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    You are here: Home / Sides / Turmeric Rice

    LAST UPDATED: July 19, 2021 • FIRST PUBLISHED: July 19, 2021

    Turmeric Rice

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Plate of Turmeric Rice with Text Overlay Reading "Turmeric Rice"

    This vibrant turmeric rice is bursting with flavor and packed with spices. A delicious show-stealing side dish that's super easy to make!

    Close Up of Turmeric Rice Topped with Fresh Parsley

    I'm not much of a takeout person, but I was recently forced to order quite a bit of takeout while having some work done on my kitchen. Maybe this was a good thing, as it got me to try a few new dishes, some of which were really good!

    Zoe's Kitchen turmeric rice became a favorite during my streak of ordering in. It's so good! And since I mostly cook my meals at home, I felt like I had to reverse engineer the dish so I could make it myself. I think I nailed it!

    Jump to:
    • What You'll Need
    • How to Make Turmeric Rice
    • Leftovers & Storage
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Rice Recipes
    • Turmeric Rice

    What You'll Need

    Plate of Turmeric Rice with Lemons and Dish of Turmeric in the Background
    • Olive oil. Any high-heat oil will technically work, but olive will give you the best flavor.
    • Onion.
    • Garlic.
    • Spices. We're using ground cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, and cloves.
    • Vegetable broth. I'm a big fan of Better Than Bouillon in seasoned vegetable flavor.
    • Basmati rice. You could substitute another variety of rice, but basmati will give the dish the perfect texture and flavor. If you do use another variety, be sure to check the cooking instructions, as you might need to change the cook time and/or amount of liquid used.
    • Lemon juice. Use freshly squeezed juice for the best flavor.
    • Salt & pepper.

    How to Make Turmeric Rice

    The following is a detailed photo tutorial on how to make this dish. Scroll all the way down if you'd like to skip right to the recipe!

    1. Heat up some olive oil in a saucepan, then add diced onion. Sweat the onion for a few minutes, until it begins to soften up.
    2. Add garlic and all of your spices. Cook them with the onion for about a minute. Be sure to stir everything constantly during this process to prevent the spices from burning.
    3. Stir in the broth, rice, and lemon juice. Raise the heat and bring the liquid to a boil.
    4. Lower the heat until the liquid is at a low simmer and cover the pot. Let the rice simmer until all of the liquid is absorbed — this should take 15 to 20 minutes. No peeking! Rice cooks best with the lid on the pot the whole time. Use a pot with a clear lid if you feel like you need to keep an eye on the rice.
    Collage Showing 4 Steps for Making Turmeric Rice

    After your rice finishes cooking, let it sit with the lid on the pot for about 5 minutes. Then uncover, fluff the rice with a fork or rice paddle, and season it with some salt.

    Hand Fluffing Turmeric Rice in a Pot with a Fork

    Leftovers & Storage

    Leftover turmeric rice will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for about 3 days, or in the freezer for about 3 months.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is this dish gluten-free?

    It is!

    Can I make this recipe without oil? Or with less oil?

    I've made it with half the oil and it comes out just fine (though I like the texture best with the full amount). I'm sure you could make it oil free — just sweat the onion in a bit of broth instead of oil, then add the garlic and spices at the same time as the broth.

    How is turmeric rice served?

    It makes a great side dish that you could serve with just about anything, though I think it really shines when paired with Mediterranean-inspired mains like baked falafel, tofu kebabs, or vegan eggplant moussaka.

    Wooden Table Set with a Plate of Turmeric Rice, Lemons, and Dish of Turmeric

    More Rice Recipes

    • Coconut Rice
    • Vegan Fried Rice
    • One-Pot Spanish Rice & Beans
    • Roasted Vegetable Biryani
    • Mujadara
    Like this recipe? If so, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter. And please stop back and leave me a review and rating below if you make it!
    Plate of Turmeric Rice on a Wooden Surface
    5 from 2 votes
    Print

    Turmeric Rice

    This vibrant turmeric rice is bursting with flavor and packed with spices. A delicious show stealing-side dish that's super easy to make!

    Course Side
    Cuisine American, Mediterranean
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Servings 6
    Calories 224 kcal
    Author Alissa Saenz

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 small onion, diced
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
    • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
    • Pinch cloves
    • 2 ¼ cups vegetable broth
    • 1 ½ cups basmati rice
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • Salt & pepper, to taste
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    1. Coat the bottom of a medium saucepan with the oil and place it over medium heat.

    2. When the oil is hot, add the onion. Sweat the onion until it become soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.

    3. Stir in the garlic, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, and cloves. Sauté everything for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes very fragrant.

    4. Stir in the broth, rice, and lemon juice.

    5. Raise the heat and bring the liquid to a boil.

    6. Lower the heat until the liquid is at a low simmer, then cover the pot.

    7. Let the rice simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until all of the liquid is absorbed.

    8. When the rice has finished cooking let the pot sit with the lid on for 5 minutes.

    9. Remove the lid, fluff the rice with a fork or rice paddle, and season the rice with salt and pepper to taste.

    10. Serve.

    Nutrition Facts
    Turmeric Rice
    Amount Per Serving (0.75 cups)
    Calories 224 Calories from Fat 45
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 5g8%
    Saturated Fat 0.8g4%
    Sodium 210mg9%
    Potassium 81mg2%
    Carbohydrates 39.3g13%
    Fiber 0.9g4%
    Sugar 1.4g2%
    Protein 4.3g9%
    Calcium 25mg3%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    About Alissa Saenz

    Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors! You can read more about me here.

    I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shellie says

      July 20, 2021 at 12:43 pm

      5 stars
      I made this last night without oil. Delicious recipe we'll be having again.

      Reply
    2. Jean Johnson says

      August 01, 2021 at 4:36 pm

      5 stars
      A hit with all served.

      Reply
    3. Dee says

      February 03, 2022 at 6:48 am

      Can you use brown rice with this recipe?

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        February 03, 2022 at 8:49 am

        Yup! You'll need to increase the amount of liquid a bit to around 3 cups and increase the cook time to around 45 minutes. Enjoy!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors!

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