masala rice recipe with step by step photos. masala rice or spiced riceis one dish which i make when i have some left over rice. i don’t waste food and i use left over food in many ways. this masala rice recipe is one such way. there are many easy indian recipes where we can use leftover rice. few such leftover rice recipes are:
this masala rice recipe is quick & easy, especially when you have leftover rice. it makes for a filling brunch or lunch or dinner had plain or accompanied with a bowl of yogurt or raita.
you just need to saute the onions, tomatoes with the herbs and spices. then add the rice to this mixture. the result is a delicious spiced rice which you can have with a raita and mango pickle or a side salad. boondi raita or cucumber raita goes very well with this spicy rice.
you can even make this masala rice recipe with freshly cooked rice. just let the rice cool down completely before you add it to the masala or spice mixture.
if you are looking for more rice recipes then do check:
masala rice recipe
INGREDIENTS FOR masala rice recipe
- 2 cups leftover rice or steamed rice
- ½ teaspoon black mustard seeds (rai)
- 1 sprig curry leaves (kadi patta)
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
- 1 green chili (or red chili), chopped
- 1 medium size onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium size tomato, finely chopped
- 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) - optional
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi)
- ¼ teaspoon red chili powder (lal mirch powder)
- ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder (dhania powder)
- ½ teaspoon fennel powder (saunf)
- 1 or 1.5 tablespoon oil
- salt as required
- coriander leaves for garnishing (optional)
HOW TO MAKE masala rice recipe
making masala for masala rice
- heat oil. fry the mustard seeds till they splutter.
- add the cumin and fry till they get browned.
- now add the onion and saute till the onions get softened and become transparent.
- add the curry leaves, green chili and saute for 30 seconds.
- add the tomatoes and saute till the tomatoes become mushy.
- now add all the spice powders and asafoetida along with salt.
- saute the masala or spice mixture for a minute.
adding rice to make masala rice
- add the rice and stir well so that the masala coats the rice.
- saute for 2-3 minutes more continuously stirring the masala rice.
- lastly, add coriander leaves and mix with the masala rice or you can garnish the masala rice with the coriander leaves.
- serve the masala rice hot with raita or with a veg salad, pickle and papad.
RECIPE TIPS
making masala for masala rice recipe
1. chop the green chili, tomato and onion. measure the spices and keep the rest of the ingredients ready for the masala rice.
2. heat 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of oil in pan.
3. add ½ teaspoon black mustard seeds.
4. fry the mustard seeds till they splutter.
5. add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds.
6. fry cumin till they get browned.
7. now add 1 medium sized chopped onion.
8. saute till the onions get softened and become transparent.
9. add 1 sprig of curry leaves and 1 chopped green chili.
10. saute for 30 seconds.
11. add 1 medium sized chopped tomato.
12. stir and mix well.
13. saute till the tomatoes become mushy.
14. now add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi), ¼ teaspoon red chili powder, ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder, ½ teaspoon coriander powder (dhania powder) and ½ teaspoon fennel powder (saunf).
15. stir well.
16. add 1 pinch of asafoetida (hing).
17. add salt as required.
18. saute the masala or spice mixture for a minute.
adding rice to make masala rice
19. add 2 cups of steamed rice or leftover rice.
20. stir well so that the masala coats the rice.
21. saute for 2-3 minutes more continuously stirring the masala rice.
22. lastly add coriander leaves.
23. mix with the whole rice or you can garnish the masala rice with the coriander leaves.
serve the masala rice hot with raita or with a salad, pickle and papad.
Hello mam, Am from a village where I learnt few basics in cooking from my mom… For every girls their mom will be a good mentor in cooking now am learning from you mam…. Am so happy when ever I tried ur recipes in my home it came out very well… I love cooking and ur blog inspired me a lot… Am eagerly waiting for veg recipes of India mobile app mam…
thank you kalpana. i am so glad to read your comment. agree that for girls their moms are a good mentor in cooking. thanks again and happy cooking.
I want to admit that 90% of my cooking skills is learnt from you mam. Your website is my saviour. Thanks and lots of love. May you keep posting many more such delicious and yummy recipes.
thanks a lot misbah for this sweet comment. i am glad and happy. sure i will keep on adding recipes as and when i get time. thanks again and happy cooking.
Hi, l liked ur receipes very much. Everyday l follow ur different different recipes my children also loved to eat. Its yummy and tasty. Thanku very much for making my kitchen easy.
welcome suchitra, glad our blog could help you in your day to day cooking. thanks for positive feedback.
Really so spicy i definetly try it…
surely try and let us know how it was ashu 🙂
Hi mam,
I tried this recipe n it turned out to be awesome.. Thank u so much for such an easy n tasty recipe 🙂
glad you liked vaishnavi 🙂 thankyou so much and you are always welcome.
Hey m ur big fan seriously… Just love ur all the recipes.. Everyday i literally mean it EVERYDAY i refer to ur recipes.. It has become the most important part of my daily life.. You are a STAR. God bless u with all the happiness
thank you very much rashmi for this comment and also for your kind wishes.
The procedure you gave is very easy and comfortable to everybody who wants cook.I used the same methods and prepared tasty food at home.thankyou…
we are pleased to know this anu thankyou so much 🙂
easy fast simple and extremely delicious recipe..crazy yummy with chicken fry and some raita…its become a part of our family meals now…
thanks sherin
Hi I come across this a couple of weeks ago and love love love it!!! Just wanted to say thank you as this will become a regular favourite in my house 🙂 I was also wondering – as I have a christening coming up, and this would be a fantastic extra for the buffet – if its ok to make the ‘sauce/paste’ the night before then reheat it and add it to the rice the next day? Thanks again 🙂
welcome katherine. yes you can do that. you can make the masala paste before and refrigerate it.
I JUST LOVED THIS RECIPE….
thanks priya
Hi, I love indian cooking (the taste, the health benefits, cooking methods – everything) and didn’t want to go without when my in-laws from germany visited for easter. My MIL is an extremely fussy eater, she merely eats about 15 dishes in rotation and almost exclusively german. Schnitzel with potatoes. Bratwurst with spinach (not like you prepare it – just spinach, really). I served some grilled meat with a salad and this masala rice and sold it as “just spiced rice” – she literally gobbeled it up in no time! She never would have touched it if I told her it was an indian dish… 😉 I served it without chilis (some pickeled jalapenos on the side – she can’t eat hot at all) and curd.
Thanks for the great recipe!!
Lisa
welcome lisa. great way to introduce new recipes to your mil. because your mil was neutral towards the recipe… she could enjoy it fully. all credit goes to your thoughtful mind. so many times our mind comes in between the reality and we miss something beautiful.
Dasanna, Please post Bishi Bele Huli Anna receipe
hi sandy, i have already replied to your comment before on bisi bele bath. just ordered a spice called as marathi moggu which is used the bisi bele bath spice mix. so waiting for the spice to arrive. will add in some days.
Hi Dassana!
I got my maid to make this for my husband this morning, as we were in a fix as to what to send him for lunch. It was very quick and easy to prepare and had a lovely flavor. Also, it was moist enough to be eaten on it’s own if required
thanks preeti for your feedback. glad to know that you liked the masala rice.
it will be nice with the images
Nice nice…super & simple dish…
Very simple and flavor packed rice dear
Just when I needed a simple yet yummy rice like this , you added this post!!
Thanks Dassana. The rice looks perfect as always! I’m making this today.
thanks pavithra
I use left over rice to make lemon rice, tomato rice etc….though while making this I’d add sliced boiled eggs too because this is mostly for kids lunch at school….now I am tempted to try your eggless way…..guess what I trick my kids calling this as amma’s 5 minute biriyani….and then they are sold!! 🙂
thanks nisa for sharing. we can make so many dishes using left over rice. lemon rice and tomato rice are two more great options.