Fluffy, flavorful, and fabulous, Vegetable Rice Pilaf is the ultimate comfort food alongside any protein of choice that all your family members love.
Packed with bright Mediterranean flavors and spices, this side dish is perfect for any dinner. It’s so good that you’ll be eating it straight from the pot!
Delicious Flavors and Vibrant Colors
What is Rice Pilaf?
Rice pilaf is a seasoned rice dish that is cooked with a cooking liquid, like water or broth, and with additions like vegetables or meat.
Chefs all over the world have created many versions of this versatile dish with varying ingredients. Each country has a showy gourmet rice pilaf version with different delicious serving suggestions.
Here’s my best rice pilaf recipe with simple steps and ingredients that I’m excited to share with you.
Best Ways to Enjoy Vegetable Rice Pilaf
Do you love chicken rice pilaf? Enjoy your rice pilaf dish with roasted chicken thighs, roasted turkey, or Restaurant Style Butter Chicken. A satisfying complete meal 😋!
If you are looking for a dining table with Middle Eastern flavors? Serve homemade rice pilaf with Middle Eastern Chicken Shawarma and enjoy this Middle Eastern food!
Seafood like salmon and shrimp go well with this rice dish. You can also pair vegetable rice pilaf with beef steak.
Balance out the savory flavor of the rice pilaf dish with a hint of sweetness by adding golden raisins on top before serving. For a satisfying crunch of the pilaf, top it with toasted cashews and almonds.
This vegetable rice pilaf is incredibly hearty with green salads! Tabouli and Fattoush are the most popular Middle Eastern salads to pair with pilaf. But go wild with your choice of salad!
You can also serve it with yogurt. Salty yogurt known as Ayran is a delectable refreshing drink to enjoy with rice pilaf.
So Flavorful and Delightful!
Pro Tips
Adjust the water ratio to the rice quantity. Don’t add more or less water, so your rice dish becomes either mushy or too dried.
Every rice brand has its appropriate water ratio to add. Also, cooking time varies from one brand to another, you can find the correct info on the rice bag.
Depending on the bullion powder, cube, or liquid you use, you’ll need to taste the broth once you mix the spices in since bullion or products differ in saltiness.
During cooking, don’t uncover or stir the rice, especially after the rice starts simmering. Otherwise, the steam will escape and your rice pilaf won’t cook properly.
Vegetable rice pilaf is so versatile! You can add your preferable veggies to this rice pilaf recipe. For example, you can add peas, mushrooms, tomatoes, etc. Any other suggestions? Share them in the comments section below!
Once the rice has finished, let it rest covered for 5-10 minutes. After that, fluff it up gently with a wooden spoon without squishing the rice. Keep the rice pilaf covered until you are ready to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
For best results, it is better to use long grain white rice. However, any regular basmati rice or brown rice can be used to make this easy rice pilaf recipe.
For sure, you can. In case you use chicken broth, you can omit using bouillon powder.
Your Basmati rice pilaf turns out mushy when it absorbs too much liquid. Use the appropriate water or chicken stock ratio for the rice quantity you use.
Store vegetable rice pilaf leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
You can reheat rice pilaf leftover rice in the microwave or on the stovetop. If you want to enjoy it soft and fluffy, then add a splash of water or broth and stir occasionally.
Yes, for sure! Vegetable rice pilaf freezes well for about 3 months. Let it cool completely at room temperature before freezing. When you’re ready to serve, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
Shines with Bright Colors!
Vegetable Rice Pilaf Ingredients
To make this Middle Eastern rice pilaf recipe, you will need the following simple ingredients:
Basmati rice: I used Sela basmati rice in this easy rice pilaf recipe. You can also make it using any other regular basmati but cook time will vary.
Oil: Use any oil of your choice to sauté the different vegetables you need to make this rice pilaf recipe.
Onions and cloves of garlic: They add aromatics to the dish!
Bell pepper: Diced green bell pepper adds a savory umami flavor!
Carrots: Shredded carrots taste amazing and give a nice light orange color to the vegetable rice pilaf.
Corn: It will add a pop of color and texture to the rice dish! You can either use canned or frozen corn. make sure to deforest frozen corn before adding them to the pot.
Spices: This Mediterranean rice pilaf recipe requires the following spices: paprika, coriander powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and bouillon powder. A burst of flavors!
Salt: to taste
Hot water
Check the recipe card for quantities.
Steps to Prep
First, wash the rice in cold water until the water runs clear, then soak it in cold water for 20-30 minutes. Once done, drain.
Then, add oil to a pot and let it heat up on medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté until translucent (clear-ish).
Once done, add the corn, bell pepper, and garlic and sauté until fragrant.
Now, add the shredded carrots and sauté on medium-high heat until all veggies are soft.
After that, add the drained rice and the spices, and mix everything together well.
Next, add the hot water and mix, then taste the broth now for salt. Let it boil on high for 5 minutes, then cover and let it simmer on low for 5-20 minutes.
Finally, top your pilaf dish with toasted almonds and parsley. Serve and enjoy!
How Awesome is This!
Must-Try Recipes:
Traditional Palestinian Musakhan Recipe
If you’ve tried this recipe, don’t forget to rate it and leave a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience. You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Easy Vegetable Rice Pilaf
Ingredients
- 1 cup Sela basmati rice or regular basmati
- 2 tablespoons oil of choice
- 1 small yellow onion finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves finely minced
- 1 green bell pepper diced small
- ¾ cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup frozen or canned corn drained
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoon bullion powder
- 1½ teaspoon coriander powder
- Salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2¼ cup hot water
Instructions
- Wash the rice in cold water until the water runs clear, then soak it in cold water for 20-30 minutes. Once done, drain.
- Add oil to a pot and let it heat up on medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté until translucent (clear-ish).
- Add the corn, bell pepper, and garlic and sauté until fragrant.
- Add the shredded carrots and sauté on medium-high heat until all veggies are soft.
- Add the drained rice and the spices, and mix everything together well.
- Add the hot water and mix, then taste the broth now for salt. Let it boil on high for 5 minutes, then cover and let it simmer on low for 5-20 minutes.
- Top your pilaf dish with toasted almonds and parsley. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Depending on the bullion powder you use, you’ll need to taste the broth once you mix the spices in since bullion powders differ in saltiness.
- During cooking the rice, don’t uncover or stir it especially after the rice starts simmering. Otherwise, the steam will escape and your rice pilaf won’t cook properly.
- Once the rice has finished, let it rest covered for 5-10 minutes. After that, fluff it up gently with a wooden spoon without squishing the rice. Keep the rice pilaf covered until you are ready to serve.
Amazing recipe. Made this last night and we loved it! Very flavorful.
Really delicious, simply, comforting and addicting rice recipe. Tried it today and it was amazing… it’s really perfect to be used with mishaweee (bbq style food!) 😋 or with anything really. Must try recipe !