and ginger, cook 30 seconds. Add onion and cook for 2 minutes until partly translucent.
- Add carrot and cook for 2 - 3 minutes until softened and sweet.
- Add rice and stir to coat all the grains in the oil.
- Add Spices and mix to coat the rice.
- Add broth, peas, salt and pepper, stir. If any rice is protruding above the surface, poke it under the liquid.
- When the entire surface of the liquid is simmering, stir once, place lid on and immediately turn heat down to LOW.
- Cook for 14 minutes, do not peek while cooking!
- Lift lid slightly and quickly tilt pot to check to ensure liquid has been absorbed. Clamp lid back on and remove from heat.
- Stand for 10 minutes, undisturbed.
- Use a rubber spatula to gently fluff the rice. (Note 6)
- Add most of the cashews and coriander, stir through.
- Transfer to serving bowl, sprinkle with remaining cashews and coriander. See in post for serving ideas.
Recipe Notes:
* Rice is stickier, such is the nature of those rices. How I rinse rice: Either place in colander and run under water for 30 seconds, moving rice about with your hands, until water runs pretty clear. Or do this in a bowl, swishing rice around and changing water 4 times or so. Drain rice well before using. No need to soak rice for this recipe - I found it didn't make a difference to fluffiness. 5. Broth/stock - Be sure to use low sodium broth (stock), otherwise it will end up too salty. If you use a stock powder, bouillon cube or concentrate + hot water to make broth, then omit the salt completely. 6. GENERAL:
- Scaling recipe: If you scale down, be sure to use a smaller pot otherwise the rice won't cook evenly.
- Don't use a fork to fluff basmati rice, it breaks the long grains.
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
I shared this flashback Dozer puppy photo on Instagram over the weekend. It got more likes than my recipes do!! I’m so offended – he’s stealing my thunder! 😂
Looks terrific! Going to try with quinoa. Do you think I could sub garam masala for coriander (only because that is what I have in my pantry)?
Many thanks for this wonderful recipe. The best rice one I have found so far. How would you reheat this amount without spoiling it? Thanks.
Hi Mhairi, I just cover and microwave to reheat – N x
Nagi, could you use brown basmati for this? It does not seem as hard as ordinary brown rice
Hi Trish, I haven’t tried to be honest so I can’t give you an accurate cook time – N x
This was amazing I wanted to eat it all and I made it with normal rice cause basmati and jasmine are scarce here.
Sounds great Kate!
This rice recipe was delicious! My family and I adore it. Thank you!
Wahoo!
I love your recipes. You cover everything I am interested in.
That’s awesome Carol! Thanks so much for letting me know what you think!
I love curry and this looks like a GOOD ONE!
I hope you try it Jacqueline!
Made this easy recipe, used brown basmati rice and topped it with fried eggs. Delicious👍 I really enjoy your newsletter, great work. As a dog lover, I also enjoy pics of Dozer. I have an apricot colored Australian Labradoodle. Great dog.
Thanks so much Fred!
I love this rice! Even my super picky husband ate it three days in a row. We even mixed a little bit of your pork carnitas in with it and it was even better. Thank you!
Great idea Barbara!
Thanks Nagi 💕love all your recipes, but this is super, I made the full recipe, as it’s just my partner and I, we had 3 different meals from it! Reheats wonderfully
I’m so happy you both love it Julie!
Hi Nagi – this rice looks AMAZING!!! Now about the peas, my husband and I love them, our son hates them. If I boiled the peas in water separately and then served my son’s rice up first, then stirred the cooked peas through do you think it would impact on the rice’s flavour???
If so we will save this recipe for when son isn’t home. I mean honestly, who doesn’t love peas hahaha.
You can totally add the peas later, Lisa! –Nx
just made your delicious curried rice recipe-wonderful way to make rice much more interesting to eat thank you love to dozer he’s gorgeous I have a 4 year old girl retriever willow and love her dearly
That’s great Margie, I love hearing great feedback. Sending sloppy kisses from Dozer to Willow 🐶
It’s just husband and me but I made the complete recipe because I didn’t want to cut the recipe down. We’re not spicy food eaters, so I halved all the spices but it was just right for us. We ate the rice for days but it was so good. Thanks, Nagi!
That’s awesome Eleanor – I’m so happy you loved it!
This was delicious! We had it as our main entree with naan bread on the side. Next time I might add some chickpeas. Thanks so much!
Chickpeas would be great Jocelyn! I’m so glad you loved it!
Another great recipe, had topped with fish and prawns, but so many other things I could and will do with it. Thanks again Nagi for another recipe to keep
Yes, it’s so versatile Pauline ☺️
Your Curried Rice recipe was delicious. I will make it again. Thank you . Keep them coming .
I’m so happy you love it Loretta ❤️
Delicious! I made the broth from leftovers of a roasted chicken from the grocery store that I had in the freezer. I only found brown basmati rice at my small local market and didn’t know until I started making the recipe that I wasn’t supposed to use brown rice. I cooked it 20 minutes longer and it worked out fine. Maybe the slightest bit crunchy, but not a problem. Again, so delicious!
I’m so glad you liked it Rene!
My husband said this is the best rice ever (not a great rice lover) yeah …. I loved it also thanks Nagi. I cook your recipes a lot, love them all. Thank you for making dinner easy.
That’s awesome Deb! You’ve converted him now 😉
Hi Nagi
Would this recipe work with cauliflower rice?
I haven’t tried with cauliflower rice – it wouldn’t work quite the same as cauliflower won’t absorb the liquids – N x
That curry rice was so good my partner said he could go on eating it until he was sick. It is very hard to call it quits. Tasty as.
I’m so happy it’s a hit!