15 Indian Rice Recipes For a Hearty and Delicious Meal!

Who doesn’t love rice? Rice can be found in the cuisine of many different cultures in many different forms, and it’s delicious in every which way you can imagine it. It shines when paired with the flavors in Indian recipes, like these 15 Indian rice recipes that you can find on our Food Monster App! Check them out for yourself and find your favorite!

1. Kitchari

Image Source: Kitchari

This is a very tasty and easy-to-digest dish, an excellent food choice when recovering from illness, for strength and general health. Kitchari is a wonderful choice whenever you need a lift or feel like nurturing yourself and your friends! Try this Kitchari recipe from Nikki and Zuzana.

2. Instant Pot Idlis (Steamed Rice Lentil Cakes) With Coconut Chutney

Image Source: Instant Pot Idlis (Steamed Rice Lentil Cakes) With Coconut Chutney

A traditional south Indian breakfast, idlis are a steamed rice lentil cake. They are traditionally made by fermenting rice and lentils. Once you have the batter made, these idlis can be on the table in 15 minutes! This Instant Pot Idlis (Steamed Rice Lentil Cakes) With Coconut Chutney recipe from Vegetarian Indian Cooking with Your Instant Pot will make enough batter for two batches – you can store the batter in the fridge for three to four days!

3. Sweet Potato Veggie Biryani

Image Source: Sweet Potato Veggie Biryani

Sweet potatoes can be used for every meal, from breakfast through to dinner, from snacks to desserts, plus they are low in fat, rich in fiber, and high in vitamins A and E. This is a delicious spiced Sweet Potato Veggie Biryani from Pamela Higgins, packed with flavor and various vegetables alongside sweet potato chunks, rice, and chickpeas to result in a complete healthy meal in one dish.

4. Green Chickpea and Avocado Bhel, Tamarind Chutney, and Puffed Black Rice

Image Source: Green Chickpea and Avocado Bhel, Tamarind Chutney, and Puffed Black Rice

This Green Chickpea and Avocado Bhel, Tamarind Chutney, and Puffed Black Rice from BAAR BAAR make for a perfectly delicious appetizer or snack. Full of flavor, satisfying, and simply delightful!

5. Murmura Laddoo (Puffed Rice and Jaggery Balls)

Image Source: Murmura Laddoo (Puffed Rice and Jaggery Balls)

These Murmura Laddoo (Puffed Rice and Jaggery Balls) from Namita Tiwari are such a nice crunchy treat! Give these little balls a try and you may have a new favorite go-to snack.

6. Ayurvedic Kichadi

Image Source: Ayurvedic Kichadi

Kichadi is an ancient Indian dish that is synonymous with healing. It’s meant to rebalance the body by supporting digestion and stimulating digestive fire. This Ayurvedic Kichadi from The Living Kitchen, Tamara Green, and Sarah Grossman is one of the best mains to eat wherever you are on your journey!

7. Baked Chakuli: Indian Rice Fritters

Image Source: Baked Chakuli: Indian Rice Fritters

Traditionally chakuli is a deep-fried Indian snack prepared using rice, lentils, and different spices. This “instant” version of Baked Chakuli: Indian Rice Fritters from Kushi uses rice flour and is baked instead of fried, making them a delicious snack that satisfies your craving for something crunchy. They’re spicy, crunchy, savory, and irresistible.

8. Kheer: Indian Rice Pudding

Image Source: Kheer: Indian Rice Pudding

If you are a fan of rice pudding, and you haven’t yet experienced the Indian version, you must try this Kheer: Indian Rice Pudding recipe by Helyn Dunn! This healthier version uses brown rice, coconut milk, and date syrup. Top with lots of cinnamon and a bit of extra coconut milk for a creamy, dreamy dessert.

9. Turmeric Coconut Rice

Image Source: Turmeric Coconut Rice

Who doesn’t need a colorful, extra quick and easy, super tasty, new side dish recipe? We love this rich and flavorful Turmeric Coconut Rice from Tara Binder as a side dish with pretty much anything including curries, veggie bowls, or stir fry.

10. Undi: Konkani Coconut Rice Dumplings

Image Source: Undi: Konkani Coconut Rice Dumplings

Undi or, coconut rice dumplings, is a popular dish in Konkani culture. It’s typically prepared for family gatherings and festivities in Konkani homes, where it’s served for breakfast, paired with homemade garlic chutney. These Undi: Konkani Coconut Rice Dumplings from Kushi can be prepared the night before and stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to steam them. Anything that isn’t eaten for breakfast can be kept to be enjoyed as a snack for any time of day.

11. Kathal Dum Pulao: Jackfruit Pulao

Image Source: Kathal Dum Pulao: Jackfruit Pulao

Kathal dum pulao is a very rich and aromatic Indian rice recipe made with a combination of raw jackfruit, spices, and coconut milk. It’s warm and spicy, but not hot, and it makes a filling meal that’s perfect served with flatbread. To make this Kathal Dum Pulao: Jackfruit Pulao by Preeti Tamilarasan richer, substitute the coconut milk in the masala for almond or cashew paste.

12. Soft Idli From Scratch

Image Source: Soft Idli From Scratch

Idlis are steamed rice cakes made by steaming a fermented batter of rice and lentils! It is perfect with a spicy chutney, piping hot sambar, or some coffee. Have this South Indian Soft Idli From Scratch recipe from Freda Dias as a snack or even as breakfast!

13. Vegetable Dum Biryani For Two

Image Source: Vegetable Dum Biryani For Two

Dum biriyani is never a small batch affair, but this delicious and fragrant dish serves just two! This flavorful Vegetable Dum Biryani For Two from Tina Dawson is tossed with marinated vegetables like cauliflower and peas, then mixed with fried onions and orange-infused milk.

14. Mango Phirni: Indian Rice Pudding

Image Source: Mango Phirni: Indian Rice Pudding

This Mango Phirni: Indian Rice Pudding from Srividhya Manikandan is nothing but a simple yet delightful rice pudding. It’s a popular dessert recipe from the Indian subcontinent and is prepared with milk, rice, sugar, and the added flavors of saffron or cardamom, or both. However, this vegan version is just as creamy and comforting as its predecessor and even more delicious.

15. Gentle Morning Kitchari

Image Source: Gentle Morning Kitchari

If I could eat one thing for breakfast every day, it might be kitchari, a bowl of gently spiced rice, and a lentil dish that holds a cherished place in Indian cooking. Also known as khichdi, the dish varies from region to region, but it’s nearly always a combination of basmati rice and dal (dried split peas or lentils, which can be found at Indian grocers or well-stocked health foods stores). Check out this Gentle Morning Kitchari from Power Plates!

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

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