Description
Fragrant garlic turmeric rice brings warm spices and golden color to dinner tables across Persian cuisine. Hearty grains infused with earthy turmeric and roasted garlic invite home cooks to explore rich Middle Eastern flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (370 grams) basmati rice or any long-grain rice, rinsed and drained
- 3 cups (710 milliliters) chicken stock or vegetable stock
- 2 tbsps (30 milliliters) unsalted butter or ghee
- 1 medium onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp salt or to taste
- 1–2 tbsps (15–30 milliliters) fresh lemon juice
- fresh parsley or cilantro leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté Foundation: Melt butter or ghee in a medium saucepan, caramelizing diced onions until they transform into a golden, translucent state with rich depth of flavor.
- Aromatic Infusion: Introduce minced garlic, allowing its pungent essence to permeate the pan and create a robust base, then dust turmeric powder across the mixture to generate a vibrant yellow canvas.
- Rice Preparation: Fold rice grains into the spiced mixture, gently toasting them to unlock a nutty complexity while ensuring even coating and preventing potential sticking.
- Liquid Integration: Stream vegetable or chicken stock into the pan, seasoning with salt and freshly cracked pepper to amplify the taste profile, then escalate heat to trigger a vigorous boil.
- Simmering Technique: Immediately reduce heat to its lowest setting, seal the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, and allow rice to gently simmer for 15-18 minutes, enabling complete liquid absorption and grain tenderness.
- Resting and Finishing: Remove from heat, preserve covered for an additional 5 minutes to stabilize texture, then delicately fluff with a fork to create airy, separated grains.
- Garnish and Serve: Enhance with a zesty lemon juice drizzle and scatter fresh parsley or cilantro leaves, presenting immediately to capture peak flavor and temperature.
Notes
- Prevent Burning: Keep heat low and stir ingredients frequently to avoid scorching onions, garlic, and rice during toasting.
- Liquid Ratio Matters: Use precise stock measurements matching rice volume for perfectly cooked, fluffy grains without mushiness.
- Spice Distribution Technique: Thoroughly mix turmeric throughout ingredients to ensure even color and balanced flavor in every bite.
- Resting Ritual: Allow rice to sit covered after cooking, enabling steam to redistribute and grains to achieve optimal tenderness and separation.
- Prep Time: 10min
- Cook Time: 25min
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg