or is an Indian and Pakistani dish consisting of rice and cumin seeds. It is a very popular dish in the Indian subcontinent and most commonly used as an everyday rice dish. The Hindi term for cumin seeds is or , with the latter also being used in Urdu, thus owing to the name of the dish. The ingredients used are rice, cumin seeds, vegetable oil, onions, salt and coriander leaves.
The name is a compound of two Hindi words: and . The word (or in IAST) is derived from the Sanskrit word , . The word is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning . The HindiâÂÂUrdu name ( / ) is commonly used in northern India, with the word () being derived from the same Sanskrit word and the word meaning .
Cumin seeds are fried in hot oil. Long-grain Basmati rice and salt are added to it. Water is then poured and allowed to boil with covered lid at high flame. The rice then is steamed on low flame until all the water is absorbed.
is generally garnished with finely chopped fresh coriander leaves but is also garnished with onion rings in some Indian hotels and restaurants.