Colourful Turmeric Rice (or yellow rice as it is also known) is a quick and easy side dish that will bring extra flavour to any curry or grilled chicken. Making this vibrant side dish means that rice never has to be boring again.
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Rice is such an easy side dish, and goes with so many different meals. However, if you are just serving up plain boiled rice, then it can get boring pretty quickly. Adding some turmeric to the pan when cooking adds so much flavour and colour.
Made with just a few store cupboard ingredients, this yellow rice is a versatile side dish.
If you are looking for some other flavoured rice recipes, then why not try our delicious Easy Coconut Rice, party favourite Mediterranean Rice Salad, simple Easy Greek Rice, zingy Cilantro Lime Rice or our amazing Spanish Rice?
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Why You Will Love It
- A colourful side dish - Rice can get a little bit boring, but adding turmeric really livens it up.
- Uses store cupboard ingredients - Just 4 ingredients go into this turmeric rice and you probably already have them in your kitchen.
- Delicious with curry - The perfect side dish with a homemade curry.
- Quick and easy - So easy to make and cooks in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Rice - You need a long grain rice for this recipe and we prefer to use basmati. Any long grain rice will work though. You could also use brown rice, which has a wonderful nutty flavour, but that would take longer to cook.
- Turmeric - We use dried ground turmeric for this recipe. Make sure that your turmeric hasn't been open for longer than 6 months, otherwise it will lose its flavour. You can grate fresh turmeric and add it to the rice.
- Stock - This is what the rice is cooked in. You could use just water though. We used vegetable stock, to keep it vegan, however you could use chicken stock which would give a richer flavour.
- Garlic - This is optional, but it adds a nice extra flavour.
More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card.
How to Make Turmeric Rice - Step by Step
- Step 1: Put the rice, turmeric and garlic powder in a saucepan.
- Step 2: Add the vegetable stock and stir. Bring to the boil and then put a lid on it and turn down to a low simmer for 15 minutes. Turn heat off and leave for 10 minutes before fluffing up.
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a spice that comes from the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa) and is part of the ginger family. Turmeric is used predominantly in Asian cuisine to give flavour and a strong yellow colour to dishes.
The vivid yellow colour of turmeric comes from a chemical called curcumin, which is often used to colour foods as well as some cosmetics. Turmeric is widely used for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Dannii's Top Tips
- Make sure to rinse the rice really well, to remove the excess starch.
- You could cook some finely diced shallots and fresh garlic to add into this rice.
- Add some vegetables to it with some frozen peas and sweetcorn or finely diced carrot. These can be added 5 minutes before the end of cooking time.
- Add some spice with a sprinkle of red chilli flakes before serving.
- This rice is best cooked fresh, however it can be stored in the fridge in an air tight container for 2 days.
Serving Suggestions
This rice is the perfect side to a curry and we have some delicious curry recipes for you to try:
- Three Bean Curry
- Paneer Curry
- Lamb Korma
- Cauliflower and Potato Curry
- Cod Curry
- Easy Lentil Curry
- Slow Cooker Beef Curry
- Salmon Curry
- Mushroom Curry
- Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry
- 10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry
- Halloumi Curry (shown below)
You need something to scoop up all that delicious curry and rice with, so why not make some bread sides? Try our Homemade Flatbread, Easy Naan or Peshwari Naan.
Storage
Store: We always think that it's best to cook any kind of rice dish fresh. However, if you have leftovers of this then you can store it in the fridge for 2 days. Make sure the rice cools quickly and then store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Freeze: You can freeze this for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge.
Reheat: You can reheat it by adding a little water to it and heating it through in a pan. Make sure rice is piping hot if reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Turmeric has a really earthy and bitter, almost musky taste, with a bit of peppery spice, so the rice takes on all those flavours. The deep rich flavour you get in most curry powders is turmeric.
You only need a teaspoon in this, as it has a really strong flavour. You will need to adjust that if you are making more or less rice of course.
Yes, we would recommend rinsing your rice first, because it removes excess starch from each rice grain and stops it sticking together.
More Rice Recipes
If you've tried this turmeric rice recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Turmeric Rice
Ingredients
- 180 g (1 cups) Basmati rice
- 500 ml (2 cups) Vegetable stock
- 1 teaspoon Ground turmeric
- 0.5 teaspoon Garlic powder
Instructions
- Put 180 g Basmati rice, 1 teaspoon Ground turmeric and 0.5 teaspoon Garlic powder into a saucepan.
- Add 500 ml Vegetable stock and stir. Bring to the boil and then put a lid on it and turn down to a low simmer for 15 minutes.
- Turn the heat off and leave covered for 10 minutes before fluffing up with a fork.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure to rinse the rice really well, to remove the excess starch.
- You could cook some finely diced shallots and fresh garlic to add in to this rice.
- Add some vegetables to it with some frozen peas and sweetcorn or finely diced carrot. These can be added 5 minutes before the end of cooking time.
- Add some spice with a sprinkle of red chilli flakes before serving.
- This rice is best cooked fresh, however it can be stored in the fridge in an air tight container for 2 days.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
I have been making rice so often lately, so this version would be a nice change in my normal simple white rice. Bookmarked for later, thanks for the recipe :)
Anita says
The color of the rice is so lovely, and it's perfect side dish for so many different meals.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I use turmeric a lot in my cooking but I've never added it to rice. I definitely will next time. Thanks Dannii :)
Romina says
This Tumeric rice is perfect. I love it with a simple curry and vegetables!
Scarlet says
I am trying to add more turmeric to my diet. It is so good for you! Thanks for the turmeric rice recipe. Sounds great.
Erika says
This rice is so good! I had all the ingredients on hand too, so it was perfect!
Heidy M says
I made this the other day for my husband and me and was very impressed with the flavor. I will be saving this recipe for the future to make again.
Farah Maizar says
We make this so often in the Middle East, but the addition of garlic powder is one I haven't seen before. Genius! I'll definitely try that next time!
Veena Azmanov says
Simple Rice but full of flavor and the healthy benefits of Turmeric. Comfort meal option.
Jenn says
I love turmeric - the flavor, the color - and am always looking for new recipes to use it. This looks like an easy enough dish for weeknight dinners. Fabulous!
Fran says
I made this with your rogan josh and it was perfect. Just as good as any takeaway meal I have had.
Andrea Metlika says
This is a perfect side dish and really like the idea of having it with curry. Yum!
Cookilicious says
Turmeric rice is so flavorful. We make this all the time.
Michelle says
I'm seriously craving this right now! That colour is stunning! We're having curry tonight, definitely making this rice to go with it.
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
I make a version of this turmeric rice at home and it's one of my family's favorites. Can't wait to try your recipe -- and isn't that color glorious?