Name: Turmeric Basmati Rice Recipe (Light & Fluffy)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: -2 tbsp ghee (or olive oil or butter); -1 onion; -a small red chili pepper, minced finely (optional); -2 cloves garlic; -1 cup basmati rice, rinsed; -1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper; -1 tsp turmeric; -1 1/2 cups water; -salt to taste

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This turmeric basmati rice recipe brings together turmeric and black pepper for lots of flavor. This easy yellow recipe is an amazing side dish!

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This Persian inspired rice is the perfect side to my turmeric grilled chicken (or your favorite chicken dish), a simple cucumber salad and some greek yogurt.

The peppery spices, onions and garlic give the basmati rice a deliciously earthy and sweet flavor. This easy side dish quickly became a go-to for hosting in our household for it's simplicity and impressive color!

If you like this recipe, you should check out this one pot Puerto Rican rice and beans with sofrito. It's a similarly hearty Puerto Rican dish with rice with gandules (pigeon peas).

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make this rice:

onion
turmeric
freshly cracked black pepper
ghee (or olive oil or butter)
garlic
a small red chili pepper, minced finely
basmati rice, rinsed
water
salt to taste

ingredients to make turmeric basmati rice

How to Cook Fluffy Basmati Rice

In a nonstick saucepan or pot, add your chopped onion, chili pepper and ¾ of the ghee or olive oil.

Saute for 2-3 minutes on medium heat before tossing in minced garlic and continuing to cook for another minute.

Add in rice, black pepper and turmeric and mix to coat. Add water and bring to a boil.

Cover, lower to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.

Fluff cooked rice with remaining ghee or oil (optional) and salt to taste. Enjoy!

Turmeric

Turmeric has been a popular spice for some time now.

People are mixing it into their coffee, milk and smoothies. They’re using it to season veggie bowls and even taking it in capsule form.

This super adaptable spice has been used by Middle Easterners for centuries.

It has a sweet and spicy flavor that I really love to use with veggies like onions, carrots and sweet potatoes.

Additionally, it's what gives this turmeric black pepper golden rice it's beautiful golden color.

Turmeric Basmati Rice Recipe (Light & Fluffy)

Print Recipe

This yellow basmati rice recipe brings together turmeric and black pepper for lots of flavor. It's a simple stovetop recipe and a perfect rice side dish.

Author: Salima Benkhalti
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 3-4 servings
Category: Side Dish
Method: Steamed
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

-2 tbsp ghee (or olive oil or butter)

-1 onion

-a small red chili pepper, minced finely (optional)

-2 cloves garlic

-1 cup basmati rice, rinsed

-1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

-1 tsp turmeric

-1 ½ cups water

-salt to taste

Instructions

Sauté an onion and chili with oil. In a nonstick saucepan or pot add three fourths of the ghee (or olive oil), chopped onion, and chili pepper.
Add garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes on medium heat before tossing in minced garlic and continuing to cook for another minute.
Add rice and spices, then water. Add in rice, black pepper and turmeric and mix to coat. Add water and bring to a boil.
Simmer covered for 20 minutes. Cover, lower to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
Fluff cooked rice with remaining ghee or oil (optional) and salt to taste. Enjoy!