Coriander Rice Recipe (Cilantro rice)

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Coriander Rice or Cilantro rice Indian style recipe – very flavorful and colorful looking rice dish with lots of vegetables. Very healthy and nutritious rice recipe. This can be packed to lunch box.

The paste is made from coriander leaves along with ginger, garlic and green chilies. This paste is added while cooking the rice. So the cooked rice gets nice green and appetizing color.

Green chilies is the only spicy ingredient added to it, so adjust the quantity accordingly. If making for kids then use less chilies. I and hubby like it spicy so I have added 2 green chilies.

To make it more nutritious and healthy, few vegetables like carrot, green peas, cauliflower and potato are added. Use any veggie that you like or skip any that you don’t like. You can add green beans, baingan, tendli, broccoli etc.

Coriander paste is added while cooking the rice which gives bright green color to the cooked rice. No dry spice powders require to make this coriander rice. Few whole spices are added in the oil which makes it so fragrant and mild flavored rice.

This coriander rice is good for lunch box (kids or adult). Pack some yogurt or raita or pickle on side to make it a meal. Once in a week I need to pack for him as he loves it with plain yogurt and papad on side.

This recipe is adapted from Tarla Dalal’s cookbook. Pressure cooker is used for making coriander rice. This way it will be ready in jiffy. However if you do not have small pressure cooker like mine, then you can make in the pan as well. Method is mentioned in the recipe Notes below.

Check out more rice recipes for lunch box
Capsicum rice  // Carrot rice  // Tomato rice  // Sweet corn rice

How to make Coriander Rice Recipe (Step by Step Photos):

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Coriander rice recipe (Cilantro rice recipe or Coriander pulao)

Coriander rice or pulao recipe - healthy one pot meal that can be made in jiffy

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Yield 2 Servings

Calories 431 kcal

Author Kanan

Ingredients (1 cup = 240 ml)

For coriander paste:

• ¾ cup Cilantro or coriander leaves packed
• 2 small Green chili
• ½ inch Ginger
• 2 cloves Garlic
• 2 tablespoons Water

For coriander rice recipe:

• ¾ cup Basmati rice
• 2 tablespoons Oil
• 2 Cloves
• 2 Green cardamoms
• ½ inch Cinnamon stick
• 1 Bay leaf
• ¼ cup Onion sliced
• ½ cup Potatoes cubed
• ½ cup Cauliflower (gobi) cut into bite size florets
• ¼ cup Green peas
• ¼ cup Carrot chopped
• Salt to taste
• 1 ¼ cups Water

Instructions

Preparation and making paste:

1. Wash the rice under running cold water till water runs clear, Soak in enough water for 15 minutes.

2. After the soaking time, drain the water and keep rice in colander.

   

3. Meanwhile chop all the veggies and make coriander paste. Take all the paste ingredients with 2 tablespoons of water into grinder jar.

4. Make smooth paste out of and keep it aside.

   

Making coriander rice recipe:

1. Heat the oil in a pressure cooker on medium heat. Now oil is hot add cloves, cardamom, bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Let it saute for a minute.

2. Then add sliced onion and cook for 2 minutes.

   

3. Then add rest of the veggies along with salt. 

4. Mix well.

   

5. Add prepared paste. 

6. Stir well and cook for 1-2 minutes.

   

7. Add drained rice.

8. Stir and saute for a minute

   

9. Add water and stir.

10. Cover the pressure cooker with lid, put the weight on and turn the heat on HIGH and let it whistle for 2 times then turn off the stove.

    

11. Let the pressure go down by itself and open the pressure cooker.

12. Fluff up the rice grains using fork very gently and serve.

    

Notes

Serving suggestion: Serve with any raita or plain yogurt or pickle. Also have some roasted or fried papadum on side to complete the meal. As this is mild rice, I prefer to serve with spicy, intense flavored raita like tadka raita, onion tomato raita.

Method to cook coriander rice in pan instead of pressure cooker:

Follow the same procedure in the pan till you mix in the soaked rice. The water quantity will be more. You need to add 1 ½ cups of water and let it come to a boil. Once it boils, cover the pan with lid, lower the gas heat to lowest possible and cook for 17-18 minutes. Then turn off the stove and let it rest covered for 10 minutes. Then open the lid and fluff up the rice with fork.

*Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 serving

Nutrition Facts

Coriander rice recipe (Cilantro rice recipe or Coriander pulao)

Amount Per Serving (352 g)

Calories 431 Calories from Fat 129

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 14.3g 22%

Saturated Fat 1.9g 10%

Sodium 633mg 26%

Potassium 401mg 11%

Total Carbohydrates 67.6g 23%

Dietary Fiber 3.8g 15%

Sugars 3.4g

Protein 7.5g 15%

Vitamin A 57%

Vitamin C 47%

Calcium 6%

Iron 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.