Easy cheats pilau rice. Ready in 20 minutes. A quick and delicious recipe to enjoy fragrant pilau rice without all the hassle!
This easy cheats pilau rice recipe is the perfect accompaniment to your favourite curries. Best of all, it's made at home.
I don't know if you're like me, but whenever I order a curry takeaway, I usually end up with lots of leftover pilau rice.
Of course that rice is perfect for freezing and comes in handy when I've rustled up one of my famous curries, like my lamb mince curry in the pictures.
But when I haven't got any such rice in the freezer, I don't really want to be buying shop-bought pilau with all it's additives and stuff.
So that's when this Indian pilau rice recipe comes out.
It's quick, easy, and packed with flavour!
Now I'm not saying my easy cheats pilau rice is a completely authentic pilau rice recipe.
No, I'll leave that to the Indian cookery experts.
But you'll definitely get a perfectly delicious helping of yellow rice to accompany any dish, and this recipe serves up to 4.
It's the perfect pilau rice, just like takeaway rice.
And it's made in just 20 minutes with simple pilau rice ingredients which you probably should have at home.
You'll definitely want to be adding this recipe to your list of quick handy side recipes!
Jump to:
Why You Should Make This Easy Cheats Pilau Rice
- Quick To Make: Ready in just 20 minutes, making it a perfect last-minute convenient side dish.
- Takeaway Style: Has the same delicious flavour and vibrant yellow colour as restaurant or takeaway pilau rice.
- No Artificial Additives or Preservatives: This cheats pilau rice recipe is a healthier alternative to shop-bought pilau rice. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients.
- Budget-Friendly: Save money rather than the cost of ordering from a takeaway.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: The rice freezes well, so you could make extra and have it ready whenever you need a quick side.
Ingredients
- Basmati Rice
- Vegetable Oil
- Onion
- Salt
- Cinnamon Stick
- Bay Leaf
- Cloves
- Ground Turmeric
- Hot Vegetable Stock/Broth
See recipe card for quantities.
Step By Step Instructions
Detailed instructions are in the recipe card below. But here is a quick step by step guide of how to make this easy pilau rice recipe:
Step 1
- Rinse rice under cold water. Allow to drain.
Step 2
- Heat the oil in a saucepan. Sauté the onion until softened.
Step 3
- Stir in the salt, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, cloves and ground turmeric. Cook.
Step 4
- Stir in the rice. Combining it well into the onion and spice mixture.
Step 5
- Add stock, bring to the boil and place a lid on the pan. Cook, stirring and checking rice until cooked through. Add more boiling water if required. Remove cinnamon stick, bay leaf and cloves.
Step 6
- Transfer to a serving bowl. Fluff up with a fork before serving.
Equipment
To Serve Your Easy Cheats Pilau Rice You May Need....
The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.
This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!
These are the balti dishes I use to serve my curries. You'll see these dishes in most of my curry recipe photographs as well. They add a perfect authenticity when serving your curry.
For a very reasonable price you get 6 of these high grade stainless steel authentic Indian balti dishes.
They're easy to clean and you'll enjoy them for life!
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FAQ's
How Many Calories Are In Homemade Pilau Rice?
There are 155 calories per serving.
What Curry Goes With Pilau Rice?
Almost any curry! Why not pair it with my easy chicken balti curry recipe or a vegan aubergine and sweet potato curry?
How To Store?
Homemade pilau can be stored in the fridge for 1 - 2 days maximum.
How To Freeze Pilau Rice?
Ensure it's completely cooled then portion the rice and transfer it to airtight containers to freeze.
How To Reheat Pilau Rice?
Allow rice to thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot and steaming.
Other Recipes You Might Also Like
📋 Easy Cheats Pilau Rice Recipe
The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.
This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!
Ingredients
- 150 g basmati rice
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 small onion finely diced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 300 ml hot vegetable stock
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under some cold water and allow to drain completely.
- Gently heat the oil in a medium sized saucepan and sauté the onion until softened. About 2 minutes.
- Stir in the salt, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, cloves and ground turmeric. Cook stirring for about 1 minute.
- Stir in the rice combining it into the onion and spice mixture.
- Pour over the stock, bring to the boil and place a lid on the pan. Cook for about 6-10 minutes, stirring and checking rice doesn’t stick to bottom of the pan, until all the liquid is absorbed. Add more boiling water if required. Remove cinnamon stick, bay leaf and cloves.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and fluff up with a fork before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition Label
Nutritional information provided below is calculated using paid for online tools and the exact ingredients and quantities used above.
Rate The Recipe
If you’ve made this easy cheats pilau rice recipe, or any other recipes on Neil's Healthy Meals, then please let me know.
I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂
angiesrecipes
Looks perfectly fluffy and flavourful!
Neil
Thanks Angie. That's exactly what it is! 🙂
sherry
This sounds so good Neil. We do love a bit of rice in this household :=)
cheers
Sherry
Neil
Thanks so much, Sherry! Rice is such a staple in our house too—so versatile and always delicious. Hope you get a chance to try this one! 😊 Cheers!
Frank | Memorie di Angelina
Looks delicious, Neil. I love simple dishes like this one. And the tumeric adds such lovely flavor to rice.
Neil
Thank you Frank. Yes, you probably can't get much simpler than this dish as a great side to curries or stews! 🙂
David @ Spiced
I love quick and easy side dishes, and this one certainly fits that bill. This is definitely the type of recipe to hang on to for those nights when you have random leftovers but not enough for a full meal. Looks easy and delicious!
Neil
Thanks David! I totally agree that having a quick and easy side like this can really save the day when leftovers aren’t quite enough. Hope you get a chance to try it soon!
2pots2cook
Perfect week dinner; food prices are getting sky high and we love these budget friendly, easy to go tasty meals!!!!!!!
Neil
Absolutely agree! Budget friendly and delicious meals like this are a lifesaver these days. So glad you love it. Hope it becomes a regular in your kitchen!
Michelle
So fragrant and delicious with all those toasty warm spices! Great way to jazz up rice for weeknight dinners!
Neil
Thank you Michelle! The spices really do make all the difference to this recipe such an easy way to turn simple rice into something special. Hope you enjoy it!
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
When it comes to takeouts, we rarely order rice dishes - because what's the point to pay for something relatively cheap and what you can easily make at home, right? So this pilau is right up my alley!
Neil
Exactly Ben, thank you! Homemade rice dishes are so much more affordable and just as delicious. Glad this pilau is right up your alley. Hope you get a chance to try it! 😊
Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!
I think I've had this kind of rice before, but I didn't know what it was called. Thanks for the recipe!
Neil
You're welcome Jeff! I hope you get a chance to try it! 🙂
Raymund | angsarap.net
20-minute pilau rice that tastes like takeaway? Count me in! Love how you’ve kept it simple but packed with flavor. no mystery additives, just good stuff. Thanks for sharing this gem! 🍛✨
Neil
Raymund, thank you! That’s exactly what I was going for. Quick, tasty, and no mystery ingredients! So happy you’re into it, hope it becomes a go-to for you!
Shashi
Such a great use of leftover rice, Neil! That takeout rice tends to pile up for us too - my mom makes a kiribath or milk rice with it while I usually freeze it and forget about it - but this is such an aromatic and tasty use of all that extra rice! Love the cinnamon stick and clove in there - so aromatic and warming!
Neil
Thank you for your comment Shashi! I love the sound of your mom’s kiribath. It sounds like such a comforting dish! And yes, leftover rice has so much potential. I’m glad this aromatic version caught your eye—those warming spices really do make it extra special!