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A plate of rice pilaf with a spoon tucked in. A wooden board with parsley and bowl of pepper in the back.
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Rice Pilaf

Easy rice pilaf is a flavorful side dish that goes with any number of main dishes! You'll love how fluffy, tender, and aromatic the rice is!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Steam Time 5 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 249kcal
Author John Kanell

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced (225g)
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1½ cups long-grain white rice (270g)
  • 3 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth (720mL)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, until the rice begins to turn lightly golden, about 4 minutes.
  • Stir in the broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover with the lid, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
  • Remove the lid, and the parsley, and fluff the cooked rice with a fork, stirring in the parsley as you fluff. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Flavor options: My recipe is a great starting point, but you can get creative and add more flavor! Turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon would be great additions for Middle Eastern/South Asian flair, for example. You can also change up the herbs and use fresh mint and cilantro instead of (or in addition to) parsley.
  • When toasting the rice: Make sure to stir constantly so the onion doesn't start to burn.
  • Do not peek at the rice while simmering. Keep the lid on the whole time. Lifting the lid causes steam to escape.
  • Don't stir the rice while it simmers. This activates the starch in the rice and will yield sticky rice.
  • Let the rice stand after cooking. Keep the rice covered for 5 minutes after it is done simmering. It will continue to steam during this time so you end up with gloriously fluffy rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 828mg | Potassium: 123mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 172IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg