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Basmati onion rice served in a glass dish with fresh chopped coriander and a cinnamon stick on top
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5 from 33 votes

Onion Basmati Rice

How to make onion basmati rice, the best savoury side dish to Indian or Arabic dishes.
A quick, easy way to add flavour to plain rice. Similar to what you get from Indian Restaurants or Takeaway.
Fried onions with garlic, cinnamon, cumin and cardamom pods added for a gentle spice and taste.
Cooked with long grain basmati rice to create what is aka as Pilau, Pilaf or Pulao rice.
Perfect served with meat, poultry, fish, vegetables or curry and stew recipes.
Vegetarian & Vegan friendly.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time23 minutes
Total Time28 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian, vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword: adding onion to rice, arabic, Asian, basmati rice with onion, easy, indian style, ondian onion rice, onion fried, Onion rice, onion rice indian, pilaf rice, pilau, pulao, savoury rice, takeaway
Yield: 4 people
Calories: 301kcal
Author: Luke and Kay - Flawless Food

Ingredients

  • 1 large Onion diced
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Puree or 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 Cinnamon stick substitute with ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
  • 3 Cardamon pods
  • 280 g (1 ¼ cup) Basmati Rice It is best to rinse rice before cooking to get rid of excess starch
  • 600 ml (2 ½ cups) Cold Water
  • Sprinkle of salt to taste

Instructions

  • Dice1 large Onion then saute in 1 tablespoon Olive Oil at low heat until soft and golden coloured. This should take about 8 minutes.
    Be patient, don't turn the heat up you want them soft fried not crispy!
    Once softened, add 1 teaspoon Garlic Puree, 1 Cinnamon stick, 3 Cardamon pods and 1 teaspoon Ground cumin to the onions. Stir through.
    Chopped onions, cinnamon stick, cardamon pods and cumin frying in a black pan
  • Rinse 280 g (1 ¼ cup) Basmati Rice
    Stir the rinsed rice in with the onion and spice.
    White rice added to the black pan
  • Add 600 ml (2 ½ cups) Cold Water and a Sprinkle of salt to taste
    Bring to a boil, once at a furious boil, place a lid on and reduce the heat to the lowest setting for 8 minutes.
    Do not lift the lid at any point!
    Water being poured over the rice, onions and spices in a black pan
  • After 8 mins, turn the heat off. But, still, keep the lid in place, let it stand for 5 more minutes.
    Fluff it up with a fork. Remove cardamom pods and cinnamon stick before serving.
    Onion Basmati Rice cooking with a cinnamon stick

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 301kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 106mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1mg