Make this easy yellow Mediterranean rice recipe. Fluffy basmati rice loaded with warm spices and savory flavors, a great side dish.
Try Mexican style rice and make my Cilantro Lime Rice!
MEDITERRANEAN RICE
If you love fluffy, flavorful rice then you need to give this Mediterranean rice recipe a try! Fluffy basmati rice packed with warm spices and all the savory flavors. This fluffy yellow Mediterranean rice is the perfect side dish to pair with grilled meats, seafood, and veggies. You can also use this for meal prep!
WHAT YOU NEED-
- Rice– For this recipe, you want to use long grain white rice such as basmati or jasmine rice. I prefer using basmati rice for all my rice dishes.
- Water– You can use either water or chicken broth or stock to cook the rice! For extra flavors I love swapping the water for chicken broth or adding some chicken bullion powder to the water!
- Cinnamon– What gives this rice its Mediterranean twist is the warm, spicy flavor from adding a cinnamon stick to the rice as it cooks! Although it gives ultimate flavors, the cinnamon stick can be skipped.
- Flavor– To season the rice, this recipe calls for turmeric powder, salt, pepper, and garlic powder!
- Butter– Adding some butter to this rice gives you fluffy, moist and delicious rice! You can use either salted or unsalted butter.
- Cilantro– For added flavors, I love adding freshly chopped cilantro to this yellow Mediterranean rice! You can totally skip the freshly chopped greens if you are not a fan of cilantro.
HOW TO MAKE YELLOW MEDITERRANEAN RICE
There are several different methods that you can use when it comes to cooking the perfect batch of fluffy rice!
STOVE TOP
- Bring a pot of water to a boil then add the rinsed rice, cinnamon stick and seasonings and stir.
- Reduce the heat and cover the pot with a lid slightly ajar and let simmer.
- Simmer until the water is fully absorbed and rice is tender.
- Remove from heat, take out the cinnamon stick, add the butter and cilantro and fluff and mix to combine.
- Serve immediately with your favorite sides and dishes.
OVEN BAKED
- Add water, rinsed rice, cinnamon stick and seasonings to a casserole dish and stir to combine.
- Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake or until the water is fully absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Remove the dish from the oven, take out the cinnamon stick and add butter and cilantro to the rice, fluff and mix until combined.
RICE COOKER
- Add the rinsed rice, water, cinnamon stick and seasonings to the rice cooker and stir to combine.
- Close the lid and cook on regular white rice settings.
- Once done, open the lid and remove the cinnamon stick. Add butter and cilantro and gently fluff and mix until combined.
- Serve with desired sides and enjoy!
SERVING IDEAS
There are so many ways that you can enjoy this light and fluffy Mediterranean rice! Here are some delicious ways to enjoy this side dish:
- Greek Salad
- Grilled Bang Bang Chicken Kabobs
- Chipotle Steak
- Greek Bowls
- Chipotle Bowls
- Greek Chicken
- Beef Kofta Kabobs
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:
No, you can use any of your favorite long grain white rice, such as basmati, jasmine, etc.
Yes! You can totally use brown basmati rice or any other long grain brown rice.
For most white rice, the ratio is 1:1.5, which would be 1 part rice and 1.5 water or broth.
If the rice is still hard and the water is all gone, you can add about 1/4 -1/2 cup of rice and continue cooking on a lower heat.
Once the rice is cooled, store it in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in a skillet, microwave or oven with some extra butter.
OTHER SIDE DISH IDEAS–
Check out these other easy and delicious side dish recipes!
Easy Yellow Mediterranean Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 3 cups water or stock
- 1 Tbsp butter salted or unsalted
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro optional
Instructions
Stove Top Method-
- Add the water in a pot and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Once the water is boiling, add the rice, cinnamon stick, and seasonings to the water and stir to combine.1 cup basmati rice, 3 cups water, or stock, 1 cinnamon stick, ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper, ½ tsp garlic powder
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot with a lid slightly ajar, and let it gently simmer for about 13-15 minutes, or until the water is fully absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Remove from heat, take out the cinnamon stick then add butter and cilantro and fluff and mix to combine.1 Tbsp butter, salted or unsalted, 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, optional
- Serve immediately with favorite sides and dishes.
Baked Method-
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Add water, rice, cinnamon stick and seasonings to a casserole dish and stir to combine.
- Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake at 350°F for about 30-35 minutes, or until the water is fully absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Remove the dish from the oven, take out the cinnamon stick and add butter and cilantro to the rice, fluff and mix until combined.
- Let it sit for 5 minutes, then serve with your favorite sides and enjoy.
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