Masala Rice

About This Masala Rice

Thinking of what to do with the leftover rice at home? No worries, stir up this quick, easy and vegan Masala Rice. Best option for tiffin food too. All you need to do is sauté some onions and tomatoes with your everyday spices and herbs. Then, add the rice to it and toss everything up. The result is a yummy spiced rice, that can be had plain or accompanied with a bowl of raita, yogurt, salad or pickle. You can even prepare this Masala Rice with freshly cooked rice. Just remember to let the rice grains cool down completely before you add them to the spice or masala mixture. It makes for a filling brunch, lunch or dinner.

Masala Rice vs Masale Bhat

Though similar in words ‘masala’ and ‘bhat,’ which means rice in English, Masala Rice is quite different when compared to its close sibling Masale Bhat. Rice is the main ingredient in both, but this Masala Rice recipe uses leftover rice and Masale Bhat is made with uncooked rice. Thus, is more like a pulao in texture.   Masale Bhat is a popular Maharashtrian version, which is richer as its also loaded with many vegetables and more of spices as compared to the Masala Rice. Another significant thing that is a major differentiator between the two is a typical spice mix called Goda Masala that goes in Masale Bhat. Other variations of the Masale Bhat include the Vangi Bath (Brinjal Rice), Tomato Bath (Tomato Rice) and the Tondli Bhaat (Ivy Gourd Rice). For the garnish bit as well, there are more elements in the Masale Bhat versus the Masala Rice. Traditionally, grated coconut, coriander leaves and roasted cashewnuts are added to the Masale Bhat whereas just a sprinkle of fresh coriander is more than enough for the Masala Rice. However, you can serve both these rice preparations with a raita of your choice or a bowl of plain yogurt (curd), salad and pickle amongst other things.  

How to make Masala Rice

Prep and Make the Masala

1. Finely chop 1 green chili, 1 medium-sized tomato and 1 medium-sized onion. Measure the spices and keep the rest of the ingredients ready.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in pan. Keep the flame to a low. Add ½ teaspoon black mustard seeds and fry them till they splutter. Use any neutral tasting oil. You can also use ghee for a vegetarian version.
3. Add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds and fry till they are browned.
4. Now, add the finely chopped onions.
5. On a low to medium-low heat sauté onions stirring often till they soften and become translucent.
6. Add 1 sprig curry leaves (10 to 12 curry leaves) and finely chopped green chilies.
7. Sauté for 20 to 30 seconds on low heat.
8. Add the chopped tomatoes.
9. Stir and mix well. Sauté stirring often till the tomatoes soften and become mushy.
10. Now, add the following ingredients one by one:

¼ teaspoon turmeric powder ¼ teaspoon red chili powder ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder ½ teaspoon coriander powder ½ teaspoon fennel powder

11. Stir and mix well.
12. Add 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) and salt as required. You can skip asafoetida to make this dish gluten-free.
13. Sauté the masala or spice mixture for a minute keeping heat to a low so that the ground spices are not burned.

Make Masala Rice

13. Add 2 cups steamed rice or leftover rice. Ensure that the rice is completely cooled and not hot. Adding hot to very hot rice will make the dish mushy or pasty with the rice grains breaking while stirring.
14. Stir and mix gently but thoroughly so that the masala coats the rice grains.
15. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes more, while continuously stirring the rice on low heat.
16. Lastly, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of chopped coriander leaves.
17. Mix with the rice or you can even garnish the masala rice with the coriander leaves while serving.
18. Serve the masala rice hot or warm with raita or a salad, pickle and papad.

Leftover Food Culture in India

The concept of using leftover food to create many more scrumptious dishes is a common phenomenon in India. As we Indians consider food to be godly and nothing less than an emotion, wastage of food is out of question. The most common leftover food at an Indian household has mostly been the steamed rice. Over the years, many Indian recipes have been developed using leftover rice. For instance, this Masala Rice itself along with other dishes like Lemon Rice, Curd Rice, Rice Pakoda, Rice Cutlet and more. Here are some more Leftover Rice Recipes that you must give a try. Apart from dishes made using leftover rice, there are many other dishes from leftover food that are not just interesting but are really scrumptious. Like the Idli Chaat made with leftover idlis, Kuzhi Paniyaram or Sweet Paniyaram made with leftover idli batter or the lovely Punjabi style Aloo Tikki Chole chaat made with leftover chole.

Expert Tips

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. Tawa Pulao Tamarind Rice | Puliyodharai Recipe Biryani Rice Recipe Indian Butter Rice This Masala Rice post from the blog archives first published in June 2013 has been republished and updated on 24 April 2022.

title: “Masala Rice " ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-27” author: “Kenneth Scott”

About This Masala Rice

Thinking of what to do with the leftover rice at home? No worries, stir up this quick, easy and vegan Masala Rice. Best option for tiffin food too. All you need to do is sauté some onions and tomatoes with your everyday spices and herbs. Then, add the rice to it and toss everything up. The result is a yummy spiced rice, that can be had plain or accompanied with a bowl of raita, yogurt, salad or pickle. You can even prepare this Masala Rice with freshly cooked rice. Just remember to let the rice grains cool down completely before you add them to the spice or masala mixture. It makes for a filling brunch, lunch or dinner.

Masala Rice vs Masale Bhat

Though similar in words ‘masala’ and ‘bhat,’ which means rice in English, Masala Rice is quite different when compared to its close sibling Masale Bhat. Rice is the main ingredient in both, but this Masala Rice recipe uses leftover rice and Masale Bhat is made with uncooked rice. Thus, is more like a pulao in texture.   Masale Bhat is a popular Maharashtrian version, which is richer as its also loaded with many vegetables and more of spices as compared to the Masala Rice. Another significant thing that is a major differentiator between the two is a typical spice mix called Goda Masala that goes in Masale Bhat. Other variations of the Masale Bhat include the Vangi Bath (Brinjal Rice), Tomato Bath (Tomato Rice) and the Tondli Bhaat (Ivy Gourd Rice). For the garnish bit as well, there are more elements in the Masale Bhat versus the Masala Rice. Traditionally, grated coconut, coriander leaves and roasted cashewnuts are added to the Masale Bhat whereas just a sprinkle of fresh coriander is more than enough for the Masala Rice. However, you can serve both these rice preparations with a raita of your choice or a bowl of plain yogurt (curd), salad and pickle amongst other things.  

How to make Masala Rice

Prep and Make the Masala

1. Finely chop 1 green chili, 1 medium-sized tomato and 1 medium-sized onion. Measure the spices and keep the rest of the ingredients ready.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in pan. Keep the flame to a low. Add ½ teaspoon black mustard seeds and fry them till they splutter. Use any neutral tasting oil. You can also use ghee for a vegetarian version.
3. Add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds and fry till they are browned.
4. Now, add the finely chopped onions.
5. On a low to medium-low heat sauté onions stirring often till they soften and become translucent.
6. Add 1 sprig curry leaves (10 to 12 curry leaves) and finely chopped green chilies.
7. Sauté for 20 to 30 seconds on low heat.
8. Add the chopped tomatoes.
9. Stir and mix well. Sauté stirring often till the tomatoes soften and become mushy.
10. Now, add the following ingredients one by one:

¼ teaspoon turmeric powder ¼ teaspoon red chili powder ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder ½ teaspoon coriander powder ½ teaspoon fennel powder

11. Stir and mix well.
12. Add 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) and salt as required. You can skip asafoetida to make this dish gluten-free.
13. Sauté the masala or spice mixture for a minute keeping heat to a low so that the ground spices are not burned.

Make Masala Rice

13. Add 2 cups steamed rice or leftover rice. Ensure that the rice is completely cooled and not hot. Adding hot to very hot rice will make the dish mushy or pasty with the rice grains breaking while stirring.
14. Stir and mix gently but thoroughly so that the masala coats the rice grains.
15. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes more, while continuously stirring the rice on low heat.
16. Lastly, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of chopped coriander leaves.
17. Mix with the rice or you can even garnish the masala rice with the coriander leaves while serving.
18. Serve the masala rice hot or warm with raita or a salad, pickle and papad.

Leftover Food Culture in India

The concept of using leftover food to create many more scrumptious dishes is a common phenomenon in India. As we Indians consider food to be godly and nothing less than an emotion, wastage of food is out of question. The most common leftover food at an Indian household has mostly been the steamed rice. Over the years, many Indian recipes have been developed using leftover rice. For instance, this Masala Rice itself along with other dishes like Lemon Rice, Curd Rice, Rice Pakoda, Rice Cutlet and more. Here are some more Leftover Rice Recipes that you must give a try. Apart from dishes made using leftover rice, there are many other dishes from leftover food that are not just interesting but are really scrumptious. Like the Idli Chaat made with leftover idlis, Kuzhi Paniyaram or Sweet Paniyaram made with leftover idli batter or the lovely Punjabi style Aloo Tikki Chole chaat made with leftover chole.

Expert Tips

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. Tawa Pulao Tamarind Rice | Puliyodharai Recipe Biryani Rice Recipe Indian Butter Rice This Masala Rice post from the blog archives first published in June 2013 has been republished and updated on 24 April 2022.