Yellow rice is a traditional Sri Lankan rice recipe.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make traditional yellow rice for any occasion.

“Kaha bath” which translates to yellow rice, is an easy rice dish that’s cooked in Sri Lanka on festivals and special occasions.

You’ll love the fragrance that takes over the house as you fry the spices.
It should take you back to your mom’s kitchen reminding you of forgotten festivities.
Once you make the following recipe, you’ll experience how a plain bowl of rice changes into a dish worthy of any occasion.

The colourful plate of yellow rice cooked in aromatic spices and garnished with fried onions and curry leaves taking centre stage in a table full of food is a welcoming sight to your family and friends.

What to serve with yellow rice

Here are a few side dishes that would make it easy for you to put together a Sri Lankan rice and curry menu.

You can search the blog for more options to pair with this yellow rice recipe.

• Meat dishes that go well with yellow rice.
  • Sri Lankan chicken curry.
  • Kalupol chicken curry.
  • My grandmother’s slow-cooked beef curry.
  • Beef korma.
  • Beef rendang.
  • Chicken rendang.
  • Mild white fish curry(thalapath)fish curry.
  • Sri Lankan devilled prawns. or devilled chicken

• Vegetarian side dishes.
  • Brinjal pahi
  • Wambatu(egg plant)moju
  • Sri Lankan potato curry
  • Sri Lankan malay pickle.
  • Sweet mango curry or sweet and spicy Ambarella curry.
  • spicy pineapple curry | Sri Lankan, Sinhalese style. or Sri Lankan-mildly spiced Pineapple curry.

• Salads and relishes
  • Pineapple chutney
  • Pineapple salsa.
  • Cucumber salad.

Faq: yellow rice(turmeric rice).

• How much water should I use to cook rice?
  • 1:2 ratio which means, for every 1 cup of rice, add 2 cups of water. In turn, you will get 3 cups of cooked rice.1:2:3 ratio.

• What type of rice to choose?
  • If this is your first time cooking rice, choose rice that you are familiar with, I have used medium grain rice(keeri samba)but you can also use Basmati rice.

Utensils and appliances needed

• Large pan to cook the rice.

• A small frying pan to fry the onions.

More rice recipes for you to try.

how to cook rice on the stove.
Saudi Chicken kabsa.
Mandi rice.
Hyderabadi chicken biryani.
Chicken fried rice.
Egg biryani.

RECIPE DIFFICULTY-LITTLE CARE NEEDED

The ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.

Ingredients to cook yellow rice

4 tablespoon ghee(substitute with oil or butter)

4 large onions sliced thin (used for both cooking and frying as garnish)

2 tablespoons of minced garlic(about 5 cloves crushed or minced)

5″ pandan cut into two(if you are unable to find pandan leaf then substitute with 2 bay leaves).

2 sprigs of curry leaves(about 14 leaves, used for tempering as well as fried garnishing).

2″ Cinnamon stick

4 Cloves 

5 Cardamom pods

1 teaspoon turmeric powder

2 cups of medium grain rice(keeri samba, refer above for correct ratio for rice to water, you can also use Basmati rice)

4 cups of water

Salt to season

To fry the onions

1/2-1 cup of oil to fry the onions

To garnish(optional)

1/4 cup cashews

1/4 cup golden raisins

How to make yellow rice

Prep work before making the yellow rice

• Have all the spices ready.
• Slice the onions and mince the garlic.
• Measure the correct amount of water to cook the rice(ratio given above on recipe notes).

Wash the rice until clear water runs through, drain and set aside.

Set a large cooking pan over low medium fire and pour in the oil(4 tbsp, substitute with ghee or butter).

Take a handful of the onions sliced(amount of 1 onion sliced), garlic(2 tbsp, about 5 cloves), and add to the oil.

Cook for a minute then add pandan strips, curry leaves(1/2 of the curry leaves), cinnamon stick(2″ piece), cloves(4), and cardamoms(5).

Cook for 2 minutes until you smell the aroma of the spices.

This should take about 2-3 minutes. move the ingredients frequently to avoid burning.

Once you notice the onions turning golden in colour, add the turmeric powder(1 tsp).

Stir the ingredients and cook for 30 seconds.

Add the washed and drained rice into the cooking pan.

Over low-medium heat, fry the rice with the spices for 60 seconds.

You can add 1 tablespoon of oil to ease the frying.

Pour in the water(4 cups, the recommended amount of water for 2 cups of rice). Season with salt.

Cook the rice over a low-medium fire until the water evaporates.

Once the water evaporates and the rice is cooked through, remove the pot of rice from the stove. use a fork to fluff the rice.

How to fry the onions.

Place a small frying pan over low medium fire and pour in the oil(1/2-1 cup).

Let the oil heat for 30 seconds and then add the sliced onions, let the onions fry until they are golden brown in color, this should take 7 minutes depending on the heat used.

Use a slotted spoon to scoop up the fried onions and place them in kitchen paper towels to drain excess oil.

If you are garnishing the yellow rice with cashews and raisins, fry them as well, not more than 30 seconds then transfer them to drain excess oil.

Transfer rice to a large platter, garnish with the fried onions, followed by cashews and raisins.

Serve warm.

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