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?
Coriander rice recipe (Cilantro rice recipe or Coriander pulao)
Ingredients
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 Red 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:
- Wash the rice under running cold water till water runs clear, Soak in enough water for 15 minutes.
- After the soaking time, drain the water and keep rice in colander.
- Meanwhile chop all the veggies and make coriander paste. Take all the paste ingredients with 2 tablespoons of water into grinder jar.
- Make smooth paste out of and keep it aside.
Making coriander rice recipe:
- 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.
- Then add sliced onion and cook for 2 minutes.
- Then add rest of the veggies along with salt.
- Mix well.
- Add prepared paste.
- Stir well and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add drained rice.
- Stir and saute for a minute
- Add water and stir.
- 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.
- Let the pressure go down by itself and open the pressure cooker.
- Fluff up the rice grains using fork very gently and serve.
Notes
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.
Sabah
Tried it last night - really yummy. For veggies I only added potatoes and peas - no cauliflower and was super good. I did put 1/2 tsp of red chili powder for an extra kick and that was rewarding!
Kanan
very glad that you liked it.
Thank you for the detailed feedback.
Priya
HI.
Love the recipe...wat is the measurement of coriander if I want it with one cup of rice.
Regards
Priya
Kanan
1 cup of coriander leaves
Sujana
I am very excited to try this recipe tonight! I love that you have proportions for 2 people - its perfect for me and my husband. Any suggestions for the pressure cooker/how long to cook rice in it since I have an electric stove?
Kanan
this recipe is made in pressure cooker. As recipe mentions, I have cooked for 2 whistles on high heat.
Sujana
Thank you, it came out wonderful
Kanan
good to know
Shruti
Hey.. Love your recipes.. very simple to make, great taste and healthy too. Now even my husband follows your recipes. thanks a lot for sharing 🙂
Kanan
Great. Nice to know that recipes are helpful to you and your husband,
Aparna
Hi,
This recipie turned out fantastic!
Thanks a lot !
Kanan
awesome. Thanks for the feedback.