Yellow Rice

Name: Yellow Rice
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 30 ml olive oil; 25 g unsalted butter; 300 g rice; 5 g salt; 2 g garlic powder; 3 g onion powder; 3 g turmeric; 2 g black pepper; 10 g fresh parsley; 650 ml water

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Najat

Photo by Najat

This homemade yellow rice recipe is the kind of side dish that makes everything on the plate taste better. Made with basmati rice, olive oil, butter, and a warm blend of spices including turmeric, garlic powder, and onion powder. It comes together in under 30 minutes and pairs with just about anything. Whether it’s something like chicken shawarma or roasted vegetables. This is yellow rice made from scratch the easy way.

30 minutes

4 Portions

Easy

Why Basmati Rice Makes the Best Yellow Rice

Basmati is the right choice for this recipe because its long, slender grains stay separate and fluffy after cooking rather than clumping together. Short-grain rice goes sticky, while basmati stays light and dry. Basmati also has a subtle nutty flavor that complements the warm spices in this recipe. The combination of turmeric, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper lands better on a rice that has its own character rather than a neutral, starchy base. One technique that sets this homemade yellow rice apart: the rice is toasted for one minute in olive oil and butter before the water goes in. Toasting the grains lightly before cooking adds depth of flavor and helps them stay loose and separate throughout.

What Makes Yellow Rice Yellow

The golden color in this yellow rice recipe comes from turmeric, a spice made from the ground root of the turmeric plant. It also adds a subtle earthy, slightly warm flavor that works well with chicken. In some recipes saffron is used instead, but turmeric is more accessible, more affordable, and just as effective at coloring the rice.

Ingredients

Portions

RICE MIXTURE

30 ml olive oil

25 g unsalted butter

300 g rice

5 g salt, ⅚ tsp

2 g garlic powder, ⅔ tsp

3 g onion powder, 1 tsp

3 g turmeric, 1 tsp

2 g black pepper, (⅔ tsp)

10 g fresh parsley

650 ml water, boiled

Tips

Use a pan with a tight-fitting lid so as little steam as possible can escape while the rice cooks.

Try not to lift the lid during cooking, so the steam stays trapped inside and the rice cooks evenly.

This seasoned rice makes a great side dish with chicken, meat, fish, or grilled vegetables.

Store any leftovers covered in the fridge and eat within 1–2 days. Make sure to reheat it before serving.

Instructions

Ingredienten klaar leggen voor het maken van korrelige gele rijst

Prepare all the ingredients in advance.

Rijst mengen met verse kruiden tot een geheel voor het maken van de gele rijst

Heat the olive oil and butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the rice, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric, black pepper, and parsley. Cook 1 minute until everything is combined.

Gekruide rijst met kurkuma en peterselie, luchtig bereid in een pan als bijgerecht

Pour in the boiled water and mix well. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low and cook the rice (covered) for 10–12 minutes, or until all the water has been absorbed. Remove from the heat and let it rest for 10 minutes with the lid on the pan.

Close-up van luchtige gele rijst met kruiden zoals kurkuma en peterselie

Veelgestelde vragen

How many calories are in yellow rice?

One serving of this yellow rice recipe contains approximately 390 calories, based on 4 portions. The main calorie sources are the basmati rice, olive oil, and butter. For a lighter version, reduce the butter or replace it with an extra drizzle of olive oil.

Is yellow rice gluten free?

Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten free. Basmati rice, turmeric, garlic powder, onion powder, olive oil, and butter all contain no gluten. If you have a severe intolerance, check the labels on your individual spice jars to be certain there’s no cross-contamination.

Yellow rice vs white rice: what's the difference?

White rice and yellow rice start from the same base. In this recipe, basmati. The difference is entirely in the preparation. Yellow rice is seasoned and colored with turmeric and other spices before cooking, giving it a more complex flavor and a golden color. Plain white rice has a neutral taste, while yellow rice works as a flavored side dish on its own.