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.
This recipe of urs in now a regular in my kitchen
great to know. 🙂
The rice came out really well and everyone liked it except for the spice which was not enough but it's okay.. 🙂
Glad to hear that rice came out good. yes, this rice has mild flavors. To make it spicy add more green chilies.
The husband and kids LOVED it!!! Making it again today, for my parents, bro and sis-in-law!
Thank you for the recipe
Merin!
Thanks for the feedback Merin. Glad to hear that you all liked rice recipe.
new recipe for me,sounds tasty....want to try soon....Subscribed to your mailing list....
thank you for your subscription. happy cooking
I love the colour and health benefits of this dish. Thanks for sharing!