Try this simple, yummy curd rice for lunch or dinner if you want a comforting yet quick dish. It takes 5 minutes only if you have cooked rice ready.
Curd rice is a popular South Indian comfort food made with cooked rice, yogurt, and a tempering of spices. It is cooling, creamy, and light on the stomach, making it a perfect dish for hot summers. Often garnished with curry leaves and pomegranate, it pairs well with pickles and papad.
This tangy rice is flavored with the sourness of curd and simple spices. It is an easy recipe and does not take more than 5 minutes to prepare. This is light & very cooling for the digestive system. This is effective and soothing for stomach problems and hot summer days.
In many South Indian temples, curd rice is offered as prasad (holy offering), often mixed with ghee and tulsi leaves for spiritual and health benefits. Traditionally, this was carried during long journeys because it stays fresh for hours, and natural fermentation enhances its nutritional values and taste over time.
Less-known Facts About Curd Rice
Here are some less-known facts about curd rice:
- Ayurvedic Benefits โ This is an excellent food in Ayurveda, promoting gut health, digestion, and a calm mind. It balances Pitta dosha, making it ideal for hot climates.
- Natural Probiotic โ The fermented nature of curd provides beneficial probiotics, which improve gut flora, boost immunity, and enhance nutrient absorption.
- Improves Mood & Sleep โ The probiotics in curd rice help produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and promotes relaxation, potentially aiding in better sleep.
- Anti-Acidity Properties โ it helps neutralize stomach acids, making it an excellent home remedy for acidity, bloating, and heartburn.
How to make curd rice?
Ingredients:
- Cooked Rice
- Curd + milk
- For tempering - ghee/ oil, dry red chili, green chili, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, curry leaves, hing (asafoetida)
- Salt to taste
- Handful of fresh cilantro leaves
Instructions:
- Step 1 - Cooking the Rice
Cook the rice to perfect texture. Use small grains of rice, such as kolam or other varieties. However, you can make this with basmati rice as well. A little overcooked rice is best for this recipe. Once the rice is ready, transfer it to a large pot or bowl.
- Step 2 - Mixing with Curd + Milk
Milk is optional but helps in getting perfect consistency. Add curd and milk to the rice bowl. Using your hand, mix everything well. Make it a little mushy; that will be your desired consistency.
- Step 3 - Tempering the Spices
In a pan, heat ghee (or oil). Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chilies, dry red chili, and hing (or asafoetida). Saute until cumin and mustard seeds crackle. Then, turn off the heat and transfer the tempering to the rice mix.
- Step 4 - Season and garnish
Mix everything well. Season with salt as taste. Sprinkle a handful of fresh, finely chopped cilantro leaves. You can also add some pomegranate seeds for a better and more authentic flavor.
Similar Recipes
Curd Rice
Equipment
- 1 large Mixing Bowl
- 1 Tadka Pan or small pan
Ingredients
- 4 - 5 cups cooked rice
- 1 cup curd
- ยผ - ยฝ cup milk
- 2 - 3 tbsp ghee refined oil
- ยฝ tsp cumin seeds/ jeera
- ยฝ tsp mustard seeds
- ยฝ tsp hing asafoetida
- 6 - 8 curry leaves
- salt as per taste
- ยฝ tsp salt to taste
- handful of finely chopped coriander leaves
- 2 - 4 tbsp pomegranate seeds
Instructions
- Cook rice completely. A little bit of overcooking is good for best results. Drain the water and keep the rice aside
- Add curd to the rice and mix well using hand/ fingers. Add milk and mix well (optional).
- Take a pan add ghee or oil. Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds. Let them crackle completely. Add ginger, green chillies, curry leaves. Stir for few seconds.
- Add tempering to the rice and mix them with a spoon or spatula.
- Add freshly chopped coriander leaves and gently mix with cooked rice.
- Serve hot with dal fry or any curry of your choice or pickle and papad.
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