Tehri (Easy Indian Vegetable Rice)

What Is Tehri?

Tehri is a spiced rice dish often made with potatoes and seasonal vegetables. It is a great recipe when you want an Indian rice meal without the layered work of biryani.

Ingredients

• 2 cups basmati rice
• 2 medium potatoes, cubed
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1/2 cup green peas
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 2 tablespoons oil or ghee
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• Salt to taste
• 4 cups water
• Fresh cilantro for garnish

How to Make Tehri

Step 1: Rinse the basmati rice until the water runs mostly clear, then soak for 20 minutes and drain.

Step 2: Heat oil or ghee in a pot. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle.

Step 3: Add the sliced onion and cook until lightly golden.

Step 4: Stir in tomato, potatoes, carrots, peas, turmeric, coriander, chili powder, garam masala, and salt. Cook for a few minutes.

Step 5: Add the soaked rice and gently mix so the grains do not break.

Step 6: Pour in water, cover, and cook until the rice is tender and the vegetables are soft.

Step 7: Let it rest for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork and garnish with cilantro.

What to Serve With Tehri

• Plain yogurt
• Raita
• Pickles
• Salad
• Boiled eggs
• Chutney

Tips for Better Tehri

• Use basmati rice for the best texture.
• Do not stir too much after adding the rice — the grains can break.
• Let the rice rest after cooking so it becomes fluffy.

Tehri vs Biryani

Tehri is simpler and quicker than biryani. Biryani usually involves layered rice, meat, and a more complex cooking method, while tehri is more of an everyday one-pot rice dish.