Turmeric Lemon Rice is golden hued beautiful rice with tangy taste and earthy spices. This easy one-pot dish is made with basmati rice, simple Indian spices, peanuts and lemon juice. Instant Pot and stove top instructions are included.
Pair this flavorful Indian rice with different vegetarian curry recipes like Aloo Palak or Dum Aloo for a satisfying dinner. This basmati rice with turmeric recipe also makes excellent side dish when served along with Chickpea Salad and Quinoa Tabbouleh for barbeques, potlucks and picnics.
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This Lemon Turmeric Rice is
- Gluten free
- Soy free
- Vegan
- Instant Pot and Stove Top instructions are included.
- wholesome and hearty
- serve as a main meal as well as side dish.
- also is a brilliant way to liven up leftover plain rice.
Warm oil tempering ( also called tadka in Indian cooking) imparts a special aroma to this turmeric lemon rice. Ground turmeric gives this lemon basmati rice its beautiful golden color and a solid nutritional value. The peanuts add protein and a bit of crunch. Simply put, it is a wholesome meal everyone will love.
Turmeric Lemon Rice Ingredients
Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card.
- I prefer to use Long Grain Basmati Rice . You should rinse and wash rice in cold water before cooking it to reduce the starch.
- Cooking Oil - I prefer coconut oil but any other neutral cooking oil works.
- Indian Spices : Black mustard seeds and cumin seeds along with turmeric powder. If you can easily find Hing ( asafetida ) do use it too.
- Fresh Ingredients : Green chili pepper, fresh ginger root, fresh lemon juice and cilantro leaves for garnish. If you can easily find fresh curry leaves, do use them for intense earthy aroma. If not easily available, you can skip or use bay leaves
- Nuts : Roasted peanuts or Cashews
How to Make Instant Pot Turmeric Lemon Rice
Rinse and wash rice grains and drain them well.
Start the instant pot in SAUTE mode and heat it. Add oil. Add curry leaves, mustard and cumin seeds, green chili. Curry leaves will sputter some. Sauté them for a minute. Add peanuts, ginger, hing (if using) and turmeric. Sauté them well.
Add rice and water. Using a spatula, mix everything well. Press Cancel and close the instant pot lid with vent in sealing position. Set the Instant Pot to RICE mode for 12 mins (low pressure)
When the instant pot is done cooking, wait for 10 minutes and then release the pressure manually. Pour lemon juice over the rice. Using a fork, gently mix and fluff the rice. Beautiful lemon rice is ready to be served. Serve and enjoy !
Store leftover turmeric lemon rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave, adding a splash of water to restore moisture. Serve it with yogurt, pickles, or a side salad for a complete meal.
Variations / Substitutes
- Use fresh cooked rice or left over plain rice to make this recipe. I typically use Basmati rice but you can use any rice you have in pantry. Brown rice works well too. Just cook it for longer time.
- For low carb option, use Cauliflower rice. Quinoa is another great grain to use if you are looking for variety.
- Electric Pressure cooker like Instant Pot is perfect for making all sorts of rice, beans and curries. It is great for throwing everything in and locking in as much flavor as possible. Plus it cuts down on clean up and is so easy!
Serving Suggestions
Turmeric Rice is one of my favorite Indian meal. It makes routine appearance on our dinner table along with Potato Salad /Raita, Sweet Lemon Pickle and Flaxseed Garlic Chutney.
You can serve this lemon Rice as a easy side dish of Indian Curries. Pair it with Aloo Matar ( Potato and Peas Curry ) , Dal Makhani ; Easy Palak Paneer or Healthy Sprouts Curry.
For Bento Box style school lunches, pack this rice along with munchies like Spicy Air Fryer Chickpeas or Kale Chips. You can serve it warm or cold..it tastes amazing either way.
How to Make Turmeric Lemon Rice on Stove Top
- Rinse and wash rice grains and drain them well. Heat oil in a large pot. Add curry leaves, mustard and cumin seeds and green chili. Curry leaves will sputter some. Sauté them for a minute. Add peanuts, ginger and turmeric and sauté them well.
- Add rice and water. Using a spatula, mix everything well. Cover the pot with the lid and let it cook for 12 minutes on medium heat. Rice is ready when grains feels soft and tender.
- Pour lemon juice over the rice. Using a fork, gently mix and fluff the rice. Beautiful lemon rice is ready. Serve and enjoy !
Instant Pot Rice Recipes
- Tawa Pulao - GF, V
- Enchilada Rice - GF, V
- Curry Fried Rice - GF, V
- Cilantro Lime Brown Rice - GF, V
- Vegetable Fried Rice - GF
- Mushroom Risotto - GF
- Mexican Rice - GF, V
★ If you make this TURMERIC LEMON RICE RECIPE do let us know how you like it by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below.
📖 Recipe
Turmeric Lemon Rice - Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Long grain Basmati Rice rinse and washed
- 1.5 cups Water
- 1 Tablespoon cooking oil I prefer coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon black mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 Green Chili Pepper minced
- 1 inch ginger root grated
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup roasted peanuts
- ¼ teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt
optional ingredients
- 6-8 fresh curry leaves or 2 bay leaves
- pinch Hing
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves chopped
Instructions
How to make Turmeric Lemon Rice In Instant Pot
- Rinse and wash rice grains and drain them well. Start the instant pot in SAUTE mode and heat it. Add oil. Add curry leaves, mustard and cumin seeds, hing (if using) and green chili. Curry leaves will sputter some. Sauté them for a minute. Add peanuts, ginger and turmeric and sauté them well.
- Add rice and water. Using a spatula, mix everything well. Press Cancel and close the instant pot lid with vent in sealing position. Set the instant pot to RICE mode for 12 mins (low pressure)
- When the instant pot beeps, wait for 10 minutes and then release the pressure manually.
- Pour lemon juice over the rice. Using a fork, gently mix and fluff the rice. Beautiful lemon rice is ready to be served. Enjoy
How to Make Turmeric Lemon Rice on stove top
- Rinse and wash rice grains and drain them well. Heat oil in a large pot on medium heat. Add curry leaves, mustard and cumin seeds ,hing( if using) and green chili. Curry leaves will sputter some. Sauté them for a minute. Add peanuts, ginger and turmeric and sauté them well.
- Add rice and water. Using a spatula, mix everything well.
- Cover the pan with the lid and let it cook for 12 minutes on medium heat. Rice is ready when grains feels soft and tender.
- Pour lemon juice over the rice. Using a fork, gently mix and fluff the rice. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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This post was originally published on October 1, 2018. It is revised and republished on December 2024.
srimayyia
Thanks for sharing the turmeric lemon rice instantpot vegan which is very easy.
Nick Denbow
This looks lush!
What would the timings be for brown rice?
Joan
I just wanted to confirm that this cooks for 12 minutes in the Instant Pot. I would like to try this recipe but have never cooked rice that long in the IP.
admin
Basmati rice cooks well in 12 minutes. That is default rice setting
B
I just made this recipe and it was absolutely delicious! I was missing a few ingredients, chili peppers, and I forgot to add the cumin seeds, but it was still great, a small pinch of hing didn’t hurt either! I also chose to leave out the peanuts since I’m not normally a big fan of them, but I could see how that would be a delicious addition. Anyway, it was a nice easy recipe to make. I have never cooked rice on low, only ever high, so I was initially scared the texture might be different. It was, but it was perfect for this dish and I might try this new technique in other rice based recipes too! Thanks again 🙂
admin
Thank you so much for trying the recipe and detailed feedback. So happy to hear you liked it
Nicole
Everyone loved it, i didn't use the peanuts, or the green chilies but next time I will. And maybe add some red peppers in it.
admin
So happy to hear that
Thank you for your feedback
admin
If you are using leftover rice, just do the oil tampering with turmeric. Add peanuts and rice and one quick steam with glass lid on.Don't use pressure cooking.
For brown rice, use 1.5 cup water to 1 cup rice. High pressure 15 mins and natural release.
Nick Denbow
@admin, I see you answered my question re brown rice 🙂 Thank you!!
Norma
Your rice looks beautiful, the grains are nicely fluffy and separate. I have always wanted to make plain white rice like we get in our favorite Indian restaurant.
If I were to use the basics of your recipe of 1 cup of rice with 1-1/2 cups of water with the rice setting of 12 minutes followed by 10 minutes natural pressure release, will I get that kind of rice?
admin
Norma, Thank you for reaching out. If you use Basmati rice, 1:1.5 rice to water ratio and rice setting, should give you fluffy rice. That's how I make it all the time.
Norma
Thank you fur your reply! One other question, I cannot find curry leaves, are they fresh or dried? What can I use as a substitute?
admin
You can get dried curry leaves on Amazon. Alternative is to use bay leaf. Just use one bay leaf as it is lot stronger in flavors.