Savor every bite of this mouth-watering, vibrant, yellow Quick Indian Turmeric Rice! This rice recipe is an excellent accompaniment to a meat or main dish. Make it in 30 minutes and serve as a side dish.
Jump to:
This popular yellow rice dish is enjoyed all over the world. Each region has its own variation. For example, some regions add mixed vegetables while others add herbs like bay leaves, raisins, and lemon. The key ingredient in this dish is turmeric, which gives the rice its notorious yellow color. Make sure you use good-quality powdered turmeric for the best results.
Turmeric is a flowering plant in the ginger family. It is used in cooking and has a warm, bitter, black pepper flavor and mustard-like aroma. In powder form, turmeric is a popular ingredient for flavor and color in many Asian curries and dishes.
Serve this crowd-pleasing rice dish for lunch or dinner. Because of how easy and fast it is to prepare, Turmeric fried rice is a great weeknight recipe option, especially for days when you need something super fast. You can serve golden turmeric rice alone or with Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab or homemade Lebanese Falafels. You can also serve it with vegetable curries or sauces.
Why You Should Try This Recipe
- This dish is bright, delicious and easy to make!
- This quick Indian turmeric rice is ready in 30 minutes using less than ten ingredients.
- It can be served as a simple side with various dishes like this Easy Chicken Kebabs in the Oven.
- Double or triple the recipe to feed more people.
Quick Indian Turmeric Rice Ingredients
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Olive oil: Use good-quality olive oil to make turmeric rice.
- Butter: You can use unsalted or salted butter. Adjust the amount of salt added to the rice depending on the type of butter you use.
- Garlic cloves: You can use grated or chopped garlic. Use shop-bought crushed garlic as an alternative.
- Onion: Use white onions or shallots for this recipe.
- Turmeric: Use good-quality turmeric powder for this recipe.
- Chicken stock or water: To enhance the flavor of the turmeric rice, add chicken stock or vegetable stock. If you don't have any on hand, you can use water.
- White rice: Rinse the starch out of the white rice thoroughly before cooking. The water should run clear.
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste: This recipe includes cayenne pepper, but you can add the powdered pepper of your choice.
Tips and Substitutions
- Rice: Basmati and jasmine rice are usually used to prepare turmeric rice. Their slim grains tend to absorb flavors well.
- Substitutions: If you cannot find basmati or jasmine rice, you can substitute it with long-grain rice or brown rice.
- Starch: Whichever type of rice you choose, rinse the rice to remove the starch in the rice. Rinsing the starch out of the rice makes it lighter and easier for the rice to absorb the flavors of the spices.
- Batches: Feel free to double or triple this recipe if you feed a crowd.
- Alternatives: You can also make instant pot turmeric rice, rice cooker turmeric rice or saffron turmeric rice.
- Add-ins: Feel free to add in sultanas, peas or coconut milk for a delicious variation.
How to Make Quick Indian Turmeric Rice
- First, rinse the rice thoroughly until it is completely clear. This is a crucial step as it will ensure the rice is fluffy and does not stick together. Set the washed rice aside for later. Next, melt the butter in a medium-sized pot.
2. Add the onions and garlic to the pot. Then, cook the onions and garlic for a few minutes.
3. Add the turmeric to the pot.
4. Stir the ingredients for one minute.
5. Then, pour the chicken stock into the pot.
6. Next, pour water into the pot.
7. Next, add the rice, salt to taste, and pepper to taste.
8. Stir very well and ensure the turmeric is mixed evenly with the rice.
9. Bring the rice to a boil and cook for 10 -15 minutes, checking for doneness at 5-minute intervals. If the rice needs more water to soften, add more water as needed.
10. Once the Quick Indian Turmeric Rice is ready, garnish it with pepper and fresh herbs. Serve garlic turmeric rice as a side with Tandoori Chicken Kebabs, vegetables, easy shirazi salad, curries and more.
Recipe FAQs
It has a subtle turmeric flavor. Turmeric has an earthy and slightly bitter taste and is also believed to be medicinal. Traditionally, turmeric rice is served alongside vegetables, meat and curries.
Yes. Turmeric flavor is described as warm, bitter, black pepper-like flavored with an earthy mustard-like aroma. This makes it a good ingredient for comfort foods/dishes such as curries and soups.
Turmeric rice is enjoyed throughout many regions. Each region makes it slightly differently.
Washing the rice is a very important step in making turmeric rice. If you don't wash the rice, it will have a high starch content, which will result in heavy, sticky rice.
More Delicious Rice Recipes
Quick Indian Turmeric Rice
Equipment
- 1 Medium-sized saucepan
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 2-4 garlic cloves grated or chopped
- ¼ onion diced
- 2 teaspoon of Turmeric
- 4 cups of chicken stock or water
- 2 cups of white rice rinse until the water runs clear
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil and butter in a medium-sized saucepan. Then, add diced onions, and grated garlic and cook for a couple of minutes.
- Next, add turmeric to the pot and cook and stir for 1 minute.
- Pour water or chicken stock into the pot. Add the rice, salt to taste, pepper to taste and stir well.
- Bring to a boil and cook for 10-15 minutes or until done. Check every 5-7 minutes and add more water if necessary.
- Finally, serve this Fluffy Turmeric Rice with as a side with Tandoori Chicken Kebabs, vegetables, salad, curries and more.
Notes
- Rice: Basmati and jasmine rice are commonly used for turmeric rice. This slimmer grain absorbs flavors well.
- Substitutions: If you don't have basmati or jasmine rice, you can use long-grain or brown rice instead.
- Starch: Whatever type of rice you choose, make sure to rinse it to remove the starch. This makes the rice lighter and helps it absorb the flavors of the spices.
- Batches: You can double or triple this recipe if you're feeding a crowd.
- Alternatives: You can also make turmeric rice in an instant pot, rice cooker, or use saffron for a different twist.
- Add-ins: Feel free to mix in sultanas, peas, or coconut milk for a tasty variation.
Nadia says
My family and I absolutely adore this recipe so rich but simple & quick to make!
Jen Sim says
Glad you enjoyed it Nadia!