Aromatic Yellow Rice Recipe (Gluten Free)

Posted by Dinesh Perera on October 22, 2011 (9 Comments)

Turn plain white rice into an exotic, healthful dish!

Here’s a very simple way to bring color and spicy flair to your plain white rice. What’s more, it’s gluten free, organic and infused with healthful spices. 

We begin by choosing the “queen of fragrance”—basmati! This rice is extremely fragrant and will spread its appetizing aroma throughout your kitchen. To the rice, we will add Green Cardamom, Cloves, Turmeric and Ceylon Cinnamon, or what is commonly called “true cinnamon”. 

All the spices used have properties associated with health benefits. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory. Cinnamon, while also having anti-inflammatory properties, is being used in research to lower blood sugar. Cloves have anti-bacterial properties and are high in manganese, vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids. Cardamom is considered an excellent digestive and, in Ayurvedic medicine, an aphrodisiac. Finally, we will be using butter. While some may frown upon this, please consider that the lipids in butter actually help the bioavailabilty of the nutrients in spices. 

This dish may be made using a rice cooker or, if one is not available, a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed pot that has a tight-fitting lid. 

Remember to select basmati rice that is not enriched, as the medium used to spray the vitamins on washed rice in the enrichment process may contain gluten. 

 

Aromatic Basmati Rice 

We begin by selecting the following organic ingredients: 

  • 2 cups white organic basmati rice 
  • 5 organic green cardamom pods 
  • 8 organic cloves 
  • 3-inch piece organic Ceylon cinnamon 
  • ½ teaspoon organic turmeric 
  • 2 Tablespoons organic butter (optional)
  • 1 pinch sea salt (optional) 
  1. Place the rice in the rice cooker or the pot to be used for cooking. Rinse two to three times in cold water by gently swirling the rice with your fingers. This will help rinse off excess starch. (Do not use a sieve or strainer, as these tend to damage the long grains of basmati.) 
  2. After rinsing, add 2 ½ cups cold water. Allow to sit for 15 minutes. After the water is added, prepare the cardamom pods by breaking the hull using the flat blade of a broad knife and add to the rice, followed by the cloves, cinnamon and turmeric. Finally, melt the butter in the microwave and pour it into the rice. If using a rice cooker, cover with lid and flip the switch to the "on” position. If a pot is used, once all the ingredients are added, turn the heat to high and bring to a boil. 

 

Once the water starts to boil, cover tightly with a lid, reduce heat to low and cook for 20 minutes. Please do not lift the lid to peek! Once the rice cooker switch goes off, pull the plug from the outlet and let sit for 10 minutes. If a pot is used, turn off the heat after 20 minutes, remove from the heat source, leave the lid on and let it rest for 10 minutes. 

You will notice that once the rice is cooked, the whole spices have come to rest on the surface of the rice. These can be easily removed using a fork. Finally, gently fluff the rice with a fork and delight in the experience of a healthful and exotic dish! 

 

Compliments of Dinesh, The Spicy Gourmet®.

 

Comments (9 Comments)

Great video, YUM! I am confused, why are the ingredents on your written recipe so different(water & butter instead of broth)? Also what are the dried green leaves pictured and never mentioned?

Posted by melanidee on October 23, 2011

Great video! What are the green leaves in the bowl with the cinnamon that are not mentioned?

Posted by melanidee on October 23, 2011

You did not add the butter in the rice.

Posted by Midge Mares on October 23, 2011

Hi Melanidee: Thanks for the compliment re video. The recipe is different from the video because the vid was shot very recently and I attempted to make it very simple. The basic recipe calls for water, but you may use any broth to replace the water. Adding butter, much like broth enhances the taste. The green leaves are actually fresh, organic curry leaf; another flavor enhancer. We will have Fresh, Organic Curry leaf featured in our store very soon. Like a free sample? Please Ask.

Hi Midge, Please feel free to add the butter to the rice! Tip: You may add the butter once the cooking cycle is over. Simply add and gently stir with the handle of a ladle.

Posted by Dinesh, The Spicy Gourmet on October 24, 2011

YAY i have been waiting for this! groupon brought me to you a wile ago and love your spices!

Posted by julie on December 02, 2011

Keep it coming, writres, this is good stuff.

Posted by Bryson on January 14, 2012

Loved this video and I can’t wait to make this dish. I am waiting for my order of spices to arrive. Will you please add me to a list to be notified when the curry leaves are available. I have recipes that use them and a friend of mine in Scotland says they are readily available over there but I have not found them in any local stores and only powdered curry leaves on line . . . so I will order once you have them available.

Posted by Jim Harrison on February 08, 2012

Hi Dinesh. I have been searching for a yellow rice recipe and came across your video on another fantastic and simple chicken curry recipe and from there came this site and found the yellow rice. Your instructions are very simple and easy to follow and your ingredients are kept simple and most of all you give the quantities which is very helpful. I hope to try the chicken curry and the yellow rice. Could you tell me how many people can feed with 3 cups of rice? Thank you very much

Posted by vinitha on September 14, 2013

Love, love, love this recipe! I made it this past weekend for 6 people along with your Chili Stir-Fry Shrimp. We had some leftover rice, but the shrimp was devoured. The flavors of the individual dishes complement each other very nicley. Thank you for sharing your talents and fabulous recipes!

Posted by Sabrina on September 06, 2016

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