Orange Rice Pilaf is an easy flavored rice recipe that can introduce you to French cooking. You got this.
Orange Rice Pilaf, a quick, delicious side dish.
Paging through a terrific cookbook, Dorie Greenspan's Around My French Table, I came across a recipe for Orange Rice Pilaf. Remembering our Egyptian visitor Ayman (see Ayman's Egyptian Rice) from a few years ago, who showed us that his mother sautéed the rice in a bit of oil and spices before adding the water, I thought I'd take it one step further and add the sweetness of orange using Greenspan's recipe as an inspiration.
Do You Wonder How to Make Orange Rice?
I adjusted Greenspan's recipe to two servings, remembering that rice cooks best using twice as much water as rice. For Lois and me, ½ cup of rice is enough. And much to my surprise, we had almost used all the basmati rice (which seldom happens) so I added some long grain brown rice to make a half cup. The experiment turned out great and we have made this rice many times since then. I know you're going to love this side dish.
What You Need
To make this citrus rice recipe, you will need measuring cups and spoons and a good sauce pot. If you don't have a good set of pans, it's time you buy some.
Orange Rice Pilaf Recipe
Author: Recipe Idea Shop
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup finely chopped onion
- 2 tablespoons fine orange zest (the zest is the outside peel)
- ½ cup basmati or other long grain rice
- 1 cup water with 1 chicken bouillon cube added (or 1 cup chicken broth or vegetable bouillion if you want it vegetarian)
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a sauce pan heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- When the oil is hot, add the onion and orange zest.
- Cook gently for about 3 minutes until the onion softens.
- Add the rice and stir to coat each grain with oil.
- Pour in the water/bouillon (or chicken broth).
- Reduce heat to low and cook until all the water is absorbed, stirring periodically.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let the rice stand for a couple of minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.
- If you wish, add a bit of chopped fresh basil or other herb from your garden.
You May Also Like These Recipes
- Lentil Rice and Fruit Salad
- Baked Rice
- Cinnamon Sugar Rice
- Cinnamon Rice Pudding
- Yellow Rice and Beans
- Vegan Mexican Red Rice
- Savory Sweet Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
- Lemon Rice
- Coconut Basmati Rice
Kathy acquired the blog, Recipe Idea Shop in 2024. She was raised on a farm in Arkansas where having a big garden and good food to eat was the norm. She shares recipes for homemade comfort food and new trending dishes.
Kathy began her blogging journey in 2011 when she founded PetticoatJunktion.com, a home décor blog focused on repurposing and upcycling furniture, and thrift store finds.