This easy turmeric rice recipe is fluffy, fragrant, and made with simple pantry ingredients. Unlike many turmeric rice recipes that can turn out dry or bitter, this foolproof method produces perfectly cooked rice with a mild earthy flavour and vibrant golden colour every time. Serve it alongside curries, grilled chicken, fish, or roasted vegetables for an easy side dish that's ready in under 20 minutes. You might also like my homemade pilau rice recipe.
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Quick Summary - Simple Turmeric Rice Recipe
This is my go-to turmeric rice recipe whenever I want a quick and easy side dish. Made with simple pantry staples, it's packed with flavour and always comes out fluffy and fragrant.
- Beth (Effortless Foodie
🕒 Ready In: 19 minutes
👪 Serves: 4
🍽 Calories: 235
🥣 Main Ingredients: Basmati rice, turmeric, stock, bay leaf
📖 Dietary Info: Vegetarian
👌 Difficulty: Easy
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Turmeric rice is a simple rice side dish made by cooking rice with ground turmeric, which gives the grains their characteristic golden-yellow colour and subtle earthy flavour.
It is popular in Indian, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, and Southeast Asian cuisines and is often served alongside curries, grilled meats, and vegetable dishes.
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✔️ Why should you try it?
- Ready in 20 minutes
- Uses pantry staples
- Naturally vegan and gluten-free
- Freezer-friendly
- Fluffy, separate grains every time
- Mild flavour that pairs with almost anything
🛒 Key Ingredients
A full ingredients list along with Metric and US Customary measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Basmati Rice - Fragrant basmati rice gives the best fluffy texture, though long-grain white rice works well too.
- Turmeric - Adds the signature golden colour and a mild earthy flavour.
- Bay Leaf - Infuses the rice with subtle aromatic flavour as it cooks.
- Garlic Powder - Provides a gentle garlic flavour without overpowering the dish.
- Onion Salt - Optional, but adds extra savoury depth.
- Chicken Stock (Broth) - Gives the rice a richer flavour than water. Use vegetable stock (broth) to keep the recipe vegetarian.
- Sea Salt - Enhances all the flavours and seasons the rice perfectly.
Need to substitute an ingredient?
Have an allergy or dietary preference? Let AI customise the recipe for you.
📖 Variations
- Add a pinch of chilli powder for spicy turmeric rice.
- Stir in peas, sweetcorn, or diced vegetables for vegetable turmeric rice.
- Use coconut milk instead of stock for coconut turmeric rice.
- Add lemon zest and juice for lemon turmeric rice.
- Toast cumin seeds before cooking for an Indian-style version.
- Top with nuts and raisins for extra sweetness and crunch. Garnish with chopped coriander (cilantro) before serving.
🔪 How to make turmeric rice
- Rinse the rice in cold water (place it in a sieve over the sink to do this) then put the rice in a large saucepan with turmeric, garlic powder, onion salt (if using), and the bay leaf.
- Place on the hob and pour in the chicken stock. Bring to a boil.
- Immediately turn down the heat to low and place a lid on the saucepan.
- Cook for 12-14 minutes until the stock has been absorbed. Fluff the grains up with a fork, season with salt and serve!
Top Tips
- Rinse the rice before cooking to remove excess starch and help keep the grains light and fluffy.
- If you want a richer flavour, toast the rice in a little oil or butter before adding the stock, then finish with a knob of butter before serving.
- Use a heavy-based saucepan with a tight-fitting lid to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.
- Don't lift the lid while the rice is cooking, as this releases the steam needed for perfectly cooked rice.
- Let the rice rest for 5 minutes after cooking, then fluff with a fork to separate the grains and absorb any remaining moisture.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste and add extra salt or spices if desired.
- For a lighter version, use water instead of stock (broth), though the flavour will be less rich.
🍴 Serving suggestions
Turmeric rice is a great side dish for curries such as lamb balti, mild chicken curry, chickpea and spinach curry, and beef keema.
It also goes well with grilled meat, chicken (especially air fryer chicken breast), fish (like air fryer salmon), and vegetables.
Storage
Store: Rice can grow harmful bacteria if left at room temperature for too long, so cool any leftovers quickly and transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Reheat: Reheat thoroughly until piping hot throughout. Add a splash of water before reheating to help prevent the rice from drying out. Do not reheat more than once.
Freeze: Allow the rice to cool completely, then freeze in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating, or reheat straight from frozen in the microwave until piping hot.
❓ Easy Turmeric Rice FAQs
Turmeric is a spice that comes from the turmeric plant. It is commonly used in Indian food such as curries. It's one of the main spices in curry powder and has a warm, bitter taste and bright yellow colour.
Turmeric has an earthy bitter taste and is popular in Asian cuisine. It is considered mildly aromatic rather than spicy.
You can use brown rice instead of basmati rice, but the cooking time will be longer, and the texture will be different. Brown rice is also more nutritious than white rice and has a nuttier flavour.
Yes, you can make turmeric rice in a rice cooker. Simply add the rice, turmeric, bay leaf, garlic powder, onion salt, chicken stock, and sea salt to the rice cooker and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Troubleshooting Guide
Why is my turmeric rice bitter?
Too much turmeric can make the rice taste bitter. Stick to the recipe measurements for the best flavour.
Why is my turmeric rice sticky?
The rice may not have been rinsed before cooking. Rinsing removes excess starch and helps keep the grains separate.
Why is my rice undercooked?
It may need a little more liquid or cooking time. Keep the lid on and cook gently until the liquid has been absorbed.
Why is my rice mushy?
Too much liquid or overcooking can make the rice soft and mushy. Measure the rice and stock carefully for the best texture.
Tried it? Let me know what you think and rate it ⭐️ below. Tag me @effortlessf00d-I'd love to see! Don't forget to subscribe for more recipes.
Recipe
Easy Turmeric Rice
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Ingredients
- 200 g Basmati Rice
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric
- 1 Bay Leaf
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Onion Salt optional
- 550 ml Chicken Stock (Broth) or use vegetable stock
- ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
Instructions
- Rinse the rice in cold water (place it in a sieve over the sink to do this) then put the rice in a large lidded saucepan with turmeric, garlic powder, onion salt (if using), and the bay leaf.200 g Basmati Rice, 1 teaspoon Turmeric, 1 Bay Leaf, ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder, ¼ teaspoon Onion Salt
- Place on the hob and pour in the chicken stock. Bring to a boil.550 ml Chicken Stock (Broth)
- Immediately turn down the heat to low and place a lid on the saucepan.
- Cook for 12-14 minutes until the water has been absorbed. Leave to stand for 5 minutes, then fluff the grains up with a fork, season with salt, and serve.½ teaspoon Sea Salt
Notes
- Rinsing the rice before cooking helps remove excess starch and keeps the grains fluffy and separate.
- For a richer flavour, toast the rice in a little oil or butter before adding the stock, then finish with a knob of butter before serving.
- Don't lift the lid while the rice is cooking, as this allows steam to escape and can affect the texture.
- Let the rice rest for 5 minutes after cooking before fluffing with a fork.
- Vegetable stock (broth) can be used instead of chicken stock to make the recipe vegetarian.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Toni says
Such an amazing side dish! Everyone at my house loved it!
Beth says
This is perfect to go with our dinner tonight! So excited to make this. Looks so yummy and easy too!
Jen says
The bright yellow color of this rice is so pretty when it's done! I love it with coriander on top.
Alisa Infanti says
This rice is so easy and has great flavour. Plus I love the pop of colour. Definitely making again.
Jess says
Less than 20 minutes to enjoy this yummy side dish?! Yes please!