Main Course · Indian · Vegan ·

Aromatic Indian Curry Leaf Rice with Lentils and Mustard Seeds

Name: Aromatic Indian Curry Leaf Rice with Lentils and Mustard Seeds
Prep time: 17 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 67 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 1 cup basmati rice, rinsed and drained; 2 cups water; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup split yellow lentils (moong dal), rinsed and soaked for 30 min; 2 cups water; 1/2 teaspoon turmeric; 1 tablespoon ghee or oil; 1 teaspoon mustard seeds; 1 teaspoon cumin seeds; 10 curry leaves, fresh; 2 dried red chilies, broken into pieces; 1/4 cup cashew nuts; Fresh coriander leaves, chopped; Lemon wedges

A delightful, aromatic blend of flavors with the earthiness of lentils and the zest of curry leaves, perfect as a side or main dish.

4.6(846 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 3, 2025

Aromatic Indian Curry Leaf Rice with Lentils and Mustard Seeds — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

17 min

Cook

50 min

Difficulty

Easy

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Rice

For the Spiced Lentils

For the Tempering

For the Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 182 kcal
Protein: 5.71 g
Carbs: 21.9 g
Fat: 8.05 g
Fiber: 2.65 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 728 kcal
Protein: 22.85 g
Carbs: 87.7 g
Fat: 32.18 g
Fiber: 10.6 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 cup basmati rice rinsed and drained	205	4.3	44.5	0.4	0.6
2 cups water	0	0	0	0	0
1 teaspoon salt	0	0	0	0	0
1/2 cup split yellow lentils (moong dal) rinsed and soaked for 30 min	178	12.1	29.2	0.6	7.5
2 cups water	0	0	0	0	0
1/2 teaspoon turmeric	4	0.1	0.7	0.07	0.2
1 tablespoon ghee or oil	120	0	0	14	0
1 teaspoon mustard seeds	5	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.2
1 teaspoon cumin seeds	8	0.4	0.9	0.5	0.2
10 curry leaves fresh	1	0.05	0.1	0.01	0.1
2 dried red chilies broken into pieces	6	0.3	1.4	0.3	0.7
1/4 cup cashew nuts	196	5.1	9	15.9	0.9
Fresh coriander leaves chopped	1	0.1	0.2	0.01	0.1
Lemon wedges	4	0.1	1.4	0	0.1

These estimates are for informational purposes only and are not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Rice

1
Boil water
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan.
Tip: Rinse rice until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
2
Add rice and salt
Add rinsed basmati rice and salt to the boiling water.
3
Simmer
Cover and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes or until fully cooked.

Preparing the Lentils

1
Boil turmeric water
Boil 2 cups of water with turmeric.
2
Cook lentils
Add soaked lentils, cook on medium heat until soft but not mushy.
Tip: Don't overcook the lentils; they should maintain their shape.
3
Drain lentils
Drain excess water and set aside.

How to Make Aromatic Indian Curry Leaf Rice with Lentils and Mustard Seeds

Total time: 1 h 7 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Tempering
Heat ghee or oil, add mustard seeds and cumin seeds until they start to splutter.
2
Combining Ingredients
Mix cooked rice, drained lentils, and toasted spices together gently.
3
Final Spice Infusion
Add curry leaves, broken red chilies, and cashew nuts to the tempering, then fold into the rice-lentil mixture.