These rice pilaf dishes are flavorful, non-sticky, and aromatic. Long-grain Basmati rice is cooked with herbs, spices, and vegetables for perfectly separate grains. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and versatile, they’re ideal for any meal.
It’s all about Texture And Aroma for these Mediterranean Rice Dishes
How many of us grew up on mushy rice? Well, if you’d like grains that come out separated (for the most part) with a defined texture and accentuated aroma, then you’ll love these 6 recipes below.
To achieve perfectly non-sticky rice, follow these simple steps:
- Use long-grain rice, such as Basmati rice. It contains less starch, which helps reduce stickiness.
- Pre-saute the rice: Shallow fry the rice in a bit of oil for about 3 minutes. The oil coats the grains, preventing them from absorbing too much water, which can make them mushy.
- For extra aroma: Sauté a chopped onion, add vegetables, and then stir in the rice. Once everything is pre-sauteed, add spices, hot liquid, and cook.
Ingredients and Substitutes For These Rice Dishes
Mediterranean rice pilaf dishes feature rice cooked with aromatic spices, herbs, and savory broths. To keep the dishes vegetarian, you can use a vegetable broth. But the recipes below just call for using water. Here are the basic ingredients:
- White long-grain rice – Jasmin, or Basmati. Sub: Medium-grain rice.
- Oil – Neutral oil – Canola, Grape seed, Soybean, Sunflower.
- Freshly Chopped Onions – White (yellow), red, scallions (green onions) – Mildly frying an onion is the aromatic essence of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes. Sub: Onion soup powder. Or onion soup mix. Adjust the saltiness.
- Freshly Chopped Herbs – Parsley, or cilantro – Sub: dill, rosemary, thyme, basil, and, oregano, dry cilantro, basil, or oregano instead of fresh herbs.
- Natural Date Syrup (sugar-free Molasses) – This is my go-to natural sweetener. Sub: A bit of brown or granulated sugar, or honey.
- Liquid – water for the recipes below. Sub: Vegetable broth. Adjust saltiness.
Mediterranean rice dishes are highly versatile, easily adaptable to various grains, vegetables, and spices, making them suitable for different tastes, occasions, and dietary preferences.
Preparation of Israeli-Mediterranean Rice
The cooking ratio is 2:1. Meaning, 2 portions (2 cups) of hot water for every 1 portion (1 cup) of long-grain rice.
Don’t rinse the rice.
Check for cleanliness. OR:
Step 1 – Rinse and strain the rice. Here’s what to do:
- Fill a bowl of rice with tap water and give it a ‘swoosh’ with your hand (gloved).
- Spill out water and repeat several times.
- Transfer to a fine mesh sieve set above a bowl, and set aside to dry a bit.
Step 2 – Sautéing Process –
Here’s one example of how to sauté the veggies, herbs, and spices
- Sauté a chopped onion in hot neutral oil (3 Tablespoons per 1 cup rice) for 4 minutes in a non-stick large pot.
- Then, add the veggies and herbs. Sauté them for a few minutes.
Step 3 – Adding the Rice
Stir in the rice with a wooden spoon and sauté and stir for 4 minutes above a high flame.
Step 4 – The Pouring in of the Liquid
- Pour in boiling water. Stir and bring to a boil. Let it cook 5 minutes uncovered.
- Cover the pot and transfer it to a small burner and cook on a low for 10 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Cover the pot with kitchen towels. Set aside for 20 to 30 minutes.
Tips
- De-clump the rice with a fork.
- If you see clumps after the rice has cooled, all you do is gently de-clump them with your finger tips or a fork.
6 Rice Dishes Mediterranean-Israeli Style
A flavorful and aromatic Rice Dish with Green Jewels
Mediterranean Rice with Green Peas
A vibrant dish perfect for any season. Its light, aromatic, flavors evoke the freshness of sun-kissed gardens, making it a delightful complement to any meal.
Vegan Cabbage Rolls stuffed with savory, and sour Rice Pilaf
Israeli Vegan Stuffed Rice Cabbage Rolls
Delightful cabbage rolls filled with a flavorful blend of rice and spices, creating a satisfying vegan dish. Perfect for any occasion, they combine the freshness of Mediterranean ingredients with a comforting, hearty vegan twist.
Sweet Rice Pilaf with Raisins and Date Syrup
Mediterranean Rice In Raisins and Date Syrup
A delightful recipe for any season, but especially perfect for spring, when we’re reminded of the sweetness of nectar from blooming flowers.
Delicious Vegan Rice Pilaf stuffed Red Bell Peppers
Mediterranean Rice Stuffed in Red Bell Peppers
Stuffed vegetarian rice pilaf, featuring grated carrots, chopped onions, freshly chopped parsley, and crushed tomatoes. A vibrant dish packed with flavor, making it a delightful addition to any meal.
Mediterranean Mushroom Rice Pilaf with Date Syrup
Mediterranean Mushroom Rice with Natural Date Syrup
A harmonious blend of flavors, perfect for to elevating any dining experience while celebrating the essence of Mediterranean cuisine.
Yellow Rice – Mediterranean Israeli Style
Yellow Rice – Mediterranean Israeli Style
A vibrant and aromatic dish, where savory Mediterranean yellow-infused rice brings a sunny vibrant yellow hue and rich flavor, adding a touch of elegance to any meal.
Here are examples of a few dishes to pair with plain white rice.
- Beef meatballs
- Blade pot-roast
- Grilled chicken breasts or
- Baked chicken
- Gilthead Seabream fish in Spanish Chimichurri – You can prepare this with dish you are used to getting, using the same ingredients and insturctions.
- Mediterranean Tuna in tomato sauce
Mediterranean diets for health purposes
Summary –
This Mediterranean Rice Pilaf is a cozy favorite! It starts with sautéing an onion in neutral oil. Then, you add aromatic herbs, optional veggies, and then spices. Finally you add the rice and sauté them together. Last, you pour in the water and cook the dish to perfection.
You can choose to cook it in vegetable, or chicken broth. No matter how you cook it, it ends up an exquisite dish that’s perfect as a comforting side to a plainer main dish. The cabbage rolls stuffed with Vegetarian Mediterranean Rice Place are great as a main dish. Enjoy the warmth it brings to your table!
I hope you’ve enriched your knowledge and expertise of Mediterranean Rice Pilaf that is also vegetarian.
Enjoy!
Rice with Grated Carrots - an example of rice pilaf
Rice Pilaf with Grated Carrots - An aromatic, and vibrant base dish of non-sticky rice (Mediterranean, Israeli style). Use as a vegetable stuffing (cabbage, zucchini, red bell peppers), or side dish. This Rice Pilaf example dish pairs with a variety of main dishes because it has neutral vegetarian flavors. Meaning, it doesn't contain a meat, fish, or dairy ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2½ cups white Basmati rice
- ½ cup neutral oil
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 3 carrots, coarsely grated
- 2 cups freshly chopped parsley leaves
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste (sugar-free)
- Kosher salt to taste (around 1½ teaspoons)
- black pepper to taste (minimum ¼ teaspoon)
- 5½ cups boiling water
Instructions
- In a large and shallow non-stick thick pan, heat 1/4 cup oil. Add and cook onions 3 minutes above a high heat. Stir frequently.
- Lower heat. Add carrots, and parsley. Cook 4 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Add rice, cook 6 minutes. Stir frequently. Towards the end of the sautéing, add the salt and pepper.
- Raise heat, pour in the hot water, and give the contents a stir. Then cover the pot and bring to boil.
- Cook rice above a low heat for around 8 minutes. The sign to remove pot from the heat is when there's still bubbling water that rises 1/3 inch above the surface of the rice. If holes appear in between the rice, that's fine. The steam inside is just trying to find a way out.
- Set aside and cover with several layers of towels for at least 30 minutes.
Notes
- You can sub Jasmin rice with Basmati.
- The more vegetables you add to the pot, the more oil and water you need. Add a bit more oil initially. Add the water at the end if the pot is dry and the rice is under-cooked.
- Reducing carrot quantity is optional.
- Reducing or adding some more parsley is optional.
- Reducing or adding oil is optional.
Tip if you forgot to use a utensil for measuring the rice:
- If you forgot to measure the rice in cups, and don't know how much hot water to add, then, after sautéing the veggies and rice, and adding the spices, all you do is pour in hot water until it reaches the height of the first joint of your index finger. Yep, yep!
Nutrition Information
Yield
10Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 172Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 0mgSodium 55mgCarbohydrates 16gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 2g
Nutrition values are estimated.