This easy rice pilaf recipe made with fluffy basmati rice and tossed with peas, carrots, warm spices, and aromatics is a delicious way to take plain ol’ rice to the next level! Even better finished with some toasted nuts and dried fruit.
Rice and peas, Middle Eastern style
Middle Eastern home cooks have a knack for playing up your basic rice and turning it into a celebratory dish. There are many rice pilaf dishes from simple rice and vermicelli to hashweh rice adorned with seasoned beef, to this rice and peas dish (entirely different from Jamaican rice and peas, however).
There are as many variations of this rice pilaf as there are cooks. The most basic recipe would include rice, cooked with peas, carrots, and onions that have been sauteed in olive oil.
My recipe steps it up just a couple notches with the addition of warm spices—including turmeric, which is responsible for its golden hue—along with toasted nuts and a handful of dried raisins for crunch and a hint of sweetness.
What is rice pilaf made of?
Various types of rice pilaf are enjoyed all over the world: from south Asia, to the Middle East, to east Africa, to the Caribbean, and beyond! But no matter the variations, rice pilaf usually consists of a few key ingredients: rice, aromatics, broth or water, and seasonings.
The beauty of working with a blank canvas of white rice is that you can add basically whatever other ingredients you want, like lentils, vermicelli, meat, and vegetables! This version of Middle Eastern rice pilaf includes peas and carrots, onions, warm spices, toasted nuts, and chopped dried fruit.
Ingredients for this recipe
This rice pilaf recipe is made with humble ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Basmati rice
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Yellow onion, finely chopped
- Minced garlic
- Frozen peas
- Carrots, peeled and chopped
- Ground coriander
- Paprika
- Aleppo pepper
- Ground turmeric
- Toasted nuts: I used halved walnuts, pine nuts, and slivered almonds
- Dried fruit: I used raisins. Chopped apricots would be delicious, too!
The best rice to use for this Middle Eastern rice recipe
For this recipe, I recommend using a long grain rice such as basmati rice. Basmati rice is easy to prepare and produces fluffy, never sticky results if you follow just a few simple tips including rinsing it well (check out my earlier no-fail basmati rice tutorial).
But, if you don’t have basmati rice, or you don’t like the flavor, there are plenty of substitutions you could make! Brown rice, long grain white rice, or jasmine rice would work well in this recipe. Keep in mind that different kinds of rice cook at different speeds and require different amounts of liquid.
- Brown rice would taste good here, but it requires more prep. Start by soaking it in water for about one hour or until you can easily break the grain between your thumb and index finger. And check package instructions for additional details on amount of liquid and cooking time. Typically, you’ll use 1 cup brown rice to 2 cups of water, and it takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 45 minutes to cook, but soaking ahead may reduce the amount of cooking time.
- White rice will require soaking in water for about 20 to 30 minutes, then you’ll cook it in the water for a good 20 minutes or so. My earlier rice and vermicelli recipe details how to cook white rice.
- Jasmine rice is, like basmati rice, very aromatic, but it tends to get very soft and clumpy when cooking. If you don’t mind this softer texture, jasmine rice would be a good basmati rice substitute.
How to make this rice pilaf (step-by-step)
With just a little prep, you can have this fragrant Middle Eastern rice pilaf ready in no time! Here’s how you make it (printer-friendly version below):
- Wash and soak the rice. Now when I say wash the basmati rice, I’m not talking about a quick swish in some water. Wash and drain 2 cups of rice a few times until the water runs clear. This is really important to avoid mushy, gluey rice. Try to drain most of the washing water and add fresh water to soak it in. Let the rice soak for about 10 minutes.
- Sauté aromatics and vegetables. While the rice is soaking, heat extra virgin olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pan with a lid, and add 1 finely chopped yellow onion and 2 cloves minced garlic. After 3 to 5 minutes, the onion should have softened. Throw in 1 cup of frozen peas and 2 to 3 carrots that have been peeled and chopped. Season with kosher salt and your spices. Cook until the carrots have softened, which should take about 5 minutes.
Add and cook the rice. After draining the rice, add it to the pan and toss to coat in the spices. Pour in water and season with kosher salt. You could use broth here, but I wanted to keep this as simple as possible. Bring to a boil, and then turn the heat to low. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the rice is cooked through and has absorbed all the liquid. There should be no excess liquid in the pan. - Allow the rice to rest before serving. Let the rice pilaf sit, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. The steam will soften the rice further. Then, fluff up the rice gently with a fork, top with ¾ cup toasted nuts and ¼ cup dried fruit, and serve!
Serve it with
The beauty of this simple Middle Eastern rice is that it pairs well with many things. I like to serve rice pilaf with lamb kabobs or baked chicken thighs, beef short ribs, or vegetable kabobs.
Leftover and storage tips
Wait for the rice to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Rice pilaf makes excellent leftovers! Simply reheat it in the microwave. If it seems dry, add a little water before reheating.
Additional rice pilaf questions
Plain rice is cooked in water with salt. It has no other color or flavorings. Rice pilaf is basically fancy rice. Rice is cooked with aromatics and a variety of spices, leading to a more fragrant, colorful dish.
Yes, you can use broth instead of water to add even more flavor. Note that if you use chicken broth or beef broth, the rice pilaf will no longer be vegan. To keep it vegan, use vegetable broth.
I have two main secrets to getting perfect basmati rice every time. Firstly, wash it thoroughly. You’ll want to wash and drain the rice a few times, until the water runs clear. Secondly, once the rice is on the stove in water or your preferred liquid, don’t mess with it! Don’t take off the lid too much, and don’t stir it. And once cooked, allow it to sit, covered and don’t disturb it for a few minutes before serving.
Yes! While your vegetables are sautéing, toast the orzo pasta along with them. Then follow with the rice and water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and cover and cook according to the recipe for about 15 minutes or so. Keep in mind, the pilaf will no longer be gluten free if you add orzo pasta.
Other rice recipes
Hungry for more? Here are all our Mediterranean Recipes!
Easy Rice Pilaf with Peas and Carrots
Ingredients
- 2 cups basmati rice
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 to 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
- Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon coriander
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon Aleppo pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
Nut Topping:
- ¼ cup walnut halves, toasted
- ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted
- ¼ cup sliced almonds, toasted
- ¼ cup dried fruit, such as raisins or chopped dried apricots
Instructions
- Wash the rice very well a few times until the water is clear. You can let it soak in water for about 10 minutes or so while preparing the rest of the ingredients.
- In a large heavy pan with a lid, heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, tossing regularly until softened. Add the peas and carrots. Season with a good pinch of kosher salt. Add the spices and mix to combine. Cook for another 5 minutes or so, tossing regularly until the carrots have softened.
- Drain the rice well and add it to the pan. Toss around to make sure the rice is well-coated with the spices. Pour in 2 ¼ cup of water. And season well with a big dash of kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes until the rice is cooked through and has absorbed all the liquid.
- Allow the rice about 5 to 10 minutes to rest before serving.
- Serve with the nuts and raisins on top.
Video
Notes
- For best results be sure to wash the rice until the water runs clear. And once cooked, allow the rice to sit undisturbed for about 10 minutes or so before serving.
- Leftovers and storage: Wait for the rice to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat.
- Visit Our Shop for quality Mediterranean ingredients including extra virgin olive oils and spices.
I made this exactly as written and it was perfect. I think others reviews stating it wasn’t enough water didn’t do the crucial step of rinsing and soaking the rice first. It went wondererfully with the leg of lamb recipe I made of yours as well!
Now that’s a great meal, for sure! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the rice here!
Hi. I made this rice recipe.
It seems to need more spices.
Any recommendations!
Marcia
I made this rice tonight to accompany the Doner Kebab chicken that I baked in the oven because it’s too cold to grill:). The baking yielded a good amount of delicious sauce, so I decided this rice would go along nicely. I like the raisins for a touch of sweetness. Both dishes are absolutely delicious!!
Super easy and flavorful. Rice was perfectly fluffy and still tender the next day. I sautéed made nuts and fruit in a bit of olive oil since they were raw. It’s going on my rotation!
Definitely more liquid. Can use broth or water. If you like veggies firm, wait till 5 – 10 minutes before done time to add them. Excellent recipe!
Can I make this with leftover cooked rice? Will the taste differ ?
Isn’t it normally supposed to be 2 cups of water per 1 cup of rice for stovetop? In this recipe, it says 2 cups of rice of 2 1/4 cups of water which seems WAY low. I’m gonna try this tonight with 4 cups of water.
Hi, Sam. This is the ratio that has worked for us in the past, but we’ll take another look at it.
Yes the water content is way off! Wish I would have caught it before. I keep having to add water trying to get the rice cooked which doesn’t work well with rice. Domage!
I made this dish and really liked it! The pilaf was a little dry though – is it supposed to be, or is there something I can do to make it more moist?
Hmmm…. it’s not supposed to be overly dry. Hard to say what may have gone wrong. Next time, you may just want to add a bit more liquid to see if that helps.