Masala Rice Recipe – Make Spicy and Flavorful Masala Rice at Home

Masala Rice is one of the most delicious, quick, and comforting Indian rice dishes made using leftover rice or freshly cooked rice tossed with flavorful Indian spices, vegetables, and herbs. This dish is perfect for a wholesome lunch or dinner and is often served with raita, pickle, or papad. It’s a popular choice for tiffin boxes, busy weekday meals, and even party menus because it’s easy to make, full of flavor, and customizable with your favorite vegetables and spices.

In this detailed recipe, we will cover the authentic Masala Rice recipe with step-by-step instructions, the exact list of ingredients, nutritional facts, interesting facts, and top SEO keywords to make your food blog or recipe content more discoverable on Google.

Ingredients for Masala Rice Recipe

For Cooking Rice:

• 1 cup basmati rice (or any long-grain rice)

• 2 cups water

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 tsp oil or ghee

For Masala Preparation:

• 2 tbsp oil or ghee

• 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)

• 1 large onion – finely sliced

• 2 medium tomatoes – finely chopped

• 1-2 green chilies – slit

• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

• ½ cup carrot – chopped

• ½ cup capsicum – chopped

• ½ cup beans – chopped

• ½ cup green peas (fresh or frozen)

• ½ tsp turmeric powder

• 1 tsp red chili powder

• 1 tsp coriander powder

• ½ tsp garam masala

• ½ tsp cumin powder

• Salt – as per taste

• 2 tbsp fresh coriander leaves – chopped

• Lemon juice – 1 tsp (optional)

Step-by-Step Process to Make Masala Rice

Step 1: Cooking the Rice

1. Wash the rice thoroughly in water 3–4 times until the water runs clear.

2. In a pan, add rice, 2 cups water, salt, and 1 tsp oil or ghee.

3. Cook until the rice is fluffy and each grain is separate. Avoid overcooking.

4. Spread the cooked rice on a plate to cool slightly. This prevents it from becoming mushy while mixing with the masala.

Step 2: Preparing the Masala Base

1. Heat oil or ghee in a large kadai (wok) or pan over medium flame.

2. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.

3. Add sliced onions and sauté until golden brown.

4. Add ginger-garlic paste and green chilies; sauté for 1 minute until the raw smell disappears.

5. Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they turn soft and mushy.

Step 3: Cooking Vegetables and Spices

1. Add carrots, beans, capsicum, and peas. Sauté for 3–4 minutes.

2. Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, and cumin powder.

3. Mix well and cook until the vegetables are tender yet crunchy.

4. Adjust salt as needed.

Step 4: Mixing Rice with Masala

1. Add the cooked rice to the masala mixture.

2. Gently toss everything so that the rice gets coated with spices without breaking the grains.

3. Sprinkle garam masala and mix again.

4. Turn off the flame and add chopped coriander leaves and lemon juice for freshness.

Step 5: Serving

Serve the Masala Rice hot with raita, salad, papad, or pickle for a complete Indian meal.

Nutrition Facts for Masala Rice (Per Serving)

Interesting Facts about Masala Rice

1. Masala Rice is one of the best dishes to use leftover rice creatively.

2. It is highly adaptable – you can add seasonal vegetables, paneer, tofu, or even soya chunks.

3. Masala Rice is known by different names in India such as Spicy Fried Rice, Vegetable Masala Bhaat, or Tawa Pulao.

4. It can be made mild for kids or extra spicy for spice lovers by adjusting chili levels.