Lebanese Rice Recipe
This traditional Lebanese Rice Recipe is loaded up with fluffy long-grain rice golden-brown pasta, and toasted pine nuts for the perfect side dish.
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain rice
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ¾ cup vermicelli pasta
- 3 ½ cups boiling water
- 1/3 cup pine nuts
- coarse salt to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the rice in a colander under cold water until the water runs clear. Set it to the side.
- Next, add the oil to a large, non-stick pot over medium heat.
- Add in the pasta and frequently stir until it becomes a light golden brown. Keep a close eye on this, as it can go from browned to burnt quickly.
- Pour in the rice and stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add in the boiling water, season with salt, and stir to combine.
- Place a lid on the pot and simmer over low heat for 14-16 minutes or until the rice is tender.
- Using a fork, fluff the rice and set it to the side uncovered for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Make-Ahead: You can make this recipe up to 30 minutes ahead. Keep it warm by keeping a lid on it until ready to serve.
How to Store: Once cooled, cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freeze it covered for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.
How to Reheat: The best way to reheat rice is in the microwave. It keeps it light and fluffy, and you do not need to add anything to it.
This recipe also works great if you add it to fried rice or soup instead of serving it as a side dish.
Some folks believe rinsing the rice ahead of time helps to remove some of the starchiness in the rice. I’m not sold this works all that well, but if this is the way you have always done it, then I think you should continue to do so.
No matter what kind of rice you are cooking, when doing so on the stovetop, make sure to reduce the amount of suggested liquid amount on the package by 15% as well as the cooking time by 20%.
Nutrition
Calories: 445kcalCarbohydrates: 75gProtein: 6gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 64mgPotassium: 125mgFiber: 2gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg