This Rice Pilaf is one of those side dishes that feels elevated yet effortless. It's light, fluffy, and packed with flavor. The secret? Toasting the rice before simmering it in chicken stock to create a depth of flavor that makes every bite delicious.
Rice Pilaf is one of my favorite side dishes, it is easy to make, nutritious, and pairs well with so many different proteins. I especially love serving it with saucy dishes like this Smothered Chicken recipe, where I can drizzle the rich sauce over the fluffy rice. It's so good! Of course, Rice pilaf is just as delicious on its own.
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Rice Pilaf Ingredients
- Rice- long or short grain white rice.
- Olive Oil & Butter- A combination of both for flavor.
- Onion- Yellow or white onion to add flavor to the dish.
- Garlic- Freshly minced garlic cloves to bring a rich aromatic flavor to the rice.
- Chicken Stock- As always, I recommend using a good quality chicken stock. The chicken stock brings a deep savory flavor to the rice.
- Salt & Pepper
How To Make Easy Rice Pilaf
Making homemade Rice Pilaf is easy and takes just a few simple steps:
STEP 1
Rinse the rice about 20 minutes before cooking. Leave it in a mesh strainer to while you prep the onions and garlic.
STEP 2
In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and butter. Add the onions to the pan and sauté until soft, about 4 minutes.
STEP 3
Now add the rice to the pan with the onions and spread out into an even layer and begin toasting the rice. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. Once the rice has started to lightly brown, add in the minced garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.
STEP 4
Pour in the chicken stock, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Cover with a lid, reduce the heat to low and cook for 20 minutes. Once the 20 minutes are up, turn the heat off, remove the pan from the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes before you remove the lid and fluff the rice. Enjoy!
Tips for Making Rice Pilaf
- Toast the rice before cooking it. Toasting the rice gives it great flavor and the best texture.
- Allow the rice to sit, covered and off the heat, for 10 minutes before removing the lid. This allows the rice to absorb all the liquid and dry out a bit, creating the best fluffy texture.
- Mix in vegetables like english peas or carrots for additional flavor.
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Tried This Recipe?
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📖 Recipe
Rice Pilaf
Ingredients
- 1 cup white rice
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup onion small diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ¾ cups chicken stock
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the rice about 20 minutes before cooking. Leave it in a mesh strainer to while you prep the onions and garlic.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and butter. Add the onions to the pan and sauté until soft, about 4 minutes.
- Now add the rice to the pan with the onions and spread out into an even layer and begin toasting the rice. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. Once the rice has started to lightly brown, add in the minced garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.
- Pour in the chicken stock, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Cover with a lid, reduce the heat to low and cook for 20 minutes.
- Once the 20 minutes are up, turn the heat off, remove the pan from the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes before you remove the lid and fluff the rice. Enjoy!
Dee says
Easy to make and great flavor! Keeping this one for sure.
Simply Scratch Made says
Great to hear!