Turmeric rice is an aromatic and flavorful side dish. It's a quick and easy one-pot yellow rice recipe that's ready in just 20 minutes with just 6 ingredients. Low fat, vegan and gluten free.
Turmeric rice is a quick and easy side dish that works with many meals and cuisines.
It's super simple to put together, and the great taste and vibrant color make it extra special.
Turmeric and cumin give flavor to the yellow rice, and work beautifully with the sauteed onion and garlic.
Just a few simple ingredients that turn rice into a tasty side dish.
Why you will love this recipe
Ready in 20 minutes.
6 easy ingredients.
Perfect with curry or as a side dish.
Quick and easy to make.
Delicately spiced and full of flavor.
One pot recipe.
Turmeric has a lot of health benefits.
Tips and tricks
Make sure that the onions are really soft and golden when sauteeing them.
Be sure to rinse the rice before adding it, to remove excess starch.
Try topping your yellow rice with toasted cashews, almonds or seeds.
Variations
Swap the rice for quinoa or couscous for a different side dish.
Add the juice of half a lemon and some lemon zest, and leave out the cumin for lemon turmeric rice.
Use your favorite type of rice: basmati, brown, white, wild etc...
For a different flavor, add in half a cup of any of these: raisins, frozen peas, corn, finely diced carrots, finely diced red bell peppers, spring onions/scallions.
Serving Suggestions
This turmeric rice has delicate aromatic flavor, so you can pair it with many dishes and cuisines!
Try these tasty dishes with your rice.
Lentil daal (vegan)
Spanish beans (vegan)
Tofu curry (vegan)
Air fryer tacos (vegetarian but easily vegan)
Lentil stew (vegan)
Chickpea Curry (vegan)
How to make Turmeric Rice
1. Sautee the onion in oil (coconut, sunflower, vegetable...) until soft and translucent.
2. Add the garlic and cook for a further minute.
3. Add the turmeric, cumin and rice.
4. Stir it all together well.
5. Add the vegetable broth (stock) and bring to the boil.
6. Cover the pan, reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes until cooked (be guided by the cooking time on your packet of rice). Sprinkle with cilantro/coriander and serve!
Make it a full meal with these vegan Indian recipes!
Tofu Curry (vegan, 10 ingredients, 20 minutes)
Turmeric Rice
Baked Vegetable Pakora (vegan, 6 ingredients, 25 minutes)
Naan (vegetarian or vegan, 4 ingredients, 15 minutes)
Get the Recipe
Did you make this easy turmeric rice recipe? Please let me know how it turned out for you!
Leave a comment and star rating below and share a picture with the hashtag #veggiedesserts. I love seeing your recreations of my vegetarian and vegan recipes and cakes.
Thanks for checking out my recipe! I love hearing from my readers. You all allow me to do what I love and write this food blog, sharing vegetarian and vegan recipes, vegetable cake recipes, vegan cake and also easy vegan desserts.
Kate x
Turmeric Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil (coconut, vegetable, sunflower etc...)
- ½ yellow/white onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic finely diced
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 ½ cups (300g) long grain or basmati rice rinsed and drained (not ‘quick cook’ rice)
- 3 cups (750 ml) vegetable stock (broth)
To serve (optional)
- chopped cilantro (coriander)
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pan, then add the onion and cook for a few minutes until soft, but not brown.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for a further minute.
- Add the turmeric, cumin and rice and combine well.
- Pour in the stock/broth, cover the pan, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until all of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Serve sprinkled with chopped cilantro/coriander
- Note: be guided by the cooking time on your particular bag of rice.
Video
Notes
- Make sure that the onions are really soft and golden when sauteeing them.
- Be sure to rinse the rice before adding it, to remove excess starch
- For a different flavor, add in half a cup of any of these: raisins, frozen peas, corn, finely diced carrots, finely diced red bell peppers, spring onions/scallions
- Try topping your yellow rice with toasted cashews, almonds or seeds
- Swap the rice for quinoa or couscous for a different side dish
- Add the juice of half a lemon and some lemon zest, and leave out the cumin for lemon turmeric rice
- Use your favorite type of rice: basmati, brown, white, wild etc...
Tofu Curry (vegan, 10 ingredients, 20 minutes)
Baked Vegetable Pakora (vegan, 6 ingredients, 25 minutes)
Naan (vegetarian or vegan, 4 ingredients, 15 minutes)
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Becki
We love this dish!! We've tried it 3 times now over the past few months and each time it's been better than the last. We have finally perfected the seasoning to our liking. Ended up adding an extra 1/2 tsp of cumin and 3/4 tsp of coriander along with some salt and pepper. It's a delicious side dish to our falafel with some diced grape tomatoes, cucumber and onion. Even tried it with a little sriracha last night. Yum! Thanks for sharing! It's quickly become a new staple for us!!
Dana
Shall try your recipe tonight. Greetings from Australia.
Sarah | Well and Full
This rice looks so flavorful! And I love how versatile it is too 🙂
Jen
I've been using turmeric in my drinks that it only makes sense in this rice! I can't wait to take my first bite. Love it!
Kristina
Love using turmeric to add flavor and color to dishes and this one does not disappoint! Love how quickly it comes together too!
Beth
I love this easy, healthy & so flavorful rice dish! It's posts like this one that make my life so happy!
Jessica Formicola
I love turmeric, so I can't wait to try this rice with dinner tonight!
Sara Welch
I love all the health benefits of turmeric! This is a great recipe for my kids so I can sneak in something healthy into their diet!