
30-Minute Mediterranean Rice (Yellow Basmati Rice)
Rice is a common ingredient in dishes from the Mediterranean region and elsewhere. Yellow rice is a popular Mediterranean rice recipe that people love to indulge in for its long grain and exotic aroma. The fluffy appearance of each rice grain gives it an incredible look.
Before we dig deep into its recipe, let’s first understand the type of recipe it is.
What is Mediterranean Rice?
Mediterranean yellow rice is a popular recipe in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. It is served with many regional dishes, such as chicken shawarma, Mediterranean fish, joojeh kabab, and more. Yellow basmati rice is commonly used as a main dish in countries worldwide, including Spain, Greece, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Indonesia, and North Africa.
Mediterranean rice is usually long-grained as compared to other rice dishes. it is called yellow rice because of the colour it shows after the cooking. The yellow color comes due to the use of spices like turmeric and saffron.
It also includes fresh herbs mixed with nuts. Usually, the rice is served alongside tzatziki sauce and lamb koftas.
Ingredients
When thinking of how to make Mediterranean rice, you should first prepare a list of the key ingredients used in the recipe. The ingredients are not expensive and are, in fact, available easily in the home pantry.
Here are the basic ingredients you need to make a Mediterranean yellow rice:
Long-grain basmati rice. You should preferably take long-grain basmati rice because it will look fluffier upon cooking.
Onions and chicken broth are great for adding umami flavour to rice. If broth is not available, you can use water.
Spices—Whole spices are crucial to adding flavour and aroma to the recipe. These spices include cloves, cardamom sticks, peppercorns, and green cardamom. Turmeric is the main ingredient that gives the yellow Mediterranean rice its colour.
Vegetable oil - You will need vegetable oil or olive oil.
How to Make Mediterranean Rice
Preparation time - The recipe takes 30 minutes to prepare
Cook time - 15-20 minutes
Making Mediterranean basmati rice is an easier process that you can complete in a few steps. Here is what you need to do:
First, chop the onions finely and sauté them in olive oil. Fry the onions in the oil until they become soft and translucent.
Then, add salt, pepper, and turmeric and stir the mix for a few more minutes to make the spices aromatic.
In the meantime, wash basmati rice thoroughly. Make sure that the water looks clean, and then drain it completely. There is no need to soak the rice in water for this particular recipe.
Next, stir the rice in the pan with the spices. Refrain from stirring too strongly to avoid breaking the rice grains.
Now, add the chicken broth to the saucepan and let it simmer. If you cook long-grain rice such as basmati, maintain a good rice-to-water ratio of 1:1.5. When the surface is bubbling, cover it tightly and let it cook on low heat for 20 minutes.
Then, open the lid and fluff the rice before covering it again. Let the rice sit in the pan for 10 minutes before serving.
Garnish the rice with pine nuts, parsley, fried raisins, or almonds when serving.
How to Serve Mediterranean Yellow Rice
Consider serving it nicely once you have followed the steps and prepared Mediterranean yellow basmati rice. This recipe is recommended for serving with chicken.
But Middle Eastern rice can be served with any protein or the subtle flavour of aromatic spices. Many people serve rice with fish-cooked tomato sauce.
Also, consider serving a bowl of yoghurt and a lemony salad such as tabouli or malfouf.
So, this is one of the several Middle Eastern rice recipes you can choose to prepare quickly whenever needed to serve your family and guests.
To personalise this Arabic rice recipe, choose unique spices. The spices' unique aroma helps the dish stand out and makes it delicious.
Wrapping Up
Mediterranean rice, prepared with basmati rice, is among the most popular recipes in the region. The ingredients, such as basmati rice and spices, are commonly available in homes. Preparing this dish is easy and takes only half an hour and a few steps.