Stephanie Kay Nutrition

Stephanie Kay Nutrition

Real Food for Real Life

  • recipes
    • all recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Soups & Stews
    • Salads
    • Sides
    • Snacks
  • nutrition
    • All Articles
    • Tips
    • FAQs
    • This vs. That
    • How To/Guides
    • Weight Loss
  • resources
    • 10 Days of Nutrition
    • 7-Day Meal Plan
    • Balanced Meal Guide
    • 5-Ingredient Cookbook
    • Lunch Box Cookbook
  • About
    • About Steph
    • Contact
  • recipes
    • all recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Soups & Stews
    • Salads
    • Sides
    • Snacks
  • nutrition
    • All Articles
    • Tips
    • FAQs
    • This vs. That
    • How To/Guides
    • Weight Loss
  • resources
    • 10 Days of Nutrition
    • 7-Day Meal Plan
    • Balanced Meal Guide
    • 5-Ingredient Cookbook
    • Lunch Box Cookbook
  • About
    • About Steph
    • Contact
  • Dinner
  • Breakfast
  • Meal Prep
  • Nutrition Tips
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest
  • youtube
Home | Recipes | Fragrant Spiced Rice Pilaf

Fragrant Spiced Rice Pilaf

Published on March 30, 2017 by Stephanie Kay

Jump to Recipe

Rice is one of the most delicious side dishes to make, especially when it is done well. Plain rice on its own is still tasty and filling, but the right combination of spices can turn a basic side dish into the main attraction much like this fragrantly spiced rice pilaf.

Spiced Rice Pilaf

 

Enter the rice aisle at the grocery store and there are about 100 options to choose from. From long-grain to short-grain, minute rice to microwavable, and white to brown, the options are endless making decisions quite confusing when it comes to picking the healthiest choice. As with all food, the best option is always to pick the least processed and least refined format, so minute and microwavable options are less than ideal choices. When it comes to rice, here are some simple things to look for:

  • Short Grain, Medium Grain vs. Long Grain: From a nutrition perspective short grain or long grain rice makes absolutely no difference. From a cooking perspective, the length of the grain makes it more or less suitable for certain types of dishes. Short-grain rice is starchier and sticks together when cooked so it is best suited for dishes like sushi or rice puddings. Medium-grain rice produces a moist, chewy and tender grain, so it is best used for dishes like risotto and paella. Long grain rice contains less starch, so the grains remain separate when cooked and are therefore often used in side dishes, pilafs and salads.

  • Brown vs. White: Contrary to popular belief, white rice is not necessarily less nutritious for you and can still be a very healthy choice when the best types are selected. The difference between brown rice and white rice is that brown rice is a whole grain, as it contains the bran and germ, while white rice has had the bran and germ removed from the grain. The bran and the germ contain most of the essential nutrients in the grain, so technically brown rice contains more fibre and nutrition than its counterpart white rice. However, because the bran and germ have not been removed, brown rice also contains many anti-nutrients, such as phytic acid, which make it harder for your body to break down and absorb the nutrients. These anti-nutrients are a natural part of the grain, as they protect the vital reproductive tools of the grain, however, they can cause digestive distress for many people who have trouble breaking down the bran and germ, so white rice is still a great option.

  • Jasmine vs. Basmati: When it comes to white rice, basmati and jasmine rice are the most well-known varieties. Both are aromatic versions of long-grain rice, and they are commonly used in a variety of Asian and Middle-Eastern dishes. Jasmine rice is from Thailand, and has a slightly soft and clingy texture when cooked, while Basmati rice is from India and Pakistan and easily separates with its slightly nutty flavour. It is best to rinse and soak both versions before cooking as this helps to remove any dust or excess starch and helps it to absorb water and cook more evenly.

The fun of cooking rice is that it has such a neutral flavour the cooking options are endless. Cinnamon or saffron? Cardamom or paprika? There are so many different ways to spice rice and this fragrantly spiced rice pilaf is one really tasty way to do so!

 

Print
Spiced Rice Pilaf

Fragrant Spiced Rice Pilaf

Author: Stephanie Kay

The stock and spice options in this spice rice pilaf recipe are interchangeable, however, the preparation method remains the same. Jasmine rice would also work but I find basmati provides a better texture.

  • Author: Stephanie Kay
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Sides
  • Method: Stovetop
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
  • 1 orange, zested
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/2 coriander, roughly chopped

Instructions

  1. In a small pot on medium heat, add the olive oil and minced shallot, cook for 3-5 minutes until translucent. Add cinnamon, allspice and cardamom and heat for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Add rice and stir with onion mixture until each grain is coated with oil. Season with salt, cover with chicken stock and bring to a boil.
  3. Once boiling, add the orange zest and cinnamon stick to the pot. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover pot with lid and cook for 20 minutes until rice is cooked through.
  4. Once cooked, fluff rice with a fork and transfer it to a serving dish. Top with chopped coriander, sliced almonds, and any remaining orange zest.
  5. Enjoy!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 155 calories
  • Sugar: 5 grams
  • Fat: 6 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 23 grams
  • Fiber: 3 grams
  • Protein: 4 grams

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Green Vegetable Tray Bake
Green Vegetable Tray Bake PREVIOUS
Blueberry,Oatmeal & Maple Muffins NEXT
Blueberry Oatmeal & Maple Muffins
Jump to Recipe

Learn How To Make A Balanced Meal!

Grab a copy of my balanced meal formula guide and learn to make well-balanced meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

    Leave a Review Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    Comments

    1. Nancee Battistella says

      May 11, 2017 at 1:11 pm

      I loved this rice, Steph found the perfect mix of ingredients to make basmati rice a lot more exciting

      Reply
      • Stephanie Kay says

        May 11, 2017 at 3:49 pm

        Awesome, thanks!

        Reply
    Stephanie Kay Nutrition

    Hey, I’m Stephanie

    – AKA RED –

    I’m a nutritionist on a mission to change the way you look at food and teach you how to make real food work for real life in a realistic way.

    Get to Know Me

    Want A 7-Day Meal Plan?

    Download my free 7-day meal plan, complete with a grocery list, for a week’s worth of easy healthy recipes that make real food work for real life.

      • facebook
      • instagram
      • pinterest

      Shop My Cookbooks

      My eCookbooks are filled with quick and easy real food recipes to help make eating well a breeze so you can crush your goals.

      Learn More

      Recipes

      • Dinner
      • Breakfast
      • Meal Prep
      • Snacks

      Nutrition

      • FAQs
      • Tips
      • This vs. That
      • Weight Loss

      Connect

      • Instagram
      • Youtube
      • About
      • Cookbooks

      About Stephanie

      I’m a nutritionist on a mission to change the way you look at food and teach you how to make real food work for real life in a realistic way.

      Learn More

      Site Credits
      2023 © Stephanie Kay Nutrition | Privacy Policy
      To Top