This Mediterranean rice takes white simple ol’ rice and turns it into one thing value writing house about. Cooked in savory inventory and loaded with heat, toasted spices, dried culmination and nuts, and notes of sautéed garlic and onion, it’s the easiest testomony to the area’s flavorful delicacies.

Simple and Flavorful Mediterranean Rice Recipe

Rice is a horny common staple. Italian risotto, Spanish paella, Indian biryani, Macedonian lemon rice, West African jollof. There’s such a lot you’ll be able to do with this apparently simple, delicate, white grain to show it into one thing unusual, however this Mediterranean rice is one in all my favorites. Infused with a myriad of spices and heaps of textures, it delights the senses from the instant you odor it, to the instant you savor that closing chunk. Heat notes of toasted cinnamon, turmeric, and cumin mix effectively with garlic, onion, and broth. The rice is toasted relatively, 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 easiest trace of sweetness.

Should you’ve been caught on simple and easy white rice cooked in water (possibly inventory on a just right day), it’s time to damage from your rut. Do this scrumptious, unusually easy-to-make Mediterranean rice dish, and also you gained’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 is going to this point past your conventional rice dish.
• A laugh textures. I like the crunch that the toasted almonds convey to this yellow rice dish, in conjunction with the cushy bite of the apricots and currants.
• Visible enchantment. The turmeric turns this flavorful rice dish right into a deep, earthy orange this is deliciously inviting.
• Well being kick. The turmeric additionally delivers a hefty punch of anti inflammatory goodness.

Mediterranean Rice Components

• Rice: You’ll want long-grained white rice right here. I used jasmine rice, however basmati would paintings fantastically as smartly. You must use brown rice as a substitute, simply observe that it is going to want extra time to prepare dinner.
• Olive oil & Butter: For sauteeing the greens, seasonings, and rice.
• Onion & Garlic
• Salt & Pepper
• Spices: Turmeric, Cumin, Cinnamon.
• Hen or vegetable inventory
• White wine: You’ll skip the wine should you’d like and use extra inventory as a substitute.
• Currants: Raisins would additionally do the trick.
• Dried Apricots
• Slivered Almonds: You’ll 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 should you’re brief on time, pass forward and purchase pre-toasted slivered almonds.

The way to Make Mediterranean Rice

Right here’s a snappy rundown of learn how to make Mediterranean rice. For extra thorough directions, scroll to the recipe card beneath.

1. Rinse the rice. Rinse the rice smartly underneath chilly water the usage of a wonderful mesh strainer.
2. Sauté the veggies. Season and saute the onions within the butter and olive oil over medium-high warmth. As soon as translucent, upload the garlic and sauté till aromatic.
3. Toast the spices. Stir the turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, and pepper into the sauteed veggies and prepare dinner for a minute or so, stirring frequently.
4. Toast the rice. Upload the rinsed rice to the pan and prepare dinner for 1 to two mins, stirring frequently.
5. Deglaze the pan. Pour the white wine into the pan and let it evaporate. Stir within the inventory.
6. Cook dinner the rice. Carry the combination to a boil after which cut back the warmth to low. Duvet the pan, and prepare dinner for quarter-hour.
7. Toast the almonds. Toast the almonds over medium warmth.
8. Put all of it in combination. Fluff the rice with a fork and fold within the currants, dried apricots, and toasted almonds.

Pointers & Permutations

Flawlessly execute this Mediterranean rice recipe by way of following those easy pointers and tips. I even threw in some a laugh diversifications you’ll be able to attempt to personalize for your style personal tastes.

• Don’t overlook to rinse the rice. Rinsing rice gets rid of extra starch, which will lead the rice to clump and transform gummy when cooked.
• Toast your spices. Toasting spices intensifies their style and aroma and decreases uncooked, sour notes, making a deeply flavorful style.
• Toast the rice. Whilst you’ll be able to 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. Believe making your personal vegetable or hen broth. Selfmade broth elevates the entire style of this rice and lets you keep watch over the seasoning.
• Fluff the rice. It’s necessary to provide the rice a pleasing fluff with a fork as soon as it’s finished cooking. This may increasingly lend a hand stay it from clumping.
• Experiment with spices. I used cumin, turmeric, and cinnamon, however be happy so as to add some paprika for a bit spice or perhaps a little bit of saffron should you’re feeling fancy.
• Upload veggies. Cut up some bell peppers and saute them with the onions and/or throw in some chopped Oven Roasted Asparagus or Sautéed Garlic Broccolini prior to serving.
• Take a look at other culmination and nuts. Believe the usage of raisins or cranberries instead of currants, or pine nuts as a substitute of almonds.
• Upload contemporary herbs. I like including a bit contemporary parsley (or cilantro, if I’m within the temper) to my Mediterranean rice. The intense colour and taste in point of fact take it excessive.

What to Serve with Mediterranean Rice

The way to Retailer & Reheat Leftovers

• Fridge. Permit the rice to chill to room temperature prior to sealing it in an hermetic container. Retailer it within the refrigerator for as much as 5 days.
• Freezer. As soon as the rice has cooled totally, seal it in a freezer-safe hermetic container and retailer it within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Permit it to thaw within the refrigerator prior to reheating.
• To reheat. Warmth a dash of olive oil in a skillet over medium warmth and upload the rice. Saute till heated via. However, pop your leftovers within the microwave. Warmth at 30-second durations till heated via.

Extra Mediterranean Recipes To Take a look at

Searching for extra distinctive, flavorful Mediterranean recipes to get you from your culinary rut? Listed below are a few of my different absolute favorites.