Whether you're looking to impress your dinner guests with a side dish that steals the spotlight or seeking an easy, flavorful weeknight meal, this yellow rice recipe has you covered.
This creamy, rich, and fluffy rice is perfect to serve on it's own or with a variety of different dishes.
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This Asian style yellow rice recipe is something that is sure to impress.
Yellow rice isn't confined to a particular season or setting. It's a dish that can add a touch of sunshine to your table throughout the year.
Whether you're planning a fall feast to welcome cooler weather, looking for a quick weeknight eat, or a summer soirée with friends, yellow rice adapts beautifully.
It's a delightful addition to any meal, anytime, anywhere.
Try garnishing it with toasted nuts for a satisfying crunch, fresh herbs for a burst of freshness, or pickled vegetables for a zesty kick.
The possibilities are endless, and these toppings can add a personalized twist to your yellow rice, making it uniquely yours.
What gives yellow rice its color?
Yellow rice gets its vibrant color primarily from turmeric, a bright yellow spice known for its earthy and warm flavor.
This aromatic and natural coloring agent not only adds a brilliant golden hue to the rice but also contributes to its unique, subtly spiced taste.
Best type of rice to use for yellow rice
For making yellow rice, the best type of rice to use is long-grain white rice, such as jasmine rice or basmati.
Its fluffy and separate grains work well with the yellow color and flavors typically added through ingredients like saffron, or turmeric.
How to serve Asian style yellow rice
Yellow rice is not only a flavorful main dish but can also be a versatile side.
It complements grilled proteins, works as a base for biryani, pairs with curries, enhances sushi rolls, forms a base for taco bowls, fills stuffed peppers, and complements Mediterranean mezze.
It's also perfect to serve in tapas-style dishes.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This recipe for yellow rice is easy to make.
- Whether paired with succulent meats or served alongside vegetarian dishes, yellow rice is a versatile companion that complements a wide range of main courses.
- Its vibrant golden color makes yellow rice a visual delight, adding a pop of sunshine to your plate.
- Enjoy this yellow rice as a side dish or as a main meal.
- Serve yellow rice at many different occasions, including weeknight dinners, pot lucks, Thanksgiving, or even Christmas.
- This recipe for yellow rice is gluten free, vegan friendly, and vegetarian.
Cost To Make
Estimated cost = $4.25, or $1.06 a serve
Ingredients
Please note that below is a guide for some of the ingredients we used in the recipe. The printable recipe further down the page has the complete list of ingredients, including quantities and step-by-step instructions.
- Vegetable Oil
- Brown Onion: Finely chopped
- Minced Garlic
- Jasmine Rice: You will need to rinse and drain the rice before cooking. Rinse the rice in room temperature water 2 - 3 times, until the water runs clear.
- Turmeric Powder: This is what gives the rice it's yellow color.
- Water
- Coconut Milk
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
This recipe for yellow rice serves 4. The ingredient quantities can easily be adjusted to suit how many serves you need to make.
Step One: In a medium sized saucepan heat the vegetable oil and then add the finely chopped brown onion.
Once soft and lightly brown, add the minced garlic, and rinsed and drained rice and saute for a further 2 to 3 minutes.
Step Two: Add the turmeric powder, water, coconut milk, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Step Three: Once at a boil, reduce the heat to low to bring the liquid to a simmer. Stir gently and then cover with a lid and cook covered for 20 minutes.
Once cooked turn off heat and allow rice to rest, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork or spoon, then serve.
Tips for Success
- Slightly over season the rice with salt because it will give better flavor to the rice.
Substitutions / Variations
Some delicious variations on this easy yellow rice recipe you might like to try include:
- Add some chicken pieces to your dish by cooking them with your onions for a chicken yellow rice.
- Mix through fresh herbs like coriander.
- Mix through some dried onions, or toasted chopped nuts like cashews or peanuts.
Serving Suggestions
Some ways you might like to serve this yellow rice include with:
- Warm naan bread,
- A vegetable stir fry,
- Grilled meats such as chicken or fish,
- Curry,
- Grilled vegetables, like zucchini, bell peppers, and asparagus.
- Freshly chopped herbs, like parsley
- Dried onions
- Boiled egg
Storage
This yellow rice can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
FAQ
This recipe for yellow rice is made of jasmine rice, brown onion, coconut milk, water, turmeric powder, garlic, salt and pepper.
Regular rice is plain, while yellow rice is seasoned with spices, including turmeric or saffron, which give it a vibrant color and a more complex flavor profile.
When making yellow rice, it is recommended to wash the rice before cooking. You do not need to wash yellow rice after cooking.
Stirring rice while it's cooking can release excess starch, leading to a gummy texture. It's best to let it simmer undisturbed for even, fluffy grains.
Stuck on ideas for your next meal? You just have to try these recipes for rice cooker, sides for red beans and rice, or even these sides for pork fried rice, Asian rice bowl recipes, ground turkey rice bowl recipes, pork Vietnamese spring rolls, jollof rice, and arborio rice recipes.
Maybe you are after a sweet treat instead? Try this chocolate boba, chocolate rice recipe, rice flakes porridge, nutella rice flakes porridge, or Okinawa milk tea recipe.
Want to learn more about recipes and rice? Learn how to cook rice noodles, if rice is gluten free, what are rice noodles, what is nigiri, nigiri vs sashimi, the types of sushi rolls, and how to season white rice.
Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below! We'd love to hear how it turned out.
Recipe
Yellow Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 small (120 grams, 4.23 ounces) brown onion finely chopped
- 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 cups (400 grams, 14.11 ounces) jasmine rice rinsed and drained
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 ½ cup (375 ml/grams, 12.43 ounces) water
- 1 ½ cup (375 ml/grams, 12.43 ounces) coconut milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
To garnish
- Dried onion
- Boiled eggs
- Lightly toasted almonds slivered or roughly chopped
Instructions
- In a medium sized saucepan heat the vegetable oil and then add the finely chopped brown onion. Once soft and lightly brown, add the minced garlic, and rinsed and drained rice and saute for a further 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the turmeric powder, water, coconut milk, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Once at a boil, reduce the heat to low to bring the liquid to a simmer. Stir gently and then cover with a lid and cook covered for 20 minutes. Once cooked turn off heat and allow rice to rest, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork or spoon, then serve.
Avery says
I tried making this yellow rice and it turned out beautifully. The turmeric gave it a gorgeous color and an aromatic flavor.
Emily says
Thanks for your feedback, Avery! I’m happy you found the yellow rice flavorful. It’s always nice to have a colorful dish.