Potato Rice (Aloo Rice)
Updated: May 5, 2024, By Swasthi
As the name says Potato Rice is a stir fried dish of rice, diced potatoes, spices and herbs. It is an easy to make plant based meal and can be eaten with plain yogurt or a raita and a veggie salad. My boys fondly call this as “Aloo Rice”, where aloo is the Indian/Hindi word for potatoes. At home, it is a staple for a quick dinner or a school meal & everyone loves it.
About Potato Rice
In this post I share the recipe with precooked rice but you can also make it with raw rice/ uncooked rice and make a one pot meal. If you don’t like potatoes you can also make this with sweet potatoes or mixed vegetables.
This post is more for sharing an idea rather than a recipe. So get creative and adapt this method to make a rice dish with with whatever you like – paneer, green peas, baby spinach, eggs or shrimp or even left over shredded curried chicken or roasted chicken.
I use basmati rice to make this, you are free to use any other of choice like short rice, brown rice or other choices like quinoa, cooked millet or even noodles. But it is essential to use something that does not become sticky. So aged basmati rice is what I prefer here.
I often find making this kind of rice dishes easier with precooked rice rather than making a one pot meal. Because I get some time to prep up the veggies while the rice is cooking. Since this is a kids’ friendly dish, the spice levels are low to medium, increase the quantities if you prefer hot and more flavor in your potato rice.
I love using whole spices for a punch of flavors and because I always have abundant in my pantry. Feel free to omit them if you don’t have.
More Rice Recipes
Tomato Rice
Mushroom Fried Rice
Carrot Rice
Beetroot Rice
Photo Guide
Step by step Instructions
1. Wash and cook rice without making it mushy. I generally cook rice with lot of water in an open pan for making this kind of rice dishes. Drain the rice to a colander once cooked. For a step by step guide you may check this basmati rice post.
2. While the rice cooks, peel and cube potatoes to ½ to ¾ inch cubes. Add them to a bowl of water so they don’t get discolored. Slice an onion. Heat oil in a wide pan. Add whole spices and let them sizzle in oil for a minute. You may omit if you don’t like them.
3. Add garlic or ginger and sliced onions. Saute till the onions turn transparent, don’t need to brown them as they get sauteed further with potatoes.
4. Add potatoes and fry till they are soft cooked and roasted well. If you want you may splash little water and cook them covered.
5. Stir together red chili powder, garam masala, turmeric, mint leaves and salt. Saute for a minute and turn off the heat.
6. Add cooked rice, squeeze lemon juice and mix well. Taste test and adjust salt as required. If you want to up the heat levels, add a bit of black pepper.
Serve potato rice hot with plain yogurt or a veggie salad.
Related Recipes
Recipe Card
Potato Rice (Aloo Rice)
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 1 cup raw rice or 2½ cups cooked rice
- 2 medium potatoes cut to ½ to ¾ inch cubes
- 1 medium onion sliced thinly
- 2 garlic cloves chopped, or ½ inch ginger
- 12 mint leaves fine chopped or cilantro
- 1 green chili slit (omit for kids)
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon Garam masala or biryani masala (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon Red chili powder
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric
- ⅓ teaspoon salt (more if needed)
- 2 tablespoons Oil as needed
- 1 to 1½ tablespoons lemon juice
Whole spices (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 green cardamoms
- 4 cloves
- 1 inch cinnamon piece
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 star anise / star flower
- 1 strand mace
Instructions
- Cook rice in whatever way you prefer. Here is how I do it – Rinse rice in a pot and pour 3 to 4 cups of water. Bring to a rolling boil and cook on a medium heat till fully cooked, yet firm. Drain to a colander, cover and let rest until used later.
- While the rice cooks, wash, peel and dice potatoes. Add them to a bowl of water to avoid discoloring.
- Pour oil to a hot wide pan / skillet and add the whole spices if using. When they begin to sizzle (in a minute), add the onions, garlic and chili. Saute until the onions turn transparent for 3 to 4 mins.
- Drain the water from the potatoes and add them to the pan. Saute and roast them until tender and fully cooked. If the pan dries out, add a splash of water and cook covered. It should take you about 8 to 9 mins.
- Stir in turmeric, red chili powder, mint, salt and garam masala. Saute for a minute and turn off the heat. Stir in the rice and squeeze some lemon juice.
- Mix well and taste test to adjust salt. If you want more heat, add black pepper.
- Serve potato rice hot with yogurt and a veggie salad.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
About Swasthi
Iโm Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthiโs Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me
Follow Swasthi’s Recipes
Comments
I’m gonna try this recipe but the way you described each step , I am sure it’s really nice
tried it was very yummy even my hubby who generally prefers non veg liked it
This was great. I used cilantro instead of mint, mint is not a real favorite, and it turned out great. Using the whole spices was great. I definitely will be making this again.
Tried your potato rice recipe two days ago, it was amazing. My friends who ate it requested for more. Thank you, easy to follow recipe and delicious.
This is my favorite! Make it often. Thank you.
Glad to know Rekha, Thank you
Everything from this site is perfect! Thanks Swasthi. I only cook to survive and you make it easier.
Glad you like them Sneha. Thank you!
๐
Super โญ?
Good
Thank you
Tried making this today 4 my son’s Tiffin….it turned out superb…I added dhaniya leaves instead of pudina…
Very good recipe…thanks for sharing?
Welcome Reena
Glad to know potato rice turned out good. You can check this collection for more kids’ school box. Thanks for trying.
Made it this morning with some abberation –
Used mustard oil. Added some raisins at the end.
This recipie is yumm as hell ๐
Thanks a lot for trying.
It’s so tasty
Thank you
super nice dishes & mouthwatering recipes
Thanks
Very vry nice recipes
thank you
wav So nice Spicy
Thanks
I tried this today…it came out well. It was little spicy..i think its bcoz of green chillies i added. But tasted good. Thank u so much for this recipe.
Welcome Goms, yes next time you can make it without chilli
Tasty and super
thanks
Pototo rice is easiest method thank u
welcome Pavitra
Good job,I love the way you garnish your rice.I cooked curd rice with your recipe and I loved the end product.Thankyou.
Welcome and thanks for the appreciation.
Glad to know it turned out good.
Thanks for the feedback
superbbb
thanks
Thank you very much
๐
Love the platter!!! I make a similar rice for my kids….for school lunch! Your pics are too tempting!