Delicious tamarind rice or puliyogare recipe is made with leftover rice, spices, nuts, tamarind, and coconut to make a very flavor-packed and unique rice dish. Popular in Southern India, you’ll love this rice!

Tamarind rice, a traditional South Indian cuisine rice dish, hits all the right notes to balance, tang, spice, and sweet notes.

This easy tamarind rice recipe is called a variety of names in parts of South India. You may have heard it referred to as puliyogare, puliodharai, pulihora, and puli sadam to name a few. It is served in Hindu temples (particularly in South India).

Here is a quick video of me making tamarind rice:

Each Southern state makes it a little differently so techniques and ingredients may be tweaked but the core ingredients remain the same.

Medium grain rice, such as Sona Masoori used here, is precooked, and tossed in a blend of spices or puliyogare podi (puliyogare powder) mixed with tamarind, dry red chilies, coconut, Indian spices, and nuts.

Each ingredient provides a unique flavor and builds the depth of flavor of this delightful traditional dish.

While there are a variety of ways to make this dish some include making pulikachal (tamarind-based spiced liquid). This recipe uses a freshly ground puliyogare spice mix and tamarind concentrate for an easy, approachable way to make it.

Don’t be intimidated by the ingredients, I’ve broken it down so it is a simple tamarind rice recipe

Unique flavor | Flavor-filled tamarind rice

One-pot dish | A filling main dish common in South Indian cuisine

Friendly for all diet types | Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients are separated by first the masala spice blend and next by the remaining ingredients to make the rice.

Below are ingredient notes. Full ingredients and directions are in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

Puliyogare Spice Blend

Puliyogare powder ingredients in small plates.

Dry red chilies

Seeds: Coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds

Dried coconut shreds: desiccated coconut (if you only have powder on hand, it can burn very quickly so keep an eye)

Kashmiri chili powder: Can also use 1 dry Kashmiri chili

Rice

Sona Masoori rice: A medium grain rice works best for this dish and this rice variety is popularly used.

Leftover rice can be used or you can make a fresh batch.

Using 1 cup of dry rice, approximately cups of cooked rice is used for this recipe.

Sona masoori rice on a gray plate with a white serving spoon.

Tamarind Rice

Nuts: Raw peanuts and cashews are pan-fried and provide a delicious crunch.

Dals: Urad dal and chana dal add textural interest and taste.

Curry leaves: Found easily in Indian grocery stores.

Tamarind concentrate: I find this the easiest option to make all tamarind-based dishes. It is convenient and keeps well in the fridge for a long time. Found easily in Indian grocery stores.

I dilute the concentrate in water in preparation for making this dish.

Alternatively, people use tamarind pulp or tamarind paste. Depending on the type, you may have to cook it down or remove the seeds before using it if you go that route. I will soon add a post on making your tamarind paste.

Tamarind rice ingredients in plates and bowls.

Jaggery powder: This provides the perfect taste of sweet notes to balance this tangy tamarind, a sour ingredient.

Cilantro: Adding coriander leaves provides a fresh, contrasting taste.

Variations/Methods

Powder: Tamarind rice can be prepared in South Indian style using the traditional “Puliyodharai” mix, which includes tamarind paste, jaggery, spices, and roasted peanuts.

The mix is then combined with cooked rice and mixed thoroughly to create a tangy and flavorful dish.

2. Pulikalichal: Tamarind rice can also be prepared using a “Tempering” method, which involves frying spices and herbs like mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, and dry red chilies in oil until fragrant. The tempered spices are then added to the cooked rice along with tamarind paste and mixed well to create a spicy and aromatic dish that is perfect for those who prefer bold flavors.

3. Variation: Adding a little coconut milk

using coconut milk and grated coconut. Cooked rice is mixed with tamarind paste, grated coconut, coconut milk, and spices to create a creamy and mildly spiced dish that is perfect for those who prefer milder flavors.

Preparation

Make Plain Rice

You can use leftover rice for this recipe. If you’d like to make fresh rice, use a rice ratio of 1 cup dry rice grain to 2 cups water. More details on making Sona Masuri Rice are available here.

Medium-grain rice is preferred, however, you can use any type you’d like. Basmati rice is commonly used in Indian cooking.

Prepare Puliyogare Podi (Spice Powder)

Dry roast whole spices on medium heat. Add in the following order: coriander and cumin seeds (1 minute), then dry red chilies and fenugreek seeds.

About 1 minute later, add coconut shreds and sesame seeds. Mix every 10-15 seconds. In about 1-2 minutes ingredients should be toasted but not burned. You will notice a fragrant smell.

Once spices have cooled, add to a spice grinder along with Kashmiri chili powder and grind into a fine powder.

Tamarind rice masala powder is ready!

Coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and dry red chilies in a pan.

Dry roasting spices and desiccated coconut in pan.

Prepare Tamarind Concentrate

Mix tamarind concentrate with 2 tablespoons of warm water. Set aside.

If using fresh, don’t forget to soak tamarind in preparation.

Making It

Add oil to the pan and turn the stove on medium-high heat. After the oil heats up, add raw peanuts and cashews. Let them pan-fry for about 2-3 or until they begin to turn golden brown. Make sure they don’t burn! Once fried, set aside on a plate lined with a paper towel.

Place the same pan with oil back on the stove on medium-high heat. Add chana dal then urad dal. Then, add mustard seeds. Once they begin to sizzle add asafetida.

Cashews and peanuts pan frying in a pan.

Next, add red chilies and curry leaves to the pan. Give it a mix.

Then, add turmeric powder.

Curry leaves, dry red chilies, chana dal, and urad dal frying in oil.

Quickly add diluted tamarind mixture and jaggery powder to the pan. Mix well Let simmer for 2-3 minutes. Turn the gas to medium heat.

Add cooked, cooled rice. Mix.

Tamarind concentrate and jaggery powder added to pan.

Sona masoori rice added to jaggery and spice tamarind sauce.

Add cashews and nuts. Mix well. The rice should be a little moist.

Mix in chopped fresh cilantro and serve.

Cashews and peanuts added to tamarind rice.

Serving Suggestions

So this dish is served often as a main dish on its own. It’s commonly served in South Indian temples with other rice dishes alongside it.

While rice recipes such as Jeera Rice are usually served alongside a dal or sabzi, this dish can stand on its own.

Serve with cooling raita such as Avocado Raita or this Biryani Raita.

Some sides you could serve it with include papad and salad.

Lassis can also be a cooling addition, there are many kinds including Sweet Lassi, Mango Lassi, Rose Lassi, Strawberry Lassi, Peach Lassi, and Salt Lassi.

Sweet lassi in a glass with crushed rose petal garnish.

Biryani ratia in a white bowl topped with cilantro leaves.

Storing

This can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for 3-4 days. Bear in mind, if you are using leftover rice you may want to consume it quicker.

Have you tried this South Indian tamarind rice? If so, I would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave a comment and rate it with stars. It would mean a lot to me to hear how it turned out. If you’re on Instagram, feel free to tag me so I can see your creation. Thank you for your support!