4 Easy Steps for Perfect Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf is basically any rice dish where the rice and other grains are toasted in butter/fat before being cooked in broth. Most recipes for rice pilaf use both rice and pasta of some sort. For this recipe, we are using long-grain white rice and orzo.
For perfect rice pilaf:
- Saute onions in butter to start.
- Add the rice and pasta and cook until the grains are toasty and well-coated in butter. This is an important step; don’t skip it!
- Add pantry-friendly spices (needed for flavor!) and broth.
- Cook, covered, until the rice and pasta are tender.
What to Serve with Rice Pilaf
For such an unassuming recipe, rice pilaf is incredibly delicious. It is so much more flavorful than everyday steamed rice thanks to the garlic and onion. And… it can be served with so.many.things.
Here are just a few ideas:
No-Fuss Side Dish
If you’re looking for a no-fuss side dish you can make last minute, this perfect rice pilaf is for you! Don’t skip toasting the rice and orzo in the butter. It makes all the difference in flavor and texture of the finished dish.
For whatever reason, when I serve this rice pilaf, my kids think something out-of-the-ordinary is happening or maybe VIP company is showing up to eat dinner with us. Apparently kids that grow up on plain, ol’ steamed rice get pretty darn excited to see rice pilaf appear at the table. Good thing I can wow them at a moment’s notice! This rice pilaf is definitely easy enough for a weeknight and “fancy” enough for elevated meals. It’s become a go-to side dish!
Perfect Rice Pilaf
Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Author: Mel
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Method: Stovetop
Ingredients:
* 1 cup long-grain white rice
* 1 cup orzo pasta
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 1 medium onion, diced
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 teaspoon dried thyme
* 1 teaspoon paprika
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 2 cups chicken broth
Nutrition Information:
* Serving: 1
* Calories: 249kcal
* Carbohydrates: 41g
* Protein: 6g
* Fat: 7g
* Saturated Fat: 3g
* Cholesterol: 12mg
* Sodium: 784mg
* Fiber: 1g
* Sugar: 2g
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