This Mediterranean rice takes white plain ol’ rice and turns it into one thing price writing dwelling about. Cooked in savory inventory and loaded with heat, toasted spices, dried fruits and nuts, and notes of sautéed garlic and onion, it’s the right testomony to the area’s flavorful delicacies.
Simple and Flavorful Mediterranean Rice Recipe
Rice is a reasonably common staple. Italian risotto, Spanish paella, Indian biryani, Macedonian lemon rice, West African jollof. There may be a lot you are able to do with this seemingly plain, gentle, white grain to show it into one thing extraordinary, however this Mediterranean rice is one in all my favorites. Infused with a myriad of spices and tons of textures, it delights the senses from the second you scent it, to the second you savor that final chunk. Heat notes of toasted cinnamon, turmeric, and cumin mix properly with garlic, onion, and broth. The rice is toasted barely, giving it a nutty taste that I simply can’t get sufficient of. End it off with toasted slivered almonds for some crunch and items of dried apricots and currants for simply the right trace of sweetness.
Should you’ve been caught on plain and easy white rice cooked in water (perhaps inventory on a superb day), it’s time to interrupt out of your rut. Do that scrumptious, surprisingly easy-to-make Mediterranean rice dish, and also you received’t be sorry that you simply did.
Why You’ll Love Mediterranean Rice
- Flavors. Between the heat of the cinnamon, cumin, and turmeric, the delicate sweetness of the dried fruit, and the savory of the inventory, onion, and garlic, this tasty facet goes up to now past your typical rice dish.
- Enjoyable textures. I really like the crunch that the toasted almonds convey to this yellow rice dish, together with the gentle chew of the apricots and currants.
- Visible enchantment. The turmeric turns this flavorful rice dish right into a deep, earthy orange that’s deliciously inviting.
- Well being kick. The turmeric additionally delivers a hefty punch of anti-inflammatory goodness.
Mediterranean Rice Elements
- Rice: You’ll want long-grained white rice right here. I used jasmine rice, however basmati would work fantastically as properly. You could possibly use brown rice as an alternative, simply word that it’ll want extra time to prepare dinner.
- Olive oil & Butter: For sauteeing the greens, seasonings, and rice.
- Onion & Garlic
- Salt & Pepper
- Spices: Turmeric, Cumin, Cinnamon.
- Rooster or vegetable inventory
- White wine: You possibly can skip the wine if you happen to’d like and use extra inventory as an alternative.
- Currants: Raisins would additionally do the trick.
- Dried Apricots
- Slivered Almonds: You should purchase them slivered or simply slice your personal. I like to recommend buying uncooked almonds because the recipe has you toast them your self, however if you happen to’re brief on time, go forward and purchase pre-toasted slivered almonds.
Tips on how to Make Mediterranean Rice
Right here’s a fast rundown of the way to make Mediterranean rice. For extra thorough directions, scroll to the recipe card under.
- Rinse the rice. Rinse the rice properly beneath chilly water utilizing a advantageous mesh strainer.
- Sauté the veggies. Season and saute the onions within the butter and olive oil over medium-high warmth. As soon as translucent, add the garlic and sauté till aromatic.
- Toast the spices. Stir the turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, and pepper into the sauteed veggies and prepare dinner for a minute or so, stirring constantly.
- Toast the rice. Add the rinsed rice to the pan and prepare dinner for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Deglaze the pan. Pour the white wine into the pan and let it evaporate. Stir within the inventory.
- Prepare dinner the rice. Carry the combination to a boil after which cut back the warmth to low. Cowl the pan, and prepare dinner for quarter-hour.
- Toast the almonds. Toast the almonds over medium warmth.
- Put all of it collectively. Fluff the rice with a fork and fold within the currants, dried apricots, and toasted almonds.
Suggestions & Variations
Flawlessly execute this Mediterranean rice recipe by following these easy suggestions and methods. I even threw in some enjoyable variations you’ll be able to attempt to personalize to your style preferences.
- Don’t overlook to rinse the rice. Rinsing rice removes extra starch, which might lead the rice to clump and change into gummy when cooked.
- Toast your spices. Toasting spices intensifies their style and aroma and reduces uncooked, bitter notes, making a deeply flavorful style.
- Toast the rice. When you can technically do with out it, you shouldn’t skip this step. Toasting the rice provides a nutty taste to the dish.
- Go for home made broth. Think about making your personal vegetable or hen broth. Home made broth elevates the general style of this rice and lets you management the seasoning.
- Fluff the rice. It’s vital to offer the rice a pleasant fluff with a fork as soon as it’s finished cooking. This can assist maintain it from clumping.
- Experiment with spices. I used cumin, turmeric, and cinnamon, however be at liberty so as to add some paprika for a little bit spice or perhaps a little bit of saffron if you happen to’re feeling fancy.
- Add veggies. Chop up some bell peppers and saute them with the onions and/or throw in some chopped Oven Roasted Asparagus or Sautéed Garlic Broccolini earlier than serving.
- Attempt completely different fruits and nuts. Think about using raisins or cranberries rather than currants, or pine nuts as an alternative of almonds.
- Add recent herbs. I really like including a little bit recent parsley (or cilantro, if I’m within the temper) to my Mediterranean rice. The intense coloration and taste actually take it excessive.
What to Serve with Mediterranean Rice
Tips on how to Retailer & Reheat Leftovers
- Fridge. Enable the rice to chill to room temperature earlier than sealing it in an hermetic container. Retailer it within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
- Freezer. As soon as the rice has cooled fully, seal it in a freezer-safe hermetic container and retailer it within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Enable it to thaw within the fridge earlier than reheating.
- To reheat. Warmth a splash of olive oil in a skillet over medium warmth and add the rice. Saute till heated by way of. Alternatively, pop your leftovers within the microwave. Warmth at 30-second intervals till heated by way of.
Extra Mediterranean Recipes To Attempt
On the lookout for extra distinctive, flavorful Mediterranean recipes to get you out of your culinary rut? Listed here are a few of my different absolute favorites.
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Rinse the rice. In a fine-sieved mesh strainer or colander, rinse the rice beneath chilly water till the water runs clear. Drain and put aside.
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Sauté the veggies. Soften the butter over medium warmth in a big, heavy-bottomed skillet. Flip the warmth to medium-high and add the olive oil. Add the onion to the pan, season with salt, and sauté for 3 minutes or till translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for 15 seconds or till aromatic.
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Toast the spices. Stir the turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, and black pepper into the sauteed veggies and prepare dinner for a minute, stirring constantly.
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Toast the rice. Add the rinsed rice to the pan and prepare dinner for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
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Deglaze the pan. Pour the white wine into the pan and let it prepare dinner for 30 seconds. Stir the inventory into the rice, scraping up any browned bits from the underside of the pan.
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Prepare dinner the rice. Carry the combination to a boil after which cut back the warmth to low. Cowl the pan, and prepare dinner for quarter-hour or till the liquid is totally absorbed and the rice is tender.
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Toast the almonds. Whereas the rice is cooking, add the slivered almonds to a small skillet over medium warmth. Allow them to prepare dinner, stirring steadily, till they flip golden brown. Take away from the warmth and put aside.
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Put all of it collectively. As soon as the rice is completed cooking, fluff it with a fork and fold within the currants, dried apricots, and toasted almonds. Serve.
- White Lengthy Grain Rice: Rinse the rice to stop clumping and gumminess, and ensure to fluff the cooked rice to keep away from clumping.
- Brown Rice: When adapting a white rice recipe for brown rice, you’ll primarily want to regulate the cooking time and the quantity of liquid. Brown rice sometimes takes longer to prepare dinner and requires extra liquid than white rice. You’ll want to make use of about 4.5 to five cups of hen broth and prepare dinner the brown rice for 40 to 45 minutes or till the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
- White wine: You possibly can skip the wine and use extra broth/inventory as an alternative.
- Spices: Play with spices and add what you like; I generally use paprika or saffron.
- Add veggies like bell peppers or asparagus.
- Fruits & Nuts: As a substitute of currants, you may as well use raisins. Swap out the nuts, too, and check out the rice with pine nuts.
- End with recent herbs like parsley or cilantro for added taste.
Serving: 0.5 cup | Energy: 274 kcal | Carbohydrates: 45 g | Protein: 7 g | Fats: 7 g | Saturated Fats: 1 g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fats: 4 g | Trans Fats: 0.04 g | Ldl cholesterol: 5 mg | Sodium: 226 mg | Potassium: 331 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 9 g | Vitamin A: 235 IU | Vitamin C: 2 mg | Calcium: 49 mg | Iron: 1 mg | Internet Carbs: 43 g
Dietary information is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values might differ in accordance with the substances and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
