Recipe: 20-min Spiced Rice

Spiced Rice with Cashews, Peas, & Carrots

A student of our Ayurveda Health Counselor program created this dish for its balance of heating and cooling spices while tasting great. This recipe is perfect for spring transition into summer as it is light, spiced, and warm. The fresh herbs, parsley and/or cilantro, add the bitter taste to balance and add to the nourishing benefits.

This satisfying dish feels good in the body. The buttery rice and sweet peas create a nice soothing balance for a hot, sharp sunny day.

The spices of cumin, turmeric, cardamom, clove and cinnamon help aid in digestion of the heavier cashews, which add a nice crunch to the dish.

Spiced Rice
makes 3 servings
Cook time: 20 minutes

  • 1 cup Basmati rice

  • 1 carrot, chopped

  • 1/2 cup peas

  • 1/4 cup raw cashews

  • 1 tbsp ghee

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 1 tbsp turmeric

  • 1 tbsp cumin seeds, ground

  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon

  • 1/4 tsp cardamom

  • a pinch of clover powder

  • 1 tsp salt

  • parsley or cilantro to garnish

Measure out rice and add it into the pot you will cook in. Fill the pot with water and begin to rinse the rice with your hands. Pour off the cloudy water slowly without pouring out the rice. Repeat as many times until the water becomes clear. Add 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, place a lid on top and cook on low until rice is cooked.

Chop the carrot into diced pieces and add to a medium skillet. Add 1 tbsp of ghee to the skillet and turn the heat to medium-low. Add in the peas and the raw cashews. Stir to combine and add in all the spices (besides the bay leaf). Continue cooking until the carrots are softened and the cashews are a little toasted.

For the last 5 minutes or so of cooking the rice, add the bay leaf and stir. Let steep with the rice for about 5 minutes.

Remove the bay leaf from the rice and add the rice to the skillet with the vegetables. Stir to combine. Add salt to taste and garnish with parsley or cilantro.


Spices that work the best for your body depends on your specific dosha or your unique constitution. Complete the mini dosha quiz below that includes questions about your behavioral, emotional, and physical profiles. Our team will reach out to you shortly with your results.