Vibrant turmeric brown rice is the ultimate easy and nutritious side dish. It's made with simple ingredients, including rice, garlic, onion, and the star of the show - turmeric, all cooked on your stovetop. Infused with the warm, earthy flavors of turmeric and boasting a fluffy, grain-separated texture, this stovetop turmeric rice is a lesson in simplicity and flavor, guaranteed to elevate any meal!
Today, we're shining the spotlight on a side dish that has the power to transform any meal into a vibrant, flavorful feast - Turmeric Rice.
This humble grain, when kissed with the golden goodness of turmeric, takes on a new life, becoming not just a side dish but a star in its own right.
Whether you're planning a weeknight dinner, a casual lunch, or a festive feast, give this Turmeric Rice a place on your table.
It promises to add a splash of color, a burst of flavor, and a lot of joy to your meal.
What You’ll Learn
In this tutorial, you'll learn how to prepare tantalizing turmeric brown rice with step-by-step instructions and mages to guide you along the way.
There's no need for fancy kitchen gadgets or professional culinary skills - my turmeric brown rice recipe is perfect for beginners and seasoned cooks alike.
Use this tutorial as your guide, and feel free to make adjustments as you go along. After you've cooked a few batches, the process will become second nature, and in the end, you'll have crafted a vibrant, flavorful dish that's uniquely yours.
Ingredients
- Olive Oil: \You can substitute with other oils like avocado, canola or sunflower oil, or even butter for a richer taste.
- Onion: Adds a savory depth to the dish. Yellow onions are what I use most often, but feel free to use white onions for a different flavor profile.
- Minced Garlic: Garlic infuses the dish with a pungent, spicy flavor that mellows and sweetens with cooking. Garlic powder can be used in a pinch.
- Chicken Broth: Homemade is always best, but store-bought works just fine. Use vegetable broth to make this vegan.
- Rice: I use brown jasmine rice. You can substitute with white rice or quinoa, just adjust cooking times as necessary.
- Ground Turmeric: Gives the dish a warm, bitter flavor and a golden color.
- Ground Cumin: Has a strong, earthy flavor that adds a warm note to the dish.
- Smoked Paprika: Adds a smoky flavor. Regular paprika can be used as substitutes, though the flavor will change slightly.
- Sea Salt: Enhances the flavors of the dish. Any type of salt can be used, but amounts may need to be adjusted based on personal preference and health considerations.
- Ground Pepper: Adds a bit of heat. Black pepper is most common, but white or pink peppercorns offer a milder, slightly different flavor.
- Cilantro: Adds a fresh, citrusy finish to the dish. If you're not a fan of cilantro, fresh parsley or even basil can work as alternatives.
How to Make Turmeric Rice
Cover and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 40 minutes
Variations
- Use white rice, basmati rice, wild rice, or quinoa in place of the brown rice - just make sure you adjust the cooking time.
- Add in steamed peas and carrots or chopped sautéed mushrooms at the end before steaming.
- Top with a dollop of plain yogurt and cucumbers and serve with lime wedges.
- Make it Chicken and Turmeric Rice! Stir in 16 ounces of cooked shredded chicken before steaming.
- Stir in ¼ cup diced dried apricots, pistachios and mint at the end of the cooking time.
- Make it Low Carb / Keto: Make Turmeric Cauliflower Rice! Reduce the onion to ½ cup; Use cauliflower rice in place of rice. See this Spanish Cauliflower Rice for cooking instructions.
Serving Suggestions for Turmeric Rice
- Serve with black beans.
- This is great in a lunch bowl with sautéed greens, beans and avocado.
- I love to make a black bean and rice wrap with this!
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a flowering plant that is related to ginger. The part that we eat is the dried and ground rhizome. You can also use the knobby brown rhizome fresh.
It looks similar to ginger but has a distinctive yellow color. Widely considered one of the most important herbs for health, the benefits are vast.
What Is Turmeric Good In?
- Scrambled Eggs
- Rice
- Quinoa
- Tea
- Vegetables - I especially love it with cauliflower!
- Soups
- Smoothies
Tools to Make This Recipe:
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- Medium Saucepan
- Knife
- Garlic Mincer (This is expensive but I have had mine for almost 15 years and I love it so much I put it in my suitcase when we travel.)
- Herb Scissors
If You Like This Recipe, You May Also Like:
- How to Cook Quinoa Perfectly
- Moroccan-Spiced Quinoa with Roasted Broccoli and Chickpeas
- Turmeric Ginger Tea
- Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
- Vegetarian Paella
- Turmeric Chicken
Turmeric Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 ¾ cups vegetable broth of chicken - preferably homemade
- 1 cup brown rice rinsed
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ¼ cup cilantro
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add onion and cook for 8 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook one more minute.
- Add broth, rice, turmeric, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper to the pan. Bring to a boil.
- Cover and reduce heat to a low simmer. Cook for 40 minutes. Remove from heat and let steam for an additional 10 minutes.
- Fluff and toss with cilantro.
Shannon Graham
I've been adding turmeric to my food a lot and this would be a great side addition to my meals!