Gujarati-Style Sweet and Tangy Tamarind Rice
A vibrant rice dish with tamarind paste, mustard seeds, peanuts, and curry leaves, offering a perfect balance of sour and sweet flavors. This Indian-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs cooked basmati rice, tamarind paste, jaggery for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked basmati rice
- 2 tbsp tamarind paste
- 1 tbsp, grated jaggery
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1, broken dry red chili
- 1 tbsp chana dal (split chickpeas)
- 1 tbsp urad dal (black gram split)
- 2 tbsp, roasted peanuts
- 10 curry leaves
- a pinch asafoetida (hing)
- 2 tbsp oil
- to taste salt
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tsp mustard seeds and wait until they start to pop.
- Step 2: Add 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, 1 tbsp chana dal, 1 tbsp urad dal, 1 dry red chili broken into pieces, a pinch of asafoetida, and 10 curry leaves; sauté for 2-3 minutes until dals turn golden brown and fragrant.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp roasted peanuts and cook for 1 minute.
- Step 4: Lower heat to medium-low and add 2 tbsp tamarind paste along with 1 tbsp grated jaggery; stir until jaggery melts and the mixture forms a tangy, syrupy consistency.
- Step 5: Add 3 cups cooked basmati rice and salt to taste; toss gently for 3-4 minutes until every grain is coated with the tamarind mixture and heated through.
- Step 6: Remove from heat and let rest covered for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.






