One of the components of the most cherished main course cuisines in India, rice is often consumed plain & simple, cooked in boiling water, and eaten with diverse curries as its accompaniments.
It is the staple food of the southern and north-eastern regions of India with diverse variations in its regional preparations throughout the Indian subcontinent.
Whether you are a spice lover or have a sweet tooth, you can always find a rice dish prepared as per the demand of your tastebuds from mild jeera and lemon rice to Biryanis which are full of spice and wonderful aroma.
You would find numerous varieties of rice and each one differs in shape, size, flavor, and fragrance. Here, we bring you a list of six lip-smacking rice cuisines that you would absolutely love.
1. Chicken Biryani
Well, whether Veg Biryani is as good as Chicken Biryani is a question on which the battle still rages on so we have picked the more popular and widely relished version of Biryani, that is, the non-vegetarian one with juicy chunks of meat in it.
It doesn’t matter if your preference inches toward Lucknowi Biryani or Hyderabadi Biryani more, both scintillate our taste buds like no other dish ever could.
Biryani is a rice and meat dish with a blend of exotic spices that is prepared in the traditional fashion with rice, layered with vegetables, gravy & spices, cooked in a pot together. You would find many regional Biryani versions with their own twist and uniqueness in the Indian subcontinent from Kolkata Biryani to Lucknowi Biryani, Hyderabadi & more.
It is the absolute comfort food that makes our day whenever we have a plate full of it. It utilises a rich spice blend that isn’t easy to replicate, however, one can get the authentic flavor of Lucknowi or Hyderabadi Biryani right with instant biryani pastes available in the market. Using CURRYiT’S ready to cook Biryani Masala, your dish will be cooked in 5 simple steps and will be prepared to serve in just 30 minutes with an absolutely delicious taste.
2. Pulao
This one-pot rice dish is prepared by cooking fragrant Basmati rice with aromatic spices and has variations such as Veg Pulao, Matar Pulao, Kashmiri Pulao, Chicken Pulao & more.
It is not only enjoyed on a nice summer afternoon but also makes a fine serving at festivities and celebrations. Involving a truckload of veggies, Pulao brings delight with nutrition to plenty of people and is ridiculously easy to cook.
3. Kheer
Delighting the sweet tooth in each one of us, Kheer or reic pudding is a sweet milk and rice dish, cooked generally on special occasions and auspicious days, which reminds us of home and our grandma’s cooking.
Tasting kheer with long strands of rice, soaked in milk and laden with dried fruits such as almonds, cashews, and coconut, takes us back to our childhood days when we used to have Kheer with such cheer and joy.
Also Read: 7 Popular Punjabi Dishes You Must Try
4. Khichdi
Another special gem of a rice recipe that’s not only tasty but also utterly nutritious and has been labelled as people’s comfort food.
Prepared with rice and lentils like moong in a cooker, Khichdi is a simple dish that needs a short list of ingredients for preparation and is served on the plate in just a matter of minutes. Bonus point, on a sick or light day, Khichdi makes the best food to be had as it supports digestive health.
5. Curd Rice
A staple of South India, curd rice is a dish with a mild and refreshing taste that has come to be popular all over the country.
It is a simple dish made with pre-cooked rice, curd, and some spices and has proven to be conducive in keeping the body cool in the scorching summer heat, soothing the digestive system & boosting the body’s immunity.
6. Pulihora
Pulihora rice or lemon or tamarind rice is a very popular, traditional rice preparation in the South Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Puli refers to ‘tangy’ or ‘sour’ in Telugu, hinting at the characterising utilisation of kokum or tamarind as one of its main ingredients.
Known as Puliyodharai in Tamil and Chitrannam or Puliyogare in Kannada, Pulihora is usually cooked on special occasions & festive days and served as prasadam in many temples in Tamil Nadu to the long queues of devotees waiting to get it after darśana.
One of the lip-smacking rice recipes, Pulihora or Tamarind Rice has aromatic spices along with tamarind and the masalas, cooked to perfection and then mixed with rice for the flavours to develop and be well-absorbed.
7. Chettinad Egg Biryani
This flavorful Biryani with exotic Chettinad spices, egg, and rice is an absolute delight to have. Chettinad Egg Biryani is the delicacy of Chettinad region that’s located in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and is a popular dish prepared by Chettiar community. Chettinad cuisine is famed for its delicacies which are relished with full fervour in the subcontinent.
Chettinad masala usually has a high spice so it is generally recommended to accompany the delectable Chettinad Egg Biryani with raita to savour its taste with balanced spiciness.
You can prepare this dish by layering a fluffy omelette with hard-boiled eggs and enjoy this special Chettinad egg Biryani as a yummy Sunday afternoon meal.
For those who just can’t get the Chettinad Masala right, despite numerous attempts, CURRYiT ready-to-cook Chettinad Masala Paste would be of great help in rendering this delicacy its authentic flavor with the right spice blend.
So these were some of the rice dishes prevalent in Indian cuisine that make a scrumptious spread. Try these dishes of diverse spice blends, textures, and flavors at your home, and let us know how it goes.