Why add Turmeric to Rice while cooking?

Name: How to cook yellow (turmeric) rice perfectly?
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 250 g White Rice; 2 l Water; 1 tbsp Salt; 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder

1 October 20214 October 2020 by Sarah

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Rice is a staple food all over India. It is eaten as a main dish, with a variety of dals, curries, and is even used in a few sweet dishes. Who doesn’t like Pulao, Fried rice, Paella, or Biryani? The options are innumerable. But here’s why we Indians add turmeric to rice!

Rice is a cereal grain and a staple food item for about half of this world’s population, especially in many parts of Asia and Africa. It has been a part of people’s diet for thousands of years, and the debate as to whether Asian Rice (Oryza sativa) originated in China or India has not yet been settled because Archaeologists on both sides are claiming dibs. The African (Oryza glaberrima) rice is a much newer species though still over 3000 years old.

Rice is a really simple dish to cook and does have some nutritional value as well. So let’s find out how it is prepared.

What do you need to make Rice?

Other than the white rice, all you need is salt and water. Turmeric (Haldi) is a great add-on.

How to make non sticky Rice at home?

If you grow up in India, you’ll have grown up with your mom telling you to rinse and wash the white rice to remove the excess starch. This gets the fattening starch out and also helps you create perfectly separate individual grains of rice, just like the many ads for rice in India. Sticky rice, that’s a no-no over here! Chapku rice, no way! Fluffy separate grains of rice! That is perfect!

Anyways, after washing the starch out of the rice, put it in a steel vessel, add water and salt and bring it to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the rice and boil on a medium flame. And lastly, add the turmeric powder.

White rice in a pink plastic bowl. — White rice

White rice in water in a pink bowl. — Rinse the rice

Water and salt in a steel vessel. — Add salt and boil water

White rice in a steel vessel with boiling water. — Add rice to boiling water

Yellow turmeric, rice and water in a steel vessel. — Add turmeric to the boiling rice water

Stir the rice a few times so that it does not stick to the bottom and it cooks equally. After about 10 to 15 mins, check on the rice and squish a few grains between 2 fingers to see if its cooked. If it still a bit hard, continue to boil it. If it is squishy, then your rice is ready.

Hand holding a piece of yellow rice above a steel spoon over a vessel of boiled rice. — Test a piece of rice

Yellow rice in a spoon above a vessel with boiled yellow rice. — Rice is cooked

Turn the stove off, cover the vessel with a lid or strainer, and drain out all of the water.

Pic of hands holding a steel vessel with kitchen cloths. — Drain the rice

And your fluffy individual grains of haldi rice aka turmeric rice are ready to be served!

Yellow rice served in a white dish with green designs. — Rice to be served

Yellow boiled rice in white dish. — Simple boiled rice

Yellow boiled rice placed in a white dish. — Rice, ready to serve

Turmeric rice garnished with coriander. — Turmeric rice garnished with coriander

What’s Perfect about this Rice Recipe?

It is quick and easy to make.
It requires just 3 main ingredients, while the rest are optional add-ons.
Rice does have a few health benefits.

Turmeric rice with raisins. — Turmeric rice with raisins

Cooking Tips Or Tricks

Rinse the rice a few times before you start cooking to remove any dirt and husks. Even if the rice is clean we still rinse it to remove the excess starch.
If you want plain boiled white rice, do not add the turmeric (Haldi) powder.
You can also add Bay leaves or Star Anise to the water while boiling for additional flavour. My mom uses both of these together too!
If you’re serving the yellow rice for a party, top it with a tablespoon of Indian clarified butter aka ghee. This gives it a really nutty flavor!
You could also sprinkle chopped fresh turmeric on top.
Another option is this – after draining the rice, fry the rice with ghee or butter, along with cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves.
You can add peas, veggies, or meats with a little oil or ghee or butter to boiled rice and turn it into a complete dish on its own.
You can also add raisins to the rice.
Or garnish with fresh coriander and serve with sliced tomatoes.
To make a rice pulao, add veggies like carrots, green peas, and chopped boiled potatoes.
Serve with moong dal, masoor dal, mustard chicken, green chutney, corn cabbage veggies, goat trotters curry, or spicy tomato pickle.

Rice served with coriander and tomatoes. — Rice served with tomatoes and coriander

FAQ’s About Rice

Is rice naturally white?

No, all rice is naturally brown. There is a process that removes the outer layers that makes it white.

Is white rice healthy?

White rice is not as healthy as brown rice or red rice.

Can cooked rice be reheated?

Yes, rice can be reheated, but make sure it is piping hot and do not reheat it more than once. Also, add in a little water while reheating – this makes sure the rice doesn’t get dry.

Can cooked rice be refrigerated?

Yes, plain boiled rice can be kept in a fridge for about 4 – 7 days. If the rice has other ingredients, then 1 – 2 days max.

Can cooked rice be frozen?

Yes, you can store leftover cooked rice in a container if you want to eat it another time. It will stay edible for months.

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