This soft & fluffy turmeric rice is so easy to make yet loaded with heavenly aromas in every bite. Fragranced with garlic, butter, and onion, this one-pot middle eastern rice comes together in less than 20 minutes on the stovetop.
What is Turmeric Rice?
Turmeric rice, also known as Middle Eastern rice or Indian rice, is made in various Asian countries all around the world but calls for different spices and aromatics depending on the region.
The vibrant color of middle eastern rice often comes from naturally-colored spices such as annatto, saffron, and turmeric, which are used interchangeably to give white rice its bright yellow color.
For this recipe, we will be using ground turmeric to add color and flavor to the rice. Turmeric is an essential ingredient in Indian cuisine that is earthy and slightly bitter in flavor with a wide array of health benefits.
As we are just adding a teaspoon of turmeric, it adds just a touch of earthy flavor which wonderfully complements the garlic, butter, and onion which are the main components of this delicious yellow rice.
Fragranced with sautéed aromatics and chicken stock, this turmeric rice is truly the most flavorful rice that I have ever tried, and its rich, garlicky flavors truly elevate any dish that it is paired with.
Best of all, it comes together in just 20 minutes in a single pot and comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients making it the perfect dish to make for any occasion or to jazz up your rice for your weekly meal prep.
This turmeric rice is also incredibly versatile and pairs well with any dish that you can think of.
I personally love serving this with some marinated chicken kebabs or any grilled meat, but it also goes wonderfully with tofu, vegetables, mushrooms, or any other dish that you choose to serve it with.
What do I need to make Turmeric Rice?
As mentioned earlier, the best part about this recipe is that it calls for simple ingredients that you always have in your kitchen.
Here is what you’ll need to make your own batch of turmeric rice:
- Butter: or coconut oil. Butter adds such wonderful flavors to the rice, and also helps to get that perfect soft & fluffy texture that will truly bring your rice to the next level.
- This recipe calls for unsalted butter, but you can also use salted butter and slightly reduce the salt to taste.
- Onion + garlic: for the aromas. We will be sautéing these vegetables in butter to maximize their flavor prior to coating the rice with the heavenly mixture.
- Turmeric powder: This is a key ingredient in this recipe but you can also use a small amount of saffron instead to add color to the rice.
- Long-grain rice: I’ve used basmati rice in this recipe, but you can also use an equal amount of jasmine rice.
- Chicken stock: vegetable stock or any other stock you prefer. Using stock ensures that each grain of rice is infused with flavor and makes a big difference to the overall results.
- Salt + pepper: to season the rice, as well as to enhance the flavors of the aromatic vegetables.
Tips & tricks to make the best yellow rice
This tumeric rice recipe is incredibly quick and easy to follow along, but these essential tips will bring your rice to the next level. Here are some essential tips on how to make yellow rice:
Rinse the rice prior to cooking.
Washing the rice helps to remove the extra starch from the rice grains, which prevents them from sticking together during the cooking process.
There are two methods for rinsing your rice: to put it in a colander and rinse it under cold running water until the water becomes less cloudy.
Another option is to rinse the rice in a bowl, which can be more effective as you can see throughout the process how cloudy the water is. Simply add a generous amount of water to cover the rice, stir it with your fingers, then pour out the water.
Repeat this process 3-4 times until the water is clear, drain completely in a colander, and your rice is good to go!
Sauté the vegetables first.
Sautéing the garlic and onion in butter helps to bring out all the delicious aromas to deeply infuse the rice in all the heavenly goodness.
If you prefer an easier method or prefer to use a rice cooker, using powdered alternatives is also an option, but using natural ingredients truly makes a huge difference in the overall outcome.
To cook my rice from start to finish I am using my stainless steel sauté pan, which is perfect for making rice and many other dishes that are cooked in a single pan.
Rest the rice for at least 5 minutes before fluffing the rice with a fork.
Once the timer goes off, remove it from heat and leave it covered for about 5-10 minutes before fluffing the rice. This allows the rice to absorb all the residual moisture, resulting in a soft, fluffy batch of rice.
Resting is an important step when cooking rice on the stovetop, as the same resting process is built into the last few minutes of the rice cooker.
And that’s it! All the tips and tricks on how to make the best Indian rice in the comfort of your home. The only fun part left is to pair this with any dish of choice and trust me, it goes well with anything and everything.
This garlic tumeric rice is one of my favorite recipes of all time, which makes it that more exciting to share it with you all. ツ
I hope this easy and delicious turmeric rice recipe brightens up your week! Please leave a comment below or send me a message on Instagram if you have any questions at all. Happy cooking everyone!
Other easy Dinner recipes you may like:
- Korean Braised Tofu (Dubu Jorim)
- Mongolian Chicken
- Spicy Korean Chicken Stew (Dakdoritang)
- Oyakodon (Japanese Chicken & Egg Rice Bowl)
- 15-Minute Mapo Tofu
Garlic Turmeric Rice
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter or coconut oil
- 1/2 medium onion finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 cups (370g) basmati rice or your choice of long-grain rice, rinsed and drained
- 3 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper or to taste
- parsley for garnish, optional
- marinated chicken kebabs or any grilled veggies, seafood, or meat to serve
Instructions
- Melt butter in a pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté for about 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. Add turmeric powder and stir to combine. Mix in the rice until the grains are evenly coated and lightly toasted.
- Add stock, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside for about 5 minutes before fluffing the rice with a fork. Enjoy!
Notes
♥ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a 5-star rating or leave a comment below to share your experience, or tag @cookerru on Instagram to showcase your creations!
63 comments
So tasty! I used jasmine rice but otherwise followed the recipe exactly and it turned out so fluffy and delicious. Served it with the kebab recipe and they paired so nicely.
So happy you enjoyed it Jeannie! I truly appreciate you sharing your experience! x
Prepared my rice using your tips and recipe as a guide. My husband enjoys yellow rice, which I prefer homemade. I used medium grain rice, and a chicken bullion instead of stock. Yum-O!! Pinned the recipe and am hopeful I can replicate this again! Thank you @Cookerru
Delicious rice! Honestly it’s my new go-to recipe when I’m not feeling a pre-boxed mix. This is just as easy to prep as a risotto without the constant stirring, and it cooks in half of the time! I love the citrus from the tumeric. Thanks for an awesome recipe!
The pleasure is all mine Mikala! It’s truly an easy recipe that’s perfect for the weekdays! Thanks for sharing
Excellent recipe. I followed except that I add just a bit of chicken bouillon to veggie stock…delicious…this was my second time cooking this rice…recommended by my daughter. I topped with Cajun shrimp and side salad…perfect!!!
Sounds like an incredible dinner! So happy you enjoyed it Robin! 🙂
Absolutely light and delicious! Goes with just about any kind of meat or seafood! Family loved it as well! Thank you!
The pleasure is all mine HJ! ♡
Delicious! Will make again.
Wonderful! Had it with Tandoori chicken!!
Made this for dinner today whole family devoured it. Thank you for the great recipe
This recipe is amazing! My husband who is not a big rice eater, asked for seconds when I made this. I emailed the recipe to a good friend after I told her delicious and easy it was to prepare. 5 stars all the way!
This turned out absolutely wonderful and it was so easy and quick to put together. Thank you!
This was delicious and extremely quick and easy! I had it with roasted vegetables and garlic butter chicken bites.
This rice was amazing! I made a Valentine’s dinner for my boyfriend this past weekend and added the rice as a side to the rack of lamb! It went perfectly!
Your instructions were clear and the rice was literally exactly what I wanted for some flavor. We’ll certainly be adding this to our rotation!
Thank you!
I loved this recipe. Flavor was great. I hate making store brought prepacked rice as I try to eat a clean diet and the prepacked stuff is just full of nasty stuff but have not had luck finding a good recipe until yours. This was easy to make and the taste was great. Thank you so much.
Delicious! My new favorite rice! I’ve made it a few times and always use my InstantPot. White Basmati rice, 1:1 water to rice ratio; high (manual) pressure 4 mins with 10 min NPR. (I believe the cook time would be the same if one were to use Jasmine rice in the IP). Thanks for the recipe!
Delicioso!
So delicious, I’ve only made the yellow rice in a bag and this is soooooooooo much better
Love this! Have made it about three times now. One of my go to rice recipes. ♥️
This rice is SO delicious!!! I added a fresh squeezed lime and chopped cilantro after cooking it. It’s AMAZING!
This is delish! My husband has requested it four times already. Very light, flavorful and a great switch up to regular plain rice. Thanks for the wonderful side dish.
I’ve made this a few times – using Jasmine rice as that’s what I usually have on hand. I’ve tried a few different yellow rice recipes and this is the one I go to all the time now.
Have made this a few times. I add chopped asparagus, delicious!
An absolute staple recipe in my house! It is so versatile, so delicious, and easy to make in large quantities for meal prepping! 11/10!!!
Awesome
Awesome and delicious
Added a sweet hot Chile from Italy I grow long grain whit rice. I grow lots heirloom chilis
Absolutely wonderful recipe. Came out perfect. I served it with smoky mesquite smoked chicken thighs. I have lots and lots of rice left but that’s ok will work for lunches this week. I’ve been trying to find a good turmeric rice recipe as we love it. This one is a keeper!!!
Absolutely delicious!! I followed the recipe as is and it turned out perfectly. This is now my go-to recipe for yellow rice. Thank you.
Was light and delicious…even my finicky 11 year old enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!!
I followed everything but the turmeric since I’m not a fan of turmeric. I used Tandoori spice instead and it came out amazing. Thank you for this.
Made this rice. Ate with sauted onions. Which I love.
I only had a red onion, 1/3 cup of quinoa, and not-beef bouillon cubes. Using those as replacements for the onion, rice, and stock, this recipe came out absolutely delicious.
My favorite type of rice, absolutely delicious!
Best Rice recipe ever! I always seem to mess up the rice, not this timethanks for sharing.
The only way I’m making rice from now on!! Great recipe!
Ohhh! This is so good and easy to make. Forget the Rice A Roni, this is just as simple and much better! This is going to be my side dish from now on. Thank you for the recipe!
the rice is very good I love it it comes out every time I make it its great
I am making this for lunch today!!!
thank you, I absolutely love this recipe!!!
So flavorful! I have 3 hungry kids and a hungry hubby, so I doubled the recipe. I added extra garlic because I’m obsessed with it, and I used vegetable broth. It was so good and fluffy. I plan on making it again,but with more onions next time.
This rice was so yummy that I could eat it as a meal on it’s own. I have NEVER been able to make rice on the stovetop but this turned out perfectly. Will definitely make again and again!
So quick and easy yet the flavors are so rich, sophisticated and delicious!!! This will definitely be a staple in my household.
the tumeric rice is my go-to recipe as it works out perfect every time. I love the colour from the tumeric too.
I even shared this with my Chinese friend who is the best cook and she loved it.
Delicious and super easy!
Very good. I added 1/4 tsp of ginger as well, and doubled the black pepper.
I halved this recipe with a few substitutions: 1 shallot instead of part of an onion, ghee instead of butter, and white instead of black pepper. I just had these things on hand and thought they would enhance the flavors I was going for, using the rice as part of a middle eastern bowl with shish tawook, tabbouleh, hummus, etc. The liquid and dried spice amounts were just perfect even halved. I will definitely use this recipe again!
Just made this as a side for dinner and my husband and I both LOVED it! Delish! So flavorful and light. Highly recommend! Thank you!
This was delicious I highly recommend everyone to make this dish!!
Am making this for the second time. Easy and delicious.
I tried this rice tonight and it was delicious. I know it’s not authentic to it but I also added diced bell peppers, I’ve been in a bell pepper kick here lately. I think it turned out delicious. This was a very quick and fast recipe good for any day of the week! Thanks for sharing!
Will make again this was excellent
Delicious recipe – I will definitely make it again! I used Jasmine rice as that is what I had on hand. Even though I prepared the recipe backward (I cooked the rice first – oops – and then sautéed the garlic, added the spices, etc.), it came out great! I just mixed the rice in, and let it sit on the stove, covered, for a few minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. We will be serving it with leftover bar-b-que from the 4th.
I made this last night. The rice was wonderful. I also made your chicken skewers and roasted veggies. Thanks!
DELICIOUS! While I had no chicken stock, I used heavy whipping cream and water and it was sooooooooo good.
This is a reliable favorite of ours, have made it many times.
Soooo easy and soooo tasty. This one is a KEEPER. Thanks for sharing.
so tasty had with pork and pineapple,wife loved it bet I get a nice
desert
very tasty and easy to fix
I just finished making this rice and I have to say it is DELICIOUS! I made it exactly as written…well kind of. I used a pressure cooker so I changed the ratio of rice to chicken stock to 1:1 (2 cups each). I also didn’t measure the onion (used almost an entire medium-sized onion) and added in a “healthy shake” of garlic powder along with 4 cloves of garlic. I melted the butter and sauteed the onion and garlic. I added in all the dry ingredients and then added in the rice and let that saute for about 45 seconds before adding the chicken stock. I used Jasmine rice and cooked it under pressure for 9 minutes and let sit for 10 minutes before doing a quick release. My only “criticism” would be that for me, it was a tiny bit spicy though not overly so. Next time I might reduce the turmeric a little to take away a bit of the heat. I also might eliminate the pepper. I am serving it with pork tenderloin but it would go with absolutely anything. All in all, VERY tasty and a keeper!
So yummy! Easy recipe to make. I paired it with salmon and some grilled zuchinni.