8 Rice Dishes will Change Your Mind About Indian Food
For years, I thought rice is just… rice. You know, that white stuff you put on your plate to soak up curry. Oh, I was wrong.
It all started when my friend dragged me to this Indian restaurant on Brick Lane. I was ready to order my usual chicken tikka masala with plain rice (boring, I know). But then she stopped me and said, “Trust me, try the garlic rice instead.”
That one decision changed everything I thought I knew about Indian food. And now I’m here to share what I’ve learned about the different types of rice that’ll make you wonder why you ever settled for plain.
About Rice
Here’s what nobody tells you when you’re growing up. Rice isn’t just rice. There are actually tons of varieties and they all taste completely different. The main types you’ll find in Indian restaurants are basmati rice, jasmine rice and various types of rice that have been flavoured with different spices and ingredients.
Basmati rice is the superstar of Indian cuisine. It’s got these long, thin grains that stay separate and fluffy when cooked. Plus, it smells amazing. Like, your kitchen will smell like a fancy restaurant, amazing. The thing is, most of us just order plain rice without thinking about it. We’re missing out on a whole world of flavour sitting right there on the menu.
The 8 Rice Varieties
1. Plain Rice
Okay, I know I just said plain rice is boring. But hear me out. Sometimes you need a friend who’s just there, reliable, not trying to steal the spotlight. That’s plain rice.
It’s simple steamed basmati rice with nothing added. The flavour is mild and neutral, which means it lets your curry do all the talking. When I’m eating something super spicy (like that vindaloo that made me cry last week), plain rice is my best friend. It cools everything down and gives my taste buds a break.
Best with: Any curry, especially the really spicy ones that make you question your life choices.
2. Pilau Rice
If plain rice is the quiet friend, pilau rice is the popular kid everyone wants to sit with at lunch. This is basmati rice cooked with aromatic spices like cumin, cardamom and saffron. It has this gorgeous golden colour and smells absolutely incredible.
The first time I tried pilau rice, I remember thinking, “Wait, rice can taste like this?” It’s got just enough flavour to make things interesting without fighting with your curry. The grains are fluffy and separate, not all clumpy like when I try to make rice at home (which usually turns into a sticky mess).
Best with: Tikka masala, korma, or any medium-spiced curry.
3. Garlic Rice
This is the rice that started my whole journey. Garlic rice is pilau rice with fresh garlic cooked right into it. And I’m not talking about a tiny bit of garlic. I’m talking about proper, can-smell-it-from-across-the-room garlic.
If you’re like me and add garlic to everything (much to my roommate’s annoyance), this rice will become your new obsession. It’s savoury, it’s punchy and it makes even the mildest curry taste amazing.
Pro tip: Don’t eat this before a first date. Just saying.
Best with: Mild curries, vegetarian dishes, anything from the tandoori menu.
4. Keema Rice
So keema rice is basically pilau rice mixed with spiced minced lamb. I know what you’re thinking because I thought the same thing. “Wait, there’s meat in the rice?” Yes.
The minced lamb is cooked with traditional spices until it’s all flavorful and delicious, then mixed right into the rice. It’s hearty, filling, and honestly could be a meal on its own. I once ordered keema rice with a light curry and felt like I’d discovered the secret to life.
Best with: Light curries, or eat it solo when you’re really hungry.
5. Mushroom Rice
I’m not even that big on mushrooms (they’re kinda weird and squishy), but mushroom rice won me over. It’s pilau rice with sautéed mushrooms mixed through and somehow it just works.
The mushrooms add this earthy, savoury flavour that makes the whole dish feel more filling without being heavy. My vegetarian friend swears by this one and after trying it, I totally get why.
Best with: Creamy curries, vegetarian dishes, or when you want something different.
6. Lemon Rice
Lemon rice is like that friend who always knows how to lighten the mood. It’s rice flavoured with fresh lemon zest and it’s way better than it sounds.
The citrus flavour is light and refreshing which makes it perfect when you’re eating something rich or super spicy. Last month, I ordered a really heavy butter chicken and the lemon rice was exactly what I needed. It cut through all that cream and made the whole meal feel balanced.
Also, it’s great when you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the spices and just need something clean and fresh.
Best with: Rich curries, spicy dishes, anything that feels a bit heavy.
7. Coconut Rice
When I first saw coconut rice on the menu, I was sceptical. Coconut? In rice? With curry? It sounded weird.
But then I tried it, and wow. The subtle sweetness from the coconut flakes pairs incredibly well with spicy food. It’s like your mouth is having a party where sweet and spicy are dancing together.
My go-to order now is a spicy vindaloo with coconut rice. The sweetness balances out the heat, and I don’t end up gulping down three glasses of water like I used to.
Best with: Spicy curries, South Indian dishes, or when you want to try something different.
8. Biryani
Biryani isn’t just rice. It’s a whole experience. Biryani is long-grain basmati rice layered with marinated meat (or vegetables if you’re vegetarian), cooked together with saffron and a ton of aromatic spices.
The rice isn’t just sitting next to the meat. It’s cooked with the meat in this sealed pot that traps all the flavours and steam. Every single grain of rice is infused with flavour. Every bite is different. Sometimes you get a piece of tender meat, sometimes you hit a pocket of saffron-scented rice, sometimes you get both.
At The Monsoon, they even put an egg omelette on top of their special biryani. I didn’t understand why until I tried it. The egg adds this extra richness that ties everything together.
Here’s the thing about biryani, though. You don’t need curry with it. It IS the meal. The first time I ordered biryani, I also ordered a curry because I thought I was supposed to. Big mistake. I couldn’t finish everything, and I felt like I’d wasted good food.
Best with: Nothing. Biryani stands alone.
Why Does Restaurant Rice Taste So Good?
You know how when you make rice at home, it either turns out mushy or crunchy or just kind of blah? Meanwhile, restaurant rice is always fluffy, perfectly cookedan smells amazing?
There’s actually a reason for that. Restaurants use really good quality basmati rice. Not the stuff you grab at the supermarket without thinking. The proper, aged basmati that costs a bit more but makes all the difference.
They also use traditional cooking techniques that have been perfected over the years. At The Monsoon, they’ve been making rice for over 24 years. That’s a lot of practice. They know exactly how much water to use, how long to cook it and which spices work best together.
Plus, they make it fresh. Not like that pre-cooked rice you can microwave. Fresh rice just hits different.
My Rice Journey Continues
Looking back, I can’t believe I spent years just ordering plain rice without thinking about it. Don’t get me wrong, plain rice has its place. But now I actually read the rice section of the menu. I ask questions. I try new things.
Last week, I convinced my dad to try coconut rice. He’s one of those “I’ve been ordering the same thing for 20 years” people. He loved it. Now he won’t shut up about it, which is both annoying and kind of sweet.
The point is, rice matters. It’s not just filler. It’s part of the meal. The right rice can make a good curry great. The wrong rice can throw off the whole balance.
Long Grain vs Short Grain Rice: What's the Best?
Before I started paying attention to rice, I honestly had no idea long grain and short grain were actually different things. I thought it was just about how the rice looked. Wrong.
Long-grain rice has skinny grains that are three or four times longer than they’re wide. Basmati is the perfect example. When you cook it, the grains stay separate and fluffy, not clumpy or sticky. This is exactly why Indian restaurants use it. Nobody wants their curry sitting on top of mushy, sticky rice.
Short-grain rice is rounder and gets soft and sticky when cooked, like sushi rice. Great for sushi, where you need everything to stick together, but terrible for curry. I learned this the hard way when I tried making Indian food at home and grabbed the wrong rice at the store. My curry looked like it was drowning in rice pudding. The texture was all wrong, and I ended up ordering takeout instead.
Always look for long-grain or basmati rice for Indian food. Trust me on this.
Rice Nutrition and Benefits
My health-obsessed roommate once gave me this whole lecture about brown rice versus white rice. I was rolling my eyes, but some of it actually stuck. Here’s the breakdown. In one cup of cooked rice (about 158 grams), brown rice has 218 calories and white rice has 205. Not a huge difference. But brown rice packs 5 grams of protein versus 4.3 grams in white rice.
The real difference? Fiber. Brown rice has 3.5 grams while white rice only has 0.6 grams. That fiber helps with digestion and keeps you full longer. Brown rice also wins on vitamins and minerals. It has way more magnesium (83 mg versus 19 mg), more phosphorus (150 mg versus 68 mg), and 88% of your daily manganese compared to white rice’s 30%. Plus, it has a lower glycemic index, so no blood sugar spikes.
White rice isn’t useless though. It’s often enriched with iron and folic acid. It cooks faster, has a softer texture, and is easier on your stomach if you have digestive issues. Bottom line? Brown rice is healthier because of its fibre and nutrients. But I still order white basmati because it tastes better with curry. Pick what makes you happy.
Taste Rice Varieties at The Monsoon
If you want to start your own rice journey, The Monsoon on Brick Lane is a great place to begin. They’ve got all the rice varieties I mentioned, plus their famous Monsoon Special Biryani with that egg omelette on top. The best part? They’ve been doing this for over 24 years, so they really know their stuff. The rice is always perfectly cooked, never sticky or mushy. And they use proper basmati rice, the good stuff that makes your whole dining experience better.
You can eat in at their restaurant (it’s huge, like four floors huge) or order takeaway if you want to experiment with different types of rice at home. They even do free delivery which is dangerous for my wallet but great for my stomach. So next time you’re ordering Indian food, don’t just automatically say “plain rice, please.” Look at the menu. Try something new. Maybe start with pilau rice if you want to play it safe, or go straight for the garlic rice if you’re feeling brave.
Your curry deserves better rice. Trust me on this one.