This 30-minute flavorful Mediterranean rice recipe is a delicious side dish that pairs beautifully with any protein or vegetable meal. The combination of aromatic spices, fluffy rice, and roasted pine nuts creates a healthy one-pot meal that everyone will love!
Heat a skillet or medium-sized pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Sauté the minced garlic and chopped onions for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
Stir in the spices and seasoning, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant and slightly toasted.
Pour in the water and mix soften onion and spices together with a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any bits stuck on the bottom.
Add in the rice and continue to cook on medium heat until boiling, then reduce to a simmer and place the lid over the pot. Simmer for 20 minutes until the water has absorbed into the rice and it becomes fluffy.
Remove the pot from the heat and add the chopped cilantro, parsley, and toasted pine nuts to the cooked rice.
Finish the fragrant yellow rice recipe with a squeeze of lemon juice and serve with your favorite protein or fish dish for a complete meal.
Recipe Notes
Keep your eye on the riceBe careful not to overcook the rice or else it will become mushy. Check it at 15 minutes to see if it’s done, and adjust the cooking time as needed.Fluff the riceOnce the rice is cooked, use a fork to fluff it and separate the grains before serving.Measure the water and riceFor perfect fluffy rice, you'll want to measure the amount of water to rice ratio, as adding too much water will cause the rice to become mushy.