Description

This yellow rice recipe is a comforting and easy side dish, featuring a vibrant golden hue and aromatic spices, perfect for elevating weeknight dinners or family gatherings. Made with common pantry items, it promises a deeply satisfying result with its fluffy texture and rich flavor.

Ingredients

1.5 cups long-grain white rice
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small yellow onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
0.5 teaspoon ground coriander
0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
2.5 cups vegetable broth
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, plus extra for garnish
Lime wedges, for serving

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Instructions

Prep Aromatics: Finely dice the small yellow onion and mince the two cloves of garlic.
Sauté: In a medium heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the diced yellow onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and smoked paprika. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute until wonderfully fragrant.
Toast Rice: Add the rinsed and drained long-grain white rice to the pot. Stir well to ensure each grain is coated with the aromatic spices and oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring gently, to lightly toast the rice grains until they look slightly opaque at the edges.
Add Liquid & Simmer: Pour in the vegetable broth, then add the salt and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot tightly with a lid, and simmer undisturbed for 15 minutes. (If it looks dry too soon, quickly add a splash more broth and re-cover tightly.)
Rest & Fluff: Remove the pot from the heat and let it rest, still covered, for 10 minutes. After resting, remove the lid, add the chopped fresh cilantro, and gently fluff the yellow rice with a fork to separate the grains, ensuring a light and airy texture.

Notes

To save time, use frozen chopped onion or pre-minced garlic. This recipe is naturally gluten-free and plant-based when using vegetable broth and oil. For a complete meal, serve with a protein source like grilled chicken or fish. An electric rice cooker can also be used; follow specific cooker instructions.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 28 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: General

Nutrition

Serving Size: 0.75 cup (approx 150 g)
Calories: 200 calories
Sugar: 1 g
Sodium: 350 mg
Fat: 3 g
Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 40 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 4 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg