Yellow Rice: Easy Recipe for Yellow Turmeric Rice

Yellow Rice – Easy to prepare and simply delicious. Seasoned with health beneficial turmeric, antioxidant ginger and flavorful curry powder and green bell peppers.Taste great on it own or served alongside tasty sauces, curries and meat of choice.

Yellow rice and chicken

A few months ago on instagram and facebook, I shared an image of this yellow rice which I had served with a juicy garlic chicken and yummy salad and promised to have the recipe up asap. Ever since, I have received DM’s asking for the promised recipe.

The recipe for the garlic chicken is already on this blog and can be found HERE. The salad is simply a mixture of purple cabbage, carrots and baby spinach.

So now for the yellow turmeric rice, I have to warn you that this is not the traditional South African yellow rice, nor is it the classic Cuban red or Spanish saffron yellow rice. Instead it is a modified and easier version of my favorite Indian turmeric yellow rice.

The classic Indian yellow rice is usually prepared by boiling/steaming any white rice(or brown rice) with turmeric or saffron(azafrán as we call it here in Spain) and sauted spices. The turmeric and saffron give it that famous yellow color. And for many who can’t stand the taste of turmeric, I highly recommend curry powder, which also has turmeric in it but well mellowed down by the flavour of other spices in the powder.

Just like I warned earlier, I prepare my yellow rice by adding a tiny bit of green bell peppers ; this isn’t commonly added to most yellow rice recipes.  But there is something about the fragrance of the green bell peppers that I simply can’t resist. Add it to plain white rice and you immediately have an aromatic gourmet rice dish(okay that’s just my opinion, a yummy-yummy one).

Thanks to hubby’s friends I have a monthly supply of parboiled long grain white rice and use it for most of my rice recipes, but in the recipe notes below is a detailed explanation on how to make use of any type of long grain rice to prepare yellow rice.

To prepare this yellow rice, I started out as the Indians do, by sauteing the spices(garlic, onions, ginger, turmeric, curry powder and peppers). This is one step I enjoy and even though it brings out the great flavours of the spices , I am very guilty of simply adding the spices into the boiling stock which I’ll be using for the yellow rice. Easy Peasy, lazy me! Now let’s get started.

Ingredients
– 2 cups long grain white or brown rice (rinsed or parboiled: see details in recipe tip below)
– 4 tablespoonful Butter or plain cooking oil(canola , nut oil, sunflower or olive oil)
– 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 teaspoons minced garlic
– 1/2 teaspoon onion powder or 1 medium onion chopped
– 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
– 1 teaspoon turmeric or ¼ teaspoon saffron
– 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger
– 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
– 1/4 green bell pepper minced (about 1/4 cup)(optional)
– Cayenne pepper to taste
– 5 cups stock (chicken or vegetable) or 3 large boulion cubes or chicken stock base mixed in water
– 1 teaspoon salt

Preparation

1. Wash rinse or parboil your long fgrain rice of choice.
I made use of parboiled long grain white rice and followed the extra parboiling method on this page, which I tend to use often to get rid of excess starch in the rice. As it makes the rice sticky and more likely to burn before cooking completely.
I recommend this method if you’re cooking for ”starch detecting taste buds” just like my hubby. But you don’t have to do that.
You can simply rinse the rice in hot water until it runs clear and set aside.

Recipe notes: if using basmati or jasmine rice, simply rinse until clear before using. For brown rice lovers, you can make use of any of the two processes but remember to add an extra cup of water or stock and also cook for a longer time(15 minutes more) before putting off the heat.

2. Now in a saucepan or medium pot, heat up the oil and saute or stir fry the garlic, onions, ginger, turmeric, curry powder and peppers until fragrant.

3. Add the parboiled or rinsed rice and mix together until well combined.

4. Then pour in about 4 to 5 cups of chicken stock or water and salt to taste, mix well and set to a boil on high heat, then lower the heat to medium , cover and leave to cook for 15 to 20 minutes(depending on the type of rice you are using).

5. Check to be sure the turmeric yellow rice is well cooked(tender and chewable) , if not add extra water or stock and cook until done , then remove from heat and uncover.

6. A perfect yellow rice is supposed to be non-sticky and fluffy . Fluff the rice with a fork or wooden spoon, serve and enjoy!

I garnished my yellow rice with diced tomatoes ans served with honey garlic chicken and salad, but like every rice dish, this can also be accompanied with savoury sauces, curries, meat, chicken and seafoods.

Recipe notes: if using basmati or jasmine rice, simply rinse the rice until clear before using. For brown rice lovers, you can make use of any of the two processes but remember to add an extra cup of water or stock and also cook for a longer time(15 minutes more) before putting off the heat.

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Yellow Rice Recipe

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Additional Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Yellow Rice - Easy to prepare and simply delicious. Seasoned with health beneficial turmeric, antioxidant ginger and flavorful curry powder and green bell peppers.Taste great on it own or served alongside tasty sauces, curries and meat of choice.

Print

Ingredients

• - 2 cups long grain white or brown rice (rinsed or parboiled: see details in recipe tip below)
• - 4 tablespoonful Butter or plain cooking oil(canola ,nut oil, sunflower or olive oil)
• - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder or 1 medium onion chopped
• - 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
• - 1 teaspoon turmeric or ¼ teaspoon saffron
• - 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger
• - 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• - 1/4 green bell pepper minced (about 1/4 cup)(optional)
• - Cayenne pepper to taste
• - 5 cups stock (chicken or vegetable) or 2 boulion cubes or chicken stock base mixed in water
• - 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Wash rinse or parboil your long fgrain rice of choice.
2. Now in a saucepan or medium pot, heat up the oil and saute or stir fry the garlic, onions, ginger, turmeric, curry powder and peppers until fragrant.
3. Add the parboiled or rinsed rice and mix together until well combined.
4. Then pour in about 4 to 5 cups of chicken stock or water and salt to taste, mix well and set to a boil on high heat, then lower the heat to medium , cover and leave to cook for 15 to 20 minutes(depending on the type of rice you are using).
5. Check to be sure the turmeric yellow rice is well cooked(tender and chewable) , if not add extra water or stock and cook until done , then remove from heat and uncover.
6. Fluff the rice with a fork or wooden spoon, serve and enjoy!
   
   I served my yellow rice with honey garlic chicken and salad, but like every rice dish, this can also be accompanied with savoury sauces, curries, meat, chicken and seafoods.

Notes

If using basmati or jasmine rice, simply rinse the rice until clear before using. For brown rice lovers, you can make use of any of the two processes but remember to add an extra cup of water or stock and also cook for a longer time(15 minutes more) before putting off the heat.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 286Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 711mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 5g

1. How many calories are in this yellow rice?

For calories and nutritional benefits of yellow rice, please check  the recipe card above.

2. Can yellow rice be made in a rice cooker?
Yes yellow rice can be made in a rice cooker.

3. Is yellow rice healthy?
Homemade Yellow rice is prepared with beneficial ingredients such as turmeric, ginger, garlic and onions an therefore is considered great for the health. To make it healthier use homemade stock instead of bouillion cubes.

4. Is yellow rice gluten free?
Yes it is .

5. Is yellow rice vegan?
This yellow rice is completely vegan if you make use of vegetable stock in the cooking process.