Learn how to cook fluffy and flavorful turmeric rice in the rice cooker. Turmeric is the key ingredient that makes the dish golden yellow and fragrant, along with garlic, onion and chicken broth. It’s an easy set it and forget it kind of dish and takes only about 35 minutes to make.
My boys love rice and I cook it on the daily. They enjoy delicious bowls with different types of veggies and protein, like my amazing oven baked chicken skewers!
Occasionally, I like to change it up a bit and add more flavor for them to enjoy, and this super easy side dish has become one of their favorites. This is my take on the beautiful golden rice that we often eat at Mediterranean restaurants.
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Ingredients
Basmati Rice - This is a thin, long grain rice. It’s drier and not as sticky as jasmine rice. If you don’t have basmati, you may also use jasmine.
Chicken Broth - This boosts the flavor and provides a savory, rich taste. You may use low sodium chicken broth or water if you prefer to keep this dish on the lighter side.
Turmeric - Turmeric powder is used in this recipe to get that beautiful golden yellow color and interesting flavor.
Rice Cooker
I am using a Tiger JBV- S series. I quickly got one of these right after we became a family of four. It suits our family well and has basic functions that are easy to use. I usually only cook about 1 cup a day.
The cooker is also small enough that it doesn’t take up a lot of counter space, but has the capacity to cook up to 5.5 cups of dry rice for larger parties.
Instructions
1. Wash the rice and drain well in a mesh strainer.
2. Add all the dry ingredients to the pot.
3. Mix all the dry ingredients together well.
4. Add the chicken broth and give it a stir.
5. Set the cooker to start and forget about it!
6. When done cooking, fluff it up with a fork and serve right away!
Pro Tips
- I grew up learning to cook rice at a very young age. The first thing my parents taught me was to always rinse it! The reasoning is because this will help clean it by removing any dirt and debris. Rule of thumb is to rinse it three times.
- Make sure to drain the water well, give it a few hard shakes in the strainer to take out as much water as possible. Too much residual water may make the dish mushy.
- Stir up all the ingredients well in the pot to ensure even distribution of flavors.
- Store leftover in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Freeze in the freezer in an airtight container for up to a month.
- If you are using jasmine, make sure to do 1 part rice to 2 parts water.
FAQs
White rice that is coated a yellow color by spices like turmeric, annatto, or saffron. The dish comes from countries from around the world including Spain, India, South Africa, Indonesia and many more.
Yes, this helps to reduce debris and dirt.
White rice in its natural form is gluten free. When you add flavorings to it, make sure to read the labels to ensure there is no wheat. In this dish, the chicken stock is gluten free, making it gluten free.
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Easy Rice Cooker Turmeric (Yellow) Basmati Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice use US measuring (dry) cup
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- ¼ cup minced yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Melt the butter in the microwave for about 15 to 20 seconds.
- Rinse rice in a mesh strainer. Make sure to shake out excess water well.
- Add rice, butter, onion, garlic, turmeric, bay leaf and salt in the pot and mix well.
- Add chicken stock and stir ingredients together.
- Set rice cooker to cook or start (depending on the cooker functions).
- When done, fluff with a fork and serve.
Notes
- Measuring cup used is the standard US measuring cup, not the cup that came with the rice cooker
- Rinse the rice, this will help clean it by removing any dirt and debris. Rule of thumb is to rinse it three times.
- Make sure to drain the water well, give it a few hard shakes in the strainer to take out as much water as possible. Too much residual water may make the dish mushy.
- Stir up all the ingredients well in the pot to ensure even distribution of flavors.
- Store leftover in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Freeze in the freezer in an airtight container for up to a month.
- To substitute Jasmine rice, use 1 cup rice with 1- ¼ cups broth. Rinse your rice as above, and make sure to drain it well.
Kellie
I have had many disappointments with online recipes, but this one is delicious! Made fried rice with spinach and eggs to use up leftovers; also delicious!
Cat
This recipe was super fast and delicious! I served it alongside my shawarma chicken. I added a little bit of finishing salt at serving, but other than that this is a perfect recipe. This is definitely going in the regular rotation. Thank you!!
Chrissi W
Made as directed. I did use better than bouillon for my broth bc that was all I had. It was low sodium but probably too salty. That said this was amazing. I love Zatarain's Yellow Rice and this is just as good. Thank you!
Judy
I like recipes that I can use in my rice cooker. This was easy and delicious. I’ve made it twice - once as a side dish with vegetarian Reuben sandwiches and once with a tofu/veggie stir fry. Great both times.
Kaylie
This dish never disappoints!
Judy
This was really delicious and easy since my rice cooker did all the work! It was a great addition to accompany a veggie stirfry.
Kaylie
So great to hear it is a fan favorite!
Lisa
This was so simple and tasted fantastic!!! I will most definitely be making this again.
Kaylie
Thanks for your feedback! Glad you enjoyed!
Stephanie
Hi Kaylie,
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I tried it and the colour looks gorgeous!
1. However, the rice was quite tasteless. I used pink himalayan salt, and 2 cups of chicken stock, 1 cup of water. How do I make it more tasty, the natural way? Add more salt?
2. The bay leaf - did you mince it? I noticed from your photos there are small dark green leaves in the rice.
3. I added fresh pineapple cubes 5 minutes before the rice was ready. It added a crunch and mild sweetness.
Thanks!
Kaylie
Thanks for your feedback! I use regular chicken broth, not low salt, so that may be a factor in the lack of flavor. Try adding a little more garlic, and doubling the salt as well. Hope this helps!
Mh
Can I use brown rice and substitute avocado oil for the butter?
Kaylie
Yes you can make substitutes, but you will need to adjust the water amount for the brown rice. I have not tried it with avocado oil, so I am not sure how much of a difference it will taste.
Cary
Definitely delicious !
Kaylie
Thank you!
Bt
There is no turmeric in your video. Did I miss it?
Kaylie
Yep its in there at the 20 second mark!
Linda Bleasdale
Delicious
Kaylie
Thank you!
KM Pip
So, I made this tonight for a dinner I was cooking for my dad when he came over. Wow! It was perfect! I'll be honest, I had low expectations because I have an old Aroma 6-Cup Rice Cooker that only has a switch to turn it on, and then it switches off after maybe 20 minutes. Then I let it steam for 20 more. Perfect! So much flavor!
For full disclosure, I halved the salt because my doctor is a sadist and hates people enjoying life, so he said to cut back. But even with probably less than an eighth of a teaspoon, it was still delicious.
I will definitely try more of your rice cooker recipes. Please! Please! Please! Make more of these! I dusted off the rice cooker after years of ignoring it, and its my new favorite toy in the kitchen!
Kaylie
This makes me so happy to hear! let me know what other rice cooker recipes you'd like to see! Would love to experiment with more!
Ellen WARSHOFSKY
Can you use fresh tumeric in this recipe?
Kaylie
I have not tried fresh tumeric, you can mince a small amount to add to the rice cooker to test it out if you'd like. Please let me know how it comes out.
Ann
Can you omit the bay leaf? I don't have any in my pantry and want to fix it tonight.
Kaylie
Yes, you can omit the bay leaf!
Jo
Didn't pay attention to using measuring cup for rice and not rice cooker cup. As a result mone was a bit too wet. Maybe asterisk it in ingredients. Next time will be better. grat flavor!
JJ’s Mom
This was delicious!! I used jasmine rice and dried minced onion as I didn’t have fresh. Followed the directions and it turned out perfectly. This will definitely be in regular rotation! Thank you!!
Kaylie
Amazing! So glad to hear this!