Name: Tahiri (Spiced Vegetable Rice)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Indian & Pakistani
Ingredients: 400 g (2 cups) basmati rice, soaked 20 min; 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed; 150 g (1 cup) green peas; 1 carrot, diced (optional); 2 onions, sliced; 2 tomatoes, chopped; 1 tbsp ginger–garlic paste; 2 green chillies; 4 tbsp oil; 1 tsp cumin seeds; ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp red chilli powder, 1 tsp coriander powder; 1 tsp garam masala; Whole spices: cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, bay leaf; 700 ml water; Salt to taste

Tahiri spiced rice with potatoes and peas — Photo: Ferdous · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Tahiri (or tehri) is homely comfort food — a lightly spiced, often meat-free rice dish with potatoes and peas that's especially loved in Uttar Pradesh and across Pakistan. Simple, warming and economical, it's the kind of everyday meal that feels like home.

Servings: 4
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Rice: Long-grain basmati

Method

Tick a step to mark it done.

Step 1: Heat oil, add cumin and whole spices, then onions; fry until golden.
Step 2: Add ginger–garlic paste, chillies and tomatoes; cook until soft.
Step 3: Add the ground spices, potatoes, peas and carrot; sauté for 3–4 minutes.
Step 4: Add the drained rice and stir gently. Add water and salt.
Step 5: Boil, then cover and cook on low until absorbed and the potatoes are tender, 15 minutes.
Step 6: Rest 5 minutes and fluff.