Turmeric rice in a rice cooker is one of my favorite hassle-free ways to make a flavorful, fragrant side to any meal. By cooking the rice with earthy turmeric right in the rice cooker, each grain infuses with a vibrant yellow color and a well-balanced flavor down to the fluffy core. The result is a rice pilaf that needs only a few ingredients, barely any work, and transforms plain rice into something vibrant, addictively-delicious, and beautiful.
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Rice is a such versatile ingredient that can be flavored in endless ways. If you're a regular reader of Daily Dish, you'll know how much I love experimenting with different seasonings and spices to create flavorful rice dishes. In my Mediterranean rice recipe, I use lemon, garlic, and herbs to give the rice a fresh, zesty flavor profile. And in my Mexican rice made in a rice cooker I incorporate tomatoes, chilies, cumin, and lime juice for a rice with big, bold Tex-Mex flavors.
In this post, I'm sharing my easy method for making golden, aromatic turmeric rice in a rice cooker. Turmeric is a spice that lends both a beautiful golden color and an earthy, slightly peppery flavor. It's commonly used in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisines. When cooked into rice, it produces a side dish that's fluffy, fragrant, and subtly complex.
A touch of turmeric adds just enough flair to plain rice to make it interesting, without overpowering other components of your meal.
Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
- It's totally vegan and gluten-free.
- It perfectly complements a huge range of dishes - from rich curries to spicy stir-fries, the simplicity of this rice lets other flavors shine.
- You can make this fragrant, vibrant rice without dirtying lots of dishes since it's made in just the pot of your rice cooker. So easy!
🛒Ingredients
- Long Grain White Rice: While long grain white rice is my top choice, other options like jasmine rice, basmati, or even brown rice would also pair nicely with the turmeric. The light, fluffy texture of long grain white rice makes it the perfect canvas to soak up the turmeric flavor and color. Since it doesn't have a strong inherent flavor like aromatic rices or the nuttiness of brown rice, the turmeric can take center stage.
- Vegetable Broth: You can use vegetable broth or water in this recipe. I like vegetable broth because as the broth simmers into the rice, it infuses each grain with a delicious essence that water alone can't provide.
- Butter: I used a plant-based butter, but you could also use olive oil. If you want to keep the calories down, feel free to omit the butter or oil.
- Ground Turmeric, Garlic, Bay Leaf & Salt: Earthy, subtly peppery turmeric pairs flawlessly with the rich, aromatic garlic while the woodsy bay leaf adds a subtle depth. Finally, the salt ensures all the flavors pop.
👨🍳How To Make Turmeric Rice In A Rice Cooker
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This helps remove excess starch and prevents the rice from becoming too sticky.
- In the rice cooker pot, add the rinsed rice, water or vegetable broth, turmeric powder, salt, minced garlic, bay leaf and olive oil or butter (if using). Stir gently to combine all the ingredients.
- Close the rice cooker lid and set it to the "White Rice" or "Regular" setting, depending on your rice cooker model.
- Allow the rice to cook according to the rice cooker's instructions. Once the rice cooker switches to "Keep Warm" mode, let it sit for an additional 5-10 minutes to allow the rice to steam and absorb any remaining moisture.
- After steaming, open the rice cooker lid and fluff the rice with a fork to separate the grains and distribute the turmeric evenly.
Top Tip
Stir in a generous pinch of black pepper. The piperine compound in black pepper has been shown to enhance curcumin bioavailability - meaning it helps your body better absorb the health-promoting compounds in turmeric.
🍽️What To Serve With Turmeric Rice
- Chickpea coconut curry - The creamy coconut sauce is perfectly balanced by the bright, fragrant turmeric rice.
- Dal Tadka - The earthy, savory flavors of the spiced lentils complement the turmeric rice nicely.
- Vegan saag aloo - Rich, spicy spinach and potatoes would make a lovely dish to serve with rice cooker turmeric rice.
- Aloo gobi - A perfectly spiced, crispy cauliflower and potato curry would pair beautifully with fluffy turmeric rice.
- Vegetable biryani - The aromatic spices and mix of veggies and rice is a winning combination.
❄️Storage Instructions
Refrigerator
Place any leftover rice in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for about 3-5 days. Ensure the rice is cooled completely before refrigerating. The flavors in the rice will continue developing as it rests in the fridge.
Simply reheat leftover refrigerated rice in the microwave in 30 second intervals, fluffing between intervals, until hot. Add a little splash of vegetable broth or water to restore moisture if needed.
Freezer
For long term freezer storage, spread cooked rice in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, about 2 hours. Transfer frozen rice to an airtight freezer bag or container. Seal tightly and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
To reheat your frozen turmeric rice, simply steam in a steamer basket for 10-15 minutes until warmed through. You can also reheat frozen rice by sautéing it in olive oil over medium heat. Add splashes of vegetable broth as needed to restore moisture and serve hot.
viral recipe!
How To Cook Wild Rice In A Rice Cooker
Super chewy and textured, this wild rice is a cinch to make in your rice cooker.
🙋Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it's easy to add spices to rice cooked in a rice cooker! Simply toss them in raw with the rice and liquid before turning on the cooker. Spices like turmeric, cumin, curry powder, garlic, etc. will simmer directly into the grains, infusing flavor into each fluffy bite rather than just on the surface.
You can use brown rice though you may have to tweak the water ratio and cooking time. Since brown rice takes longer to cook, you'll likely need to add more vegetable broth and increase the cooking time on your rice cooker.
I recommend ground turmeric powder for even distribution and absorption into the rice grains. You can find it in the spice aisle of most grocery stores. Fresh or grated turmeric can also be used but may cause the rice to turn out slightly bitter if not balanced properly.
More Rice Cooker Recipes
Cilantro Lime Rice In A Rice Cooker
Buttery Garlic Rice ~ In A Rice Cooker
Perfect Sticky Rice In A Rice Cooker
How To Cook Quinoa In A Rice Cooker
How To Cook Farro In A Rice Cooker
Perfect Basmati Rice In A Rice Cooker (White & Brown)
Perfect Coconut Rice In Rice Cooker {Coconut Milk}
📖 Recipe
Turmeric Rice In Rice Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 1½ cups water or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter optional, for added flavor
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This helps remove excess starch and prevents the rice from becoming too sticky.
- In the rice cooker pot, add the rinsed rice, water or vegetable broth, turmeric powder, salt, minced garlic, bay leaf and olive oil or butter (if using). Stir gently to combine all the ingredients.
- Close the rice cooker lid and set it to the "White Rice" or "Regular" setting, depending on your rice cooker model.
- Allow the rice to cook according to the rice cooker's instructions. Once the rice cooker switches to "Keep Warm" mode, let it sit for an additional 5-10 minutes to allow the rice to steam and absorb any remaining moisture.
- After steaming, open the rice cooker lid and fluff the rice with a fork to separate the grains and distribute the turmeric evenly.
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