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Yellow Rice

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Liven up your side dish game with this vibrant and flavorful yellow rice recipe. This easy turmeric rice recipe can be made on the stovetop or in your Instant Pot.

Yellow rice served on a white plate next to fresh herbs.


 

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Rice is such a staple in most people’s homes, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring!

This yellow rice is seasoned with turmeric, garlic and onion, and it takes no longer to make than plain boiled white rice.

Great to serve alongside all of your favorite dishes, it’s a tasty way to add some color to your plate!

For more rice recipes, be sure to check out my kale rice and cajun rice.

How to make yellow rice

  • Gather your ingredients.
Ingredients to make the recipe.
  • Place water, olive oil, turmeric powder, kosher salt, garlic powder, and onion powder in a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Allow the mixture to come to a boil.
Seasonings and water added to a large pot.
  • Stir in rice, reduce heat to low, cover with tight-fitting lid and cook for 18 minutes.
Rice added to the seasoned water.
A red pot with a lid on it.
  • Once 18 minutes is up, remove the pot from the heat and allow the rice to remain covered for an additional 5 minutes.
The yellow rice in the pot after cooking.
  • Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve and Enjoy.
A fork in the pot of rice fluffing the grains.

Make this turmeric rice in your Instant Pot

This yellow rice can easily be made in your electric pressure too, and the results are equally delicious!

  • Add the ingredients into the insert of the pressure cooker. Press the rice button, which will cook the rice for 12 minutes at low pressure.
  • Once the pressure cooker time is up, allow the machine to naturally release for 10 minutes. Release any remaining pressure.
  • Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve and enjoy.
  • If your pressure cooker does not have a rice button, cook on high pressure for 6 minutes, then naturally release.

Can you make it ahead of time?

Yes! you can make a big batch of this rice and enjoy it throughout the week. The cooked rice will keep well in the fridge in an airtight container for around 5 days.

When it sits, the rice can start to loose some of it’s moisture, so when you reheat it, add a tablespoon or two of water to it to loosen it back up.

The rice can be reheated on the stovetop on a low heat or in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds on full power.

Can you freeze it?

Freezing is a great option if you have made too much rice and it will keep well for a couple of months. Freeze the rice solid on a baking sheet, then transfer portions into freezer safe bags.

You can reheat the rice from frozen in your microwave. Just break it into pieces, place in a bowl and and cover. Heat on high for 2 to 3 minutes then fluff with a fork to serve.

A fork fluffing the turmeric rice.

What do you serve it with?

This yellow rice works great with so many mains. It’s a great accompaniment to curries and stews and is great to serve up with grilled fish, chicken and meats. Try it with:

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • Turmeric has quite a strong flavor to it, so don’t be tempted to add more than the recipe states.
  • You can make this with brown rice if you prefer, but you will need to adjust the cooking time as per the package instructions.
Yellow rice on a white plate next to fresh cilantro.

More Easy Side Dishes

yellow rice in pot with fork sticking out
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5 from 6 votes

Yellow Rice

Liven up your side dish game with this vibrant and flavorful yellow rice recipe. This easy turmeric rice recipe can be made on the stovetop or in your Instant Pot.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword seasoned rice recipe, turmeric rice
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 288kcal
Author Tanya

Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ cups water*
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil optional
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 ½ cups long grain rice rinsed and drained

Instructions

StoveTop:

  • Place water, olive oil, turmeric powder, kosher salt, garlic powder, and onion powder in a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Allow the mixture to come to a boil.
  • Stir in rice, reduce heat to low, cover with tight-fitting lid and cook for 18 minutes.
  • Once 18 minutes is up, remove the pot from the heat and allow the rice to remain covered for an additional 5 minutes. Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve and Enjoy.

Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker Instructions:

  • Add the ingredients into the insert of the pressure cooker. Press the rice button, which will cook the rice for 12 minutes at low pressure.
  • Once the pressure cooker time is up, allow the machine to naturally release for 10 minutes. Release any remaining pressure.
  • Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

  • Feel free to sub the water with chicken or vegetable broth for more flavor.
  • Turmeric has quite a strong flavor to it, so don’t be tempted to add more than the recipe states.
  • You can make this with brown rice if you prefer, but you will need to adjust the cooking time as per the package instructions.

Nutrition

Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 883mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
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Although myforkinglife.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will myforkinglife.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

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Recipe Rating




Marianne

Tuesday 25th of October 2022

I plan on making this today. Is the water listed the correct amount! Usually water is double the amount of rice so I am just checking. Thanks!

Tanya

Thursday 27th of October 2022

Hi Marianne, yes, that's how much water I used to get the texture that's reflected in the photos.

Diane

Thursday 25th of August 2022

Would you email me the name, model of the instant oil you use? Thanks

Yvonne

Monday 9th of May 2022

I added kidney beans to this recipe. Very easy, thank you.

Tanya

Tuesday 10th of May 2022

Thanks Yvonne, so glad you liked it :) Love the addition of beans.

Gracie

Saturday 18th of September 2021

Another great recipe from My Forking Life! Very flavorful and easy to make. Will definitely be a staple in my house!

Tanya

Sunday 19th of September 2021

Thank you Gracie :) So glad you like the recipe.

ANTONIO CARBONELL

Thursday 4th of March 2021

Add a touch of sophistication with a pinch of saffron ... it’ll add a darker yellow hue to the turmeric while introducing a flavor unique to saffron..

Tanya

Thursday 4th of March 2021

Love that idea! thanks!