How to Make Traditional Kedgeree, Indian-Inspired Rice and Fish Dish (2024)

Kedgeree is a rice and smoked fish dish that originated in colonial India and is now a cherished and popular British recipe. Kedgeree began its life during the time of the British Raj as khichdi—a dish from the Ayurvedic khichari diet that included spices, fried onions, ginger, and lentils. Those returning from their time in the subcontinent brought the dish to Britain, where it quickly became a national staple, with the lentils usually left out of the preparation. From a humble rice and lentils dish, it slowly changed into what we know today, which includes smoked fish.

This tasty and hearty recipe is packed with flavors due to the smoked haddock, curry, aromatic cardamom, and fragrant parsley. Kedgeree is eaten hot or cold, and it's traditionally considered a breakfast dish but is also enjoyed as lunch or dinner. Ready in under one hour, this tasty meal is a great option for a family dinner because it's filling, comforting, and made with fresh and wholesome ingredients.

What You'll Need To Make This Kedgeree Recipe

A Saucepan With a Lid

A Heavy Dutch Oven

A Handy Citrus Juicer

"The kedgeree was excellent, with an abundance of color and flavor from the curry powder, boiled eggs, smoked haddock, parsley, and onions. While there are several cooking steps, preparation was quite easy. The recipe makes four generous servings, perfect for a hearty brunch, lunch, or dinner." —Diana Rattray

How to Make Traditional Kedgeree, Indian-Inspired Rice and Fish Dish (4)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

4 large eggs
6 ounces (about 7/8 cup) basmati rice, well rinsed
Kosher salt, to taste
1 pound smoked haddock
7 ounces milk
2 ounces (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
2 large onions, finely sliced, about 2 1/2 to 3 cups
4 teaspoons currypowder
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6 cardamom pods, bruised
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, for garnish
Lemon wedges, optional

Steps to Make It

Cook the Eggs

Gather the ingredients.
Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil. Gently lower the eggs into the water. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and cover with a tight-fitting lid for 10 minutes.
Peel the eggs and set aside.

Make the Rice

In a large saucepan, add the rice, 1 cup cold water, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Continue to cook, covered, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Let sit, covered, about 10 minutes.

Cook the Fish

Have about 3 cups of boiling water ready. Place the fish in another large saucepan. Add the milk to the pan with enough boiling water to completely cover the fish.
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Bring the fish to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook, uncovered, until the thickest part of the fish turns opaque, about 6 minutes.
Remove the fish from the milk. Discard the milk. When the fish is cool enough to handle, break into large chunks, discarding any bones and skin. Set aside.

Assemble the Kedgeree

Melt the butter in a large, Dutch oven or heavy-duty casserole dish. Add the onions, cover, and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions soften, about10 minutes.
Add the curry powder, cardamom pods, and bay leaves. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally until the mixture is well combined, about 2 minutes.Add the prepared rice. Stir to combine.
Gently fold in the fish.
Quarter the eggs. Gently fold 3 of the quartered eggs into the rice.
Add the lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Garnish with the remaining quartered egg, parsley, and lemon wedges, if using.

Recipe Tips

Remove and discard the bay leaves before serving.
Serve with crusty bread, if desired.
Using a silicone spatula to gently fold the fish and eggs into the rice mixture will help prevent the the pieces from falling apart.
For adult diners, kedgeree pairs well with Riesling, Gewürztraminer, or a crisp sauvignon blanc wine.

Recipe Variations

Swap out the parsley for chopped fresh chives, which go particularly well with egg dishes, or use chopped fresh coriander/cilantro for the garnish.
Add extra color and flavor with about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of hot cooked fresh or frozen peas.
Add a dash of ground turmeric for a more vibrant gold color.

How to Store Kedgeree

Because the dish has eggs and fish, items that spoil rapidly, the best course of action is to put any leftovers or unused portions in the fridge within an hour of making it. Keep in an airtight container and use within a day or two of preparation. Be sure the rice is hot all the way through before serving the leftovers.
If you are freezing the kedgeree, portion the leftovers and place in freezer bags. Do not freeze any of the hard-boiled eggs. Take out as much air as you can from the bags and place them in the freezer. When reheating, be sure the rice is hot all the way through. Make fresh hard-boiled eggs to garnish.
Never reheat cooked rice more than once.

Is Finnan haddie the same as smoked haddock?

Yes, there's no difference between Finnan haddock and smoked haddock. Smoked haddock is often labeled "Finnan haddie."

The British Love of Curry and Curry Recipes

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
425	Calories
19g	Fat
23g	Carbs
39g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	425
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g	24%
Saturated Fat 10g	49%
Cholesterol 308mg	103%
Sodium 1138mg	49%
Total Carbohydrate 23g	9%
Dietary Fiber 2g	9%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 39g
Vitamin C 9mg	45%
Calcium 188mg	14%
Iron 4mg	21%
Potassium 795mg	17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

Rice
breakfast
british
family dinner

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