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–+ servings
Spice-infused turmeric rice in white bowl

Oven-baked turmeric rice

Jani H. Leuschel
Quick and easy pilaf method for an oven-baked healthy rice with fragrant, curry-like spicing
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Side Dish
Servings 4
Calories 193 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup brown rice jasmine or basmati
  • 2¼ cups broth chicken or vegetable
  • 1½ teaspoons turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon coriander
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper fresh ground
  • ½ bay leaf
  • to taste salt

Instructions
 

  • Wash your hands thoroughly and preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Put the rice in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse with water. Set it aside.
  • Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan (or medium, high-sided skillet); add onion and saute over medium heat until translucent. Add garlic to pan and cook for up to a minute, until aromatic.
    Spices and vegetables for making turmeric rice
  • Add rice and stir until all the grains are coated with oil and vegetable juices. Keep cooking until the grains are starting to color and smell slightly toasty. Add the spices and thoroughly mix, stirring.
  • Gradually pour in the broth, stirring, scraping up any bits of vegetable or rice stuck to the pan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn off the heat and place a tight fitting lid on the pan.
  • Place the rice pan in the oven. Bake for 40 minutes, until all liquid is absorbed. Be careful when removing the pan from the oven; it will be hot!
  • When ready to serve, fluff with a fork before portioning.

Notes

The idea behind this recipe is to free up stovetop space. It's also nice to know another way to cook rice. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cooking polenta and pasta in the oven has become popular. Why not rice, too?
The turmeric-rich rice has a bright yellow hue. The taste is warm, but not mellow. If you like hot spices, add ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flake, but don't leave out the black pepper. The black pepper helps your body absorb the bioactive curcumins in the turmeric. 
Just how much curcumin is in a teaspoon of turmeric spice? Although a teaspoon of the yellow spice is about 200 mg of curcumin, according to the Times of India.

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 534mgPotassium: 183mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 297IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 2mg
Keyword adaptogen, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, brown rice, cardioprotective, diabetic friendly, functional food, immunity, phytonutrients, turmeric rice, wellness, whole grain
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