Mediterranean Rice | Diethood

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

Simple and Flavorful Mediterranean Rice Recipe

Rice is a reasonably common staple. Italian risotto, Spanish paella, Indian biryani, Macedonian lemon rice, West African jollof. There may be a lot you are able to do with this seemingly plain, gentle, white grain to show it into one thing extraordinary, however this Mediterranean rice is one among my favorites. Infused with a myriad of spices and tons of textures, it delights the senses from the second you odor it, to the second you savor that final chunk. Heat notes of toasted cinnamon, turmeric, and cumin mix properly with garlic, onion, and broth. The rice is toasted barely, 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 right trace of sweetness.

For those who’ve been caught on plain and easy white rice cooked in water (perhaps inventory on a superb day), it’s time to interrupt out of your rut. Do that scrumptious, surprisingly easy-to-make Mediterranean rice dish, and also you received’t be sorry that you just 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 goes to this point past your typical rice dish.
• Enjoyable textures. I really like the crunch that the toasted almonds carry to this yellow rice dish, together with the delicate chew of the apricots and currants.
• Visible enchantment. The turmeric turns this flavorful rice dish right into a deep, earthy orange that’s deliciously inviting.
• Well being kick. The turmeric additionally delivers a hefty punch of anti-inflammatory goodness.

Mediterranean Rice Substances

• Rice: You’ll want long-grained white rice right here. I used jasmine rice, however basmati would work fantastically as nicely. You might use brown rice as an alternative, simply observe that it’ll 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 may skip the wine when you’d like and use extra inventory as an alternative.
• Currants: Raisins would additionally do the trick.
• Dried Apricots
• Slivered Almonds: You should purchase them slivered or simply slice your individual. I like to recommend buying uncooked almonds because the recipe has you toast them your self, however when you’re brief on time, go forward and purchase pre-toasted slivered almonds.

How one can Make Mediterranean Rice

Right here’s a fast rundown of make Mediterranean rice. For extra thorough directions, scroll to the recipe card under.

1. Rinse the rice. Rinse the rice nicely beneath chilly water utilizing a fine 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, add 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 repeatedly.
4. Toast the rice. Add the rinsed rice to the pan and prepare dinner for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring repeatedly.
5. Deglaze the pan. Pour the white wine into the pan and let it evaporate. Stir within the inventory.
6. Prepare dinner the rice. Carry the combination to a boil after which cut back the warmth to low. Cowl the pan, and prepare dinner for quarter-hour.
7. Toast the almonds. Toast the almonds over medium warmth.
8. Put all of it collectively. Fluff the rice with a fork and fold within the currants, dried apricots, and toasted almonds.

Suggestions & Variations

Flawlessly execute this Mediterranean rice recipe by following these easy suggestions and tips. I even threw in some enjoyable variations you’ll be able to attempt to personalize to your style preferences.

• Don’t neglect to rinse the rice. Rinsing rice removes extra starch, which may lead the rice to clump and turn out to be gummy when cooked.
• Toast your spices. Toasting spices intensifies their style and aroma and reduces uncooked, bitter notes, making a deeply flavorful style.
• Toast the rice. Whilst you can technically do with out it, you shouldn’t skip this step. Toasting the rice provides a nutty taste to the dish.
• Go for selfmade broth. Take into account making your individual vegetable or rooster broth. Home made broth elevates the general style of this rice and means that you can management the seasoning.
• Fluff the rice. It’s vital to offer the rice a pleasant fluff with a fork as soon as it’s accomplished cooking. It will assist hold it from clumping.
• Experiment with spices. I used cumin, turmeric, and cinnamon, however be at liberty so as to add some paprika for just a little spice or perhaps a little bit of saffron when you’re feeling fancy.
• Add veggies. Chop up some bell peppers and saute them with the onions and/or throw in some chopped Oven Roasted Asparagus or Sautéed Garlic Broccolini earlier than serving.
• Strive totally different fruits and nuts. Think about using raisins or cranberries instead of currants, or pine nuts as an alternative of almonds.
• Add contemporary herbs. I really like including just a little contemporary parsley (or cilantro, if I’m within the temper) to my Mediterranean rice. The brilliant coloration and taste actually take it excessive.

What to Serve with Mediterranean Rice

How one can Retailer & Reheat Leftovers

• Fridge. Enable the rice to chill to room temperature earlier than sealing it in an hermetic container. Retailer it within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
• Freezer. As soon as the rice has cooled fully, seal it in a freezer-safe airtight container and retailer it within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Enable it to thaw within the fridge earlier than reheating.
• To reheat. Warmth a splash of olive oil in a skillet over medium warmth and add the rice. Saute till heated by way of. Alternatively, pop your leftovers within the microwave. Warmth at 30-second intervals till heated by way of.

Extra Mediterranean Recipes To Strive

In search of extra distinctive, flavorful Mediterranean recipes to get you out of your culinary rut? Listed here are a few of my different absolute favorites.