Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (2024)

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By: DianaPosted: 5/12/20Updated: 5/15/21

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Add color to your meals with this vibrant yellow turmeric rice! It’s easy and quick to make, and goes so well with curries, grilling recipes, and chicken.

A stovetop and Instant Pot methods are included.

Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (1)

This Mediterranean rice recipe is the best way to add more color and flavor to any meal. I’m a big fan of flavored rice, and make this yellow rice often along with Lebanese vermicelli rice, mushroom rice, and fried rice.

This yellow rice works great as a side that can be served with things like kidney bean curry, sheet pan chicken thighs, and roasted whole chicken.

Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (2)

Turmeric Rice Ingredients

What you’ll need:

  • Long grain rice – my favorite rice to use to make this yellow rice is basmati rice, but any long-grain rice works.
  • Turmeric – I usually go for dried ground turmeric, but if you have fresh turmeric root and would like to use it, then grate it and add it to the rice.
  • Onion and garlic for extra flavor (optional).
  • Oil, bay leaves, and salt.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (3)

How to Make Turmeric Rice?

  • Start by washing the rice really well until the water runs clear, then soak it for 15 minutes.
  • If using onion and garlic, heat olive oil and cook the diced onion until it’s soft and translucent. Add the crushed garlic, and cook until it’s fragrant.
  • Drain the rice, and add it to the pot. Add the ground turmeric, salt, and bay leaves, and cover with water or stock so it covers the rice by 1/2 inch.
  • Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to the lowest setting possible. Cover, and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Remove the pot from heat, and leave it undisturbed for 10 minutes.
  • Remove the bay leaves, fluff with a fork, and serve.
Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (4)

Instant Pot Yellow Rice

You can also make this in the Instant Pot if you prefer.

  1. Rinse the rice very well under running water until it runs clear. No need to presoak the rice here.
  2. Press on the SAUTE button, and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot (but not smoking!), saute the diced onion until soft and translucent. Then add the garlic and cook for a minute.
  3. Add the rice and turmeric, season with salt and cover with water so that itcovers the rice by 1/2 inch.Add the bay leaves if using. Secure the lid and set the vent to SEALING. Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL setting andset the cooking time for 4 minutes at high pressure.
Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (5)
  1. The Instant Pot will come to pressure and start cooking. When the cooking program ends, allow the steam to be naturally released for 10 minutes then release the rest of the steam.
  2. Remove the lid, then remove the bay leaves and fluff with a fork before serving.
Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (6)

Top Tips

  • The key to this recipe is to wash the rice VERY well.You need to get rid of the starch as much as possible.
  • Feel free to skip the onion and garlic, if you want a plain version of this yellow rice. Or to add more flavor, you can use vegetable or chicken stock, and add vegetables such as frozen or fresh diced carrots, green beans, and peas.

Storing Instructions

  • Fridge:Store the yellow rice in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
  • Freezer:This rice freezes well in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave.
Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (7)
  • If making the Instant Pot version, then check out my Instant Pot.This is the one that I own and love!
  • This is the cast-iron casserole pot that I use all the time.
  • Garlic press.A kitchen essential.
  • Sharp knife.This is the knife that I use all the time, a sharp knife is so important and if you want to invest in a new knife then a high-quality chef knife is what I recommend. This one is also currently on sale and well worth the money.
  • Heat resistant spatula. This is the one that I use to scramble the eggs and fry the rice.
Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (8)

Serve this rice with grilling recipes, such as these delicious grilled chicken kabobs!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe

Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (9)

4.94 from 15 votes(Click stars to rate!)

Turmeric Rice

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

10 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Author: Diana

Print Rate Recipe

Add color to your meals with this vibrant yellow turmeric rice! It's easy and quick to make, and goes so well with curries, grilling recipes, and chicken.

4 servings

Add color to your meals with this vibrant yellow turmeric rice! It's easy and quick to make, and goes so well with curries, grilling recipes, and chicken.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic crushed
  • cups long-grain rice I use basmati
  • teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • water to cover the rice by ½ inch
  • 2 small bay leaves optional

Instructions

Stovetop method:

  • Properly wash the rice under running water until the water runs CLEAR to get rid of the starch, and then soak it in cold water for 15 minutes.

  • Heat the olive oil on medium heat in a pot, when the oil is hot (but not smoking!) saute the diced onion until soft and translucent. Then add the garlic and cook for a minute.

  • Add the rinsed, soaked, and drained rice, salt, and turmeric, mix and cover with water. You want the water to cover the rice by 1/2 inch or 1cm. Add the bay leaves if using.

  • Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat down to the lowest setting possible, cover with the lid and set your timer to "10 minutes".

  • After 10 minutes, remove the pot from heat but don't remove the lid. Leave the pot undisturbed for 10 minutes. Remove the lid, and fluff the rice with a fork.

Instant Pot method:

  • Rinse the rice very well under running water until it runs clear. No need to presoak the rice here.

  • Press on the SAUTE button, and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot (but not smoking!), saute the diced onion until soft and translucent. Then add the garlic and cook for a minute.

  • Add the rice and turmeric, season with salt and cover with water so that it covers the rice by 1/2 inch. Add the bay leaves if using. Secure the lid and set the vent to SEALING. Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL setting andset the cooking time for 4 minutes at high pressure.

  • The Instant Pot will come to pressure and start cooking. When the cooking program ends, allow the steam to be naturally released for 10 minutes then release the rest of the steam. Remove the lid and fluff with a fork before serving.

Notes:

  • The key to this recipe is to wash the rice VERY well.You need to get rid of the starch as much as possible.
  • Feel free to skip the onion and garlic, if you want a plain version of this yellow rice. Or to add more flavor, you can use vegetable or chicken stock, and add vegetables such as frozen or fresh diced carrots, green beans, and peas.
  • Store the yellow rice in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
  • This rice freezes well in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave.
  • If you’re cooking turmeric rice in the Instant Pot, you don’t need to presoak it.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 360kcal, Carbohydrates: 123g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 694mg, Potassium: 124mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Calcium: 37mg, Iron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Little Sunny Kitchen

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Next Post Grilled Chicken Kabobs

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review!

  1. Amanda says

    Mine turned out mushy and wet. An exact amount of water to be placed on the rice, would be helpful!

    Reply

  2. Bec Brydon says

    Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (16)
    I’ve never cooked rice before and this recipe was easy to follow and super yummy.

    Reply

    • Diana says

      I’m so glad to hear that you found the turmeric rice recipe easy to follow and yummy, especially since it was your first time cooking rice!

      Reply

  3. jscsaj6 says

    Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (17)
    I made the pressure cooker version. The rice came out beautifully. The taste was so good and it was nice and fluffy.

    Reply

  4. Susan Yeates says

    Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (18)
    All I can say is….beautiful!

    Reply

  5. Joanne says

    Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (19)
    Loved it!

    Reply

Older Comments12

Easy Turmeric Rice Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to add turmeric to rice? ›

This Turmeric Rice aka Indian Yellow Rice is a flavor bomb, super easy to make, healthy plus delicious. It makes for a great weeknight dinner, ready under 30 minutes. Serve it with grilled veggies, tandoori chicken, grilled kababs, curry, raita or a stew.

Does turmeric change the color of rice? ›

While some varieties of rice naturally have a yellow cast, cooks across Latin America, South Africa, South Asia, the Meditteranean, and their diasporas often turn to highly pigmented flavorings like achiote (also called annatto), saffron, or turmeric to lend plain white rice a bright yellow color and singular flavor.

How long does turmeric rice last in the fridge? ›

TO STORE: Refrigerate cooled rice in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers with a splash of broth in a pot on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave. TO FREEZE: Freeze cooled rice in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months.

How to use bay leaves in rice? ›

After combining the rice, water, and salt in the pot, I just tuck a single bay leaf into the middle of the rice before popping the lid on. The leaf tends to stay toward the top of the rice during cooking, so it's easy to pluck it out just before fluffing and serving.

What Cannot be mixed with turmeric? ›

Avoid using turmeric together with other herbal/health supplements that can also affect blood-clotting. This includes angelica (dong quai), capsicum, clove, dandelion, danshen, evening primrose, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, poplar, red clover, saw palmetto, and willow.

How much turmeric should I put in my rice? ›

How to make perfect yellow rice with turmeric and brown rice
  1. 175g brown long grain rice (1 cup)
  2. 1 teaspoon ground turmeric.
  3. 750ml water (3 cups)

Does turmeric change bowel color? ›

Since the GI tract processes food for elimination, what a person eats can affect the color of their stool. Carrots, sweet potatoes, turmeric, and foods that contain yellow food coloring may cause stool to become yellow. A diet high in fat or gluten can also lead to yellow stool.

Is turmeric rice good for weight loss? ›

It not only imparts a beautiful and bright yellow colour and flavour to your curries, rice and desserts, but also is known for its medicinal properties that are used to manage many health conditions. In fact it is said that turmeric can help you lose weight too.

How do you fix too much turmeric in rice? ›

Sweet ingredients, like honey or sugar, can help counteract the bitterness of too much turmeric. Add small amounts of sweeteners until you achieve a more balanced flavour profile.

Does turmeric powder burn belly fat? ›

Turmeric and weight loss

Animal studies indicate that this compound may promote weight loss, reduce fat tissue growth, curb weight regain, and enhance your sensitivity to the hormone insulin ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ).

How do you know if turmeric has gone bad? ›

Fresh turmeric powder should have a strong and distinctive aroma that is slightly pungent. If the powder does not have a strong aroma or has a musty smell, it may have lost its potency. Similarly, if the powder tastes bland or has a bitter or unpleasant taste, it may no longer be fresh.

Why can you cook with bay leaves but not eat them? ›

That said, while bay leaves are technically edible, you won't want to eat them. They are stiff and remain so even through the cooking process. Bay leaves are hard to chew and not pleasant to consume. Eating them could scratch the mouth or esophagus, and this could be uncomfortable (or worse).

Do bay leaves keep bugs out of rice? ›

This is because eucalyptol is a particularly fragrant essential oil that insects don't love, so they stay away from the food source (your flour and rice). The downside is also precisely why bay leaves may work: your dry goods will now smell like bay leaves!

How many bay leaves to use in rice? ›

In fact, you can give any regualr rice a basmati like flavour by a just adding two bay leaves while cooking rice.

Does turmeric change the taste of rice? ›

As we are just adding a teaspoon of turmeric, it adds just a touch of earthy flavor which wonderfully complements the garlic, butter, and onion which are the main components of this delicious yellow rice.

Does cooking destroy the benefits of turmeric? ›

Cooking turmeric for just a few minutes does not reduce its nutritional value, but boiling turmeric over high heat or pressure cooking it reduces the effectiveness of Curcumin. However, cooking it for a small duration and pairing it with souring agents may help in better absorption of Curcumin in the body.

Can you add turmeric to cooked food? ›

A half a teaspoon of ground turmeric is usually plenty for seasoning bean dishes, rice dishes, whole grains, soups, stews, sauces, marinades, and pickling brines. Ground turmeric can also be used to add appetizing color to a breakfast scramble, a creamy batch of mac and cheese, and even cakes and desserts.

Should you add turmeric before or after cooking? ›

I would typically add it just after the "tadka" or tempering of mustard or cumin seed or whole spices, or when I am sauteing onions. To enhance the effects of turmeric when you cook with it, add some black pepper into the recipe.

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