Jeera rice or zeera rice is steamed, aromatic Basmati rice flavored with cumin and other whole spices. It is a simple gluten-free side dish ready in 20 minutes in your instant pot or stovetop. Serve with a simple dal or as an accompaniment to the curry of your choice.
Switch on the saute mode on your instant pot and add the ghee or oil. When it melts, add the cumin, cinnamon, bay leaf and cloves and cardamom (if using). Let the spices sizzle in the hot ghee for a few seconds or until they change color.
Add the rice along with the water in which it was soaked, lemon juice and salt.
Cancel the saute mode and switch on the pressure cooking (manual) mode. Close the vent, secure the lid and set the timer to 5 minutes.
When the timer beeps, release the pressure after 5 minutes. Open the cooker and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve with a dal or curry of your choice.
Note: Jeera rice in a rice cooker also follows the same steps as above, right down to the amount of water used.
Stovetop Method
Melt the ghee or oil in a saucepan on medium heat and add the cumin and the rest of the spices. Let the spices sizzle in the hot ghee for a few seconds or until they change color.
Add the rice along with the water in which it was soaked, lemon juice and salt. Let the liquid come to a roiling boil.
Reduce the heat and let the rice simmer in the saucepan until most of the water has been absorbed.
Now cover the pan and let the rice cook in its own steam for 3-4 minutes on the lowest heat possible.
Remove from the hob and let the pot rest for a few minutes more, covered. Take off the lid, fluff the rice with a fork and serve with a curry of your choice.
Notes
If you're vegan, substitute the ghee with an equal amount of cooking oil.
Rinse the rice until the water runs clear.
Use the exact amount of water mentioned in the recipe for perfect, fluffy rice. You can of course, halve it or double it depending on the amount of rice.
The lemon juice separates the grains and prevents them from sticking to each other. Do use it.
Long-grain, aged Basmati rice is the go-to variety for making this zeera rice recipe. Tilda or Dawat are good brands that yield excellent results.
If you don't like your rice grains to stick even one teeny bit, discard the water in which the rice was soaked and then add the strained rice to the ghee. Now add fresh water to the pot and continue.