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Why you’ll love this recipe

• Easy to make
• Healthy, tasty, and filling
• One-pot recipe
• Budget-friendly
• Ideal side dish 
• Vegan-friendly

How to make Mediterranean Yellow Rice (in under 30 minutes!)

Step 1 – Saute onions, garlic, and spices

• In a medium-sized pot on high heat, add the olive oil, and once hot, add the diced onion. 
• Saute the onions until golden. Add the garlic, herbs, and spices and mix well. Reduce heat to medium. 

Step 2 – Add Rice and nuts/seeds

• Add the rice and mix well, continue to stir until the rice becomes covered in oil and spices and slightly translucent. Mix in the nuts or seeds. 
• Add the water and bring it to a simmer. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and allow the rice to simmer until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender (about 10-12 minutes). 

Step 3 – Steam rice, season, and serve

• Remove the pot from the heat and remove the lid. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow to steam for 5 minutes.
• Right before serving, give the rice a good squeeze of lemon juice, add some freshly chopped parsley, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Meal prep and storage

Mediterranean yellow rice is a perfect recipe for meal prepping in big batches. The recipe is super easy to make and can be easily scaled up for big-batch cooking. One thing to note is to make sure you have a pot big enough. 

An 8-10 inch (20-25cm) diameter pot is ideal for cooking up to 6 cups of rice in one batch. If you are planning to make bigger batches, use a larger pot, say around 12-16 inches (30-40cm). 

Once you’ve made your yellow rice, it’ll keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. This recipe can also be frozen and will keep up to three months when frozen in an airtight container. 

To reheat yellow rice from frozen, simply add around ½ cup of water and reheat your rice in a microwave-safe bowl.

Storage tip:

Use reusable zip lock bags and freeze 1-2 portions of rice in one bag. It will thaw faster and be a convenient size for serving as an easy snack or side.

Mediterranean brown rice

Yep, that’s right, brown rice is an easy and healthy substitute for long-grain rice and can be adapted to this recipe will minimal fuss. The water/rice ratio is slightly different when using brown rice. 

For every cup of brown rice, use 2 cups of water. Cooking time will also be slightly longer so allow a few extra minutes for the rice to properly cook and steam. 

Brown Rice/Water ratio = 1 cup rice/2 cups water

Boost this recipe to become a healthy main meal

If you’re looking to add a few ingredients to boost this recipe to become a filling and healthy main meal, we got you! Here are a few suggestions on how to stretch your Mediterranean yellow rice with a few simple ingredients. 

Chickpeas – A classic ingredient from the Mediterranean. Chickpeas will add an earthy dense flavor to your yellow rice recipe. Simply add them once the rice is cooked, mix, and serve. Chickpeas are super healthy, loaded with plant-based protein, plus they’re super cheap keeping this recipe budget-friendly. 

Roasted pumpkin/squash – Roasted pumpkin and/or squash are a great way to add some color and flavor to your yellow rice recipe. Simply cube your pumpkin into 1-inch pieces, season with your choice of spices (sweet, hot, or smoky paprika work well), and roast for 35-45 minutes. 

Tinned Tuna – For a non-vegan option, add a tin of tuna (or other tinned fish) to your yellow rice and you’ve got yourself a meal. Always try to purchase tuna with extra virgin olive oil for the healthiest option.

Main meal recipe ideas to go with Mediterranean yellow rice

• Roasted fish (pescado al horno)
• Pollo al Horno (roast chicken with sherry)
• Spanish garlic zucchinis
• Spanish-Style Vegetarian Meatballs

Nutrition facts

Can I cook rice in the microwave? 

Yes. Use a microwave-safe bowl and add around ¾ an inch of water above the level of the rice. Microwave on high for 5 minutes, add spices, stir, and microwave again for another 5 minutes. Add the cooked onion and garlic and mix well. Microwave on high for another 2-3 minutes. 

What is Mediterranean rice made of?

Long-grain rice, onion, garlic, olive oil, and a few herbs and spices: turmeric, ground cumin, rosemary and/or thyme. 

What kind of rice is eaten in the Mediterranean?

This depends on where you are in the Mediterranean. Long-grain rice is plentiful and available in all areas of the Mediterranean. In Spain, Valencian Bomba rice is common and found in many rice dishes. 

Is yellow rice the same as saffron rice?

Saffron is used to give Saffron rice its coloring and subtle flavor. Mediterranean yellow rice uses turmeric or a combination of turmeric and saffron. 

What makes yellow rice different from white rice?

Spices such as turmeric or saffron are used for coloring the rice to a distinctive yellow color. White rice is plain with no spices added. 

Can you use brown rice for this recipe?

Yep, you sure can! Using the same ratio of rice (1.5 cups), you will need to add an extra half a cup of water and allow a few extra minutes for the rice to be cooked.