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.
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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the
recipe card at the bottom of the post.
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.
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.
- 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.
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.
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:
- Teriyaki Salmon
- Brown Stew Fish or Chicken
- Steak Kebabs
- Lamb Chops and Chimichurri Sauce
- Peruvian Chicken and Green Sauce
- Lamb Meatballs
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.
More Easy Side Dishes
- Oven Baked Rice
- Seasoned Asparagus
- Buttery Green Beans and Potatoes
- Southern Sweet Potatoes
- Air Fryer Carrots
- Rice and peas
Yellow Rice
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.
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!