Mediterranean rice, aka yellow rice, is your new favorite one pot dish. It can be made in under 30 minutes, and most of that is hands-off time. It's so simple you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry already.
Jump to:
You guys liked my Mexican rice and my cilantro lime rice recipes so much that I decided to share another one of my favorite rice recipes - Mediterranean rice!
I make this recipe all the time. It really rounds out a meal. It's the perfect complement to sticky mushrooms or any tofu dish. You can also serve it cold as a salad, so it makes a great dish to take to a picnic or BBQ.
🧡Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
🧡This is a great meal prep recipe. Make a double batch, divide it into several containers and freeze until you're ready to use it.
🧡It only takes 30 minutes to make, and it can be made in one pot. Hooray for minimal clean-up!
🧡Mediterranean rice can be served hot as a side dish, or as a cold Greek pilaf salad.
🧡This Mediterranean rice recipe is versatile. There's so many ways you can customize it and make it your own. Add cinnamon, raisins or dried apricot.
🛒Ingredients
- Basmati Rice: Basmati rice has a nutty flavor and a fluffy texture, which adds a nice contrast to the spices in this dish. However, any long grain white rice will work. You could also use jasmine rice.
- Olive Oil: We'll only be using a tablespoon of olive oil to saute the onions and spices. You could substitute vegetable oil if that's what you have on hand.
- Yellow Onion:
- Turmeric Powder: Turmeric is a spice that's commonly used in Mediterranean cuisine. It has a warm, earthy flavor and a bright yellow color that gives Mediterranean rice its characteristic warm color and flavor.
- Cumin: Cumin is another popular spice in Mediterranean cuisine. It has a warm, nutty flavor and adds a subtle spiciness to the dish. Use ground cumin.
- Salt & Pepper: Seasoning is key. Salt and pepper enhances all the other flavors.
- Cilantro: Fresh cilantro has a distinctive flavor that adds depth and complexity to Mediterranean rice. However, if you're in the camp of people who hate the taste of cilantro, feel free to omit it and just use parsley.
- Parsley: Parsley adds a fresh, bright note to yellow rice.
- Pine Nuts: Be sure to toast the pine nuts. They're rich, earthy, nutty flavor when toasted really adds something to this rice dish!
🍚How To Make Mediterranean Yellow Rice
- Rinse the rice in cold water until the water runs clear. Drain and set aside.
- In a medium pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the turmeric and cumin to the pot and stir until the onion is coated with the spices.
- Add the minced garlic and saute for about 30 seconds, being careful not to let the garlic burn.
- Add the rice to the pot and stir until the rice is coated with the onion and spice mixture.
- Add the water, salt, and pepper to the pot and stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water has been absorbed.
- While the rice is cooking, toast the pine nuts. Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts, and spread them out in an even layer. Stir occasionally. Toast the pine nuts for about 3-5 minutes, or until they're lightly browned and fragrant.
- When the rice is finished cooking, remove the pot from the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes with the lid on. This allows the rice to steam.
- Stir in the chopped cilantro, parsley and toasted pine nuts. Fluff the rice with a fork and enjoy!
🍽️Serving Suggestions
There's so many things Mediterranean rice can be served with. Here's a few suggestions:
- Serve with chickpea patties and a cool vegan yogurt dip.
- How about making a falafel sandwich that's stuffed with crispy falafel, fresh herbs and rice pilaf?
- Grilled eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers are a classic Mediterranean combination that would be delicious with a side of yellow rice.
- Turkish stuffed eggplant, otherwise known as Imam Biyaldi would make a lovely dinner served with Mediterranean rice.
- Top with your favorite vegan feta and a squeeze of lemon juice for flavorful Greek salad.
- Stuffed grape leaves, also known as dolmas, are savory bites filled with rice, herbs, and spices. They're the perfect complement to a bowl of Mediterranean rice.
- Serve with Israeli salad and a side of creamy gluten free hummus.
❄️Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate: If you plan to eat the leftover rice within a day or two, the easiest way to store it is in an airtight container in the fridge. Make sure the rice has cooled to room temperature before placing it in the container, and try to minimize the amount of air in the container to help prevent the rice from drying out. When you're ready to eat the rice, you can reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- Freeze: If you have more rice than you can eat within a few days, you can freeze it for later. Let the rice cool to room temperature, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. Press out as much air as possible before sealing the container or bag, and label it with the date. The rice will keep well in the freezer for up to three months. To reheat the frozen rice, you can microwave it, or let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating it on the stovetop.
- Repurpose: If you have a small amount of leftover rice and you're not sure what to do with it, consider using it as a base for another dish. For example, you could add some chopped vegetables, a protein like tofu, and some spices or sauce to make a quick stir-fry. Or, you could make a Mediterranean-inspired breakfast bowl. The possibilities are endless, so get creative!
🙋Frequently Asked Questions
Mediterranean rice is a dish that can vary depending on the region and the recipe, but generally it is made of rice cooked with spices that give it a yellow color, such as turmeric or saffron. Some common ingredients include rice, oil or butter, onion, garlic, turmeric, and nuts.
Yes, it's recommended to wash basmati rice before cooking it. Basmati rice can contain excess starch, dust, debris, and other impurities that should be removed before cooking to ensure a clean and fluffy end result. Washing the rice also helps to remove any talc or other coatings that may have been added to the rice during processing.
To wash basmati rice, place it in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse it under cold running water for 2-3 minutes or until the water runs clear. Alternatively, you can place the rice in a bowl and cover it with cold water, then swish it around with your hands to remove any impurities before draining the water and repeating the process until the water is clear.
There are quite a few different variations of Greek rice, but the basic ingredients include long grain rice, lemon juice, garlic and oregano. Spinach is a popular addition to Greek rice.
You Might Also Enjoy These Posts
Perfect Coconut Rice In Rice Cooker {Coconut Milk}
How To Cook Farro In Your Rice Cooker
📖 Recipe
Mediterranean Rice
Ingredients
- 1½ cups basmati rice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ yellow onion finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1¼ teaspoons turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2¼ cups water
- salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup pine nuts toasted
- ¼ cup cilantro finely chopped
- ¼ cup parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Rinse the rice in cold water until the water runs clear. Drain and set aside.
- In a medium pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the turmeric and cumin to the pot and stir until the onion is coated with the spices.
- Add the minced garlic and saute for about 30 seconds, being careful not to let the garlic burn.
- Add the rice to the pot and stir until the rice is coated with the onion and spice mixture.
- Add the water, salt, and pepper to the pot and stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water has been absorbed.
- While the rice is cooking, toast the pine nuts. Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts, and spread them out in an even layer. Stir occasionally. Toast the pine nuts for about 3-5 minutes, or until they're lightly browned and fragrant.
- When the rice is finished cooking, remove the pot from the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes with the lid on. This allows the rice to steam.
- Stir in the chopped cilantro, parsley and toasted pine nuts. Fluff the rice with a fork and enjoy!
Notes
- Refrigerate: If you plan to eat the leftover rice within a day or two, the easiest way to store it is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure the rice has cooled to room temperature before placing it in the container, and try to minimize the amount of air in the container to help prevent the rice from drying out. When you're ready to eat the rice, you can reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- Freeze: If you have more rice than you can eat within a few days, you can freeze it for later. Let the rice cool to room temperature, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. Press out as much air as possible before sealing the container or bag, and label it with the date. The rice will keep well in the freezer for up to three months. To reheat the frozen rice, you can microwave it, or let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating it on the stovetop.
Comments
No Comments