Turmeric Lemon Rice is golden hued beautiful rice with tangy taste and earthy spices. This 30 minute one-pot vegetarian dish is made with basmati rice along with simple spices, peanuts and good squeeze of lemon.
Pair it with Indian Curries like Vegetable Sambar or Dum Aloo for scrumptious Indian dinner. It also is a great rice side dish along with Chickpea Salad and Quinoa Tabbouleh for barbeques, potlucks and picnics.
This Lemon Turmeric Rice is
- Gluten free
- Soy free
- Vegan rice recipe.
- Can be made in Instant Pot or Stove Top
- wholesome and hearty
- serve as a main meal as well as side dish.
- recipe also is a brilliant way to liven up leftover plain rice.
Indian Rice Recipe
This zesty fragrant Lemon Basmati Rice is spiced up with turmeric, curry leaves, green chilies and a tiny ginger kick. The lemon adds the tanginess and a great fresh summery taste to the rice.
Warm oil tempering imparts a special aroma to this simple rice delicacy. Vegan Turmeric Rice is a delicious dish you can easily put together when in a hurry.
This popular Indian Rice recipe with fresh flavors comes to the table in a jiffy. And it tastes absolutely amazing. Turmeric gives this lemon rice its beautiful golden color and a solid nutritional value.
The peanuts add protein and a bit of crunch. Simply put, a wholesome meal that tastes heavenly. The spices and herbs fill your house with heavenly aroma too !
Variations / Substitutes
Vegan Lemon Rice can be done with fresh cooked rice or with left over plain rice. 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/ Keto 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!
Best Rice Recipe
Cooking rice is pretty convenient and easy. Rice is nutritious and easily digestible and gluten free. Rice can take on the flavors of any ingredient you are cooking it with.
This Turmeric Lemon Rice freezes well and tastes amazing when re-heated. So you can always double the recipe and use it for later meals including school lunches.
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.
Lemon Rice can also be enjoyed with delicious 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. It can be eaten warm or cold and tastes amazing both ways.
Ingredients
- Long Grain Basmati Rice rinsed and washed
- Cooking Oil
- Black Mustard Seeds
- Cumin Seeds
- Fresh Curry Leaves – Skip if not easily available or use bay leaves
- Green Chili Pepper
- Fresh Ginger
- Turmeric Powder
- Roasted peanuts or Cashews
- Lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
- Cilantro for garnish
Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card. In addition to the above ingredients, you can use coconut, urad dal, red pepper flakes . I am using white rice to make this recipe but brown rice can also be used.
How to Make Instant Pot 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 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 InstantPot 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.
Stovetop Turmeric Lemon Rice
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 to be served. 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
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📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Turmeric Lemon Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati Rice rinsed
- 1.5 cups Water
- 1 Tablespoon Oil
- ½ teaspoon black Mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon Cumin Seeds
- 6-8 Curry Leaves or 2 bay leaves
- 1 Green Chili Pepper minced
- 1 inch ginger root grated
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- ½ cup roasted peanuts
- 1 Lemon juiced
- ¼ teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt-adjust to taste
Instructions
Instructions - 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 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 !Stove-Top Instructions
Stove Top Instructions :
- 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, 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.
- Beautiful lemon rice is ready to be served. Enjoy !
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.