Lightly seasoned with garlic, cumin, and turmeric, Mediterranean Yellow Rice is an easy 30 minute vegan side dish. Garnished with pine nuts and fresh cilantro, it's delicious and has the perfect texture.
1½ cups long-grain white rice (rinsed and drained)
2¼ cups water
¼ cup pine nuts
2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro (chopped)
Categories
Side Dish
Cuisine
Mediterranean
Steps
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
Add the onions and saute until softened and slightly translucent.
Add the garlic, cumin, turmeric, salt and pepper, and rice to the pot. Stir frequently for a couple of minutes until the rice starts to look translucent.
Stir in the water and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and allow the rice to gently simmer until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
Remove the pot from the heat. Lift up the lid and lay a clean dish towel over the top. Replace the lid on top of the towel and allow the rice to steam for 5 to 10 minutes.
Fluff the rice with a fork and fold in the pine nuts and cilantro. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper, as needed. Serve.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 235 kcal
Carbohydrates: 39 g
Protein: 4 g
Fat: 6 g
Sodium: 8 mg
Reviews
Sarah on 2026-07-07 (2 stars): Barely any flavor but I'll take this as a good base, also loved the steaming trick. Color is pretty which does help with tricking the mind. Next time I'm going to use bouillon with the water and double the seasoning. But thank you for the idea and something to work off of!
Anne on 2025-08-25 (5 stars): So easy to make and tastes wonderful!! I never steamed rice after cooking but this trick made it so light and fluffy. I used hemp seeds instead of the pine nuts as I didn't have any of those. I will definitely be making this again. Served it with falafel and garlic paste.
Sonia Santiago on 2025-07-02 (5 stars): I love this rice from the restaurants, but this recipe is absolutely delicious. The flavor is just delicacy. The texture is so mouth watering. Definitely a must try.
Liz on 2025-04-25 (5 stars): Love this rice dish, make it all the time😊
Lisa on 2023-05-14 (5 stars): Simple, quick and delicious! Will definitely be making again
Pow on 2022-11-12 (5 stars): Used half water, half chicken broth. Paired it with TJs chicken shawarma and roasted tomatoes. <3 delish!
Mels on 2022-06-26 (5 stars): This is the best Mediterranean rice recipe! I’ve made it several times, no substitutes or alterations, and love it every time! I’ve been making it as a side dish with grilled flank steak and homemade toum … it’s perfect!
