Savory rice with vegetables (Printable)

Fragrant rice tossed with tender vegetables and aromatic spices, ideal as main or side.

# What You Need:

→ Rice

01 - 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
02 - 3 cups vegetable broth

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 medium carrot, diced
06 - 1 cup frozen peas

→ Aromatics & Spices

07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

→ Oils & Finishing

13 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
15 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear, then drain thoroughly.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and carrot, sautéing for 4 to 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Incorporate garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric, black pepper, and salt. Cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
04 - Add the rinsed rice to the skillet, stirring to coat evenly with the oil and spices.
05 - Pour in vegetable broth and bring mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
06 - Stir in frozen peas, cover, and cook for an additional 5 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
07 - Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
08 - Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 45 minutes, which means you can have a restaurant-quality dinner on the table on a weeknight without the stress.
  • Every single grain gets infused with those warm, earthy spices, so there's no such thing as a bland bite in this dish.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, but hearty enough to satisfy anyone at your table, meat-eater or not.
02 -
  • Rinsing the rice is absolutely essential. I made this dish without rinsing once, and the result was starchy and clumpy instead of light and fluffy. That one mistake taught me it's worth the two extra minutes.
  • The blooming of spices in oil is what transforms this from plain rice into something people will ask you about. Don't skip this step or rush it, because it's where all the flavor development happens.
  • Resist the urge to peek under the lid constantly. Every time you lift it, you let steam escape and you disrupt the gentle cooking process. Trust the timer.
03 -
  • Toast your dried spices in the oil for one full minute. That fragrance you smell means the essential oils are activating, and that's when all the flavor magic happens. This single step is what makes the difference between good rice and unforgettable rice.
  • Use the best vegetable broth you can find or even make your own. The rice will taste exactly like the broth you use, so if you use a lackluster broth, you'll get a lackluster result. This is one place where quality truly matters.

Return