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.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
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:
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
Yellow Rice
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups water
- 1 Tbsp olive oil optional
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt or to taste
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp 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
- 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.
