What is turmeric rice?
Turmeric rice is an everyday staple in many cuisines, including Mediterranean, Filipino, Indonesian, and Indian. It’s also known as yellow rice in many cuisines for its bright hue. For example, in the Philippines, it is sometimes called Java rice or Java yellow rice. Depending on the cuisine, the coloring is also a product of saffron or annatto too. This turmeric rice recipe is influenced by Indian yellow rice with a base of basmati rice and includes a bevy of seasonings and spices:
Turmeric powder adds so many things to this recipe beyond its bright hue. This antioxidant spice offers a warm, earthy flavor and is full of anti-inflammatory properties. A collection of spices like cumin powder, cinnamon powder, cloves, and bay leaf complement the turmeric powder and basmati rice. These seasonings add a slightly sweet, nutty, and spice-filled aroma. You can also add other spices you have at home, like curry, chili pepper, and fennel. Aromatics like yellow onion, garlic, and freshly grated ginger give the rice a fragrant flavor and deepen its savory profile.
The first step in making this rice is to bloom all the dried spices in ghee (or another alternative fat like oil) for more intense flavors. This basmati turmeric rice uses vegetable stock instead of water to add flavor. However, you can also use chicken or beef stock if you prefer.
Methods to cook turmeric rice
While you can definitely cook basmati rice in a rice cooker or Instant Pot, I prefer cooking basmati rice on the stove because you can saute the seasonings before cooking and have more control over cooking. Making turmeric rice over the stove is also more accessible to some people who don’t want to buy additional appliances.
What to serve with turmeric rice
If you ask me, I could eat turmeric rice by itself because it’s so flavorful, but it’s also the perfect side dish. This turmeric rice pairs so well with chicken kebabs, butter chicken, veggie kebabs, and naan.
Can you make it ahead of time or reheat it?
Turmeric rice is perfect for meal prepping for the week! Studies show that refrigerating rice lowers its glycemic index, which means it doesn’t spike up your blood sugar as much as fresh rice. Basmati rice is also on the lower end of spiking your blood sugar compared to other types of white rice, like short-grain. So that means it’s a good choice for meal prepping. It’s a good option as a carb for meal prepping with other proteins like air fryer chicken thighs, air fryer salmon bites, and sauteed green beans with garlic.
