Fragrant Flavored Rice Herbs (Printable version)

A flavorful rice infused with aromatic herbs, vegetables, and subtle spices, perfect for meals.

# Ingredient List:

→ Rice

01 - 1 1/2 cups long-grain rice (basmati or jasmine)
02 - 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth or water

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 1 medium carrot, diced
05 - 1 celery stalk, diced
06 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1/2 cup frozen peas

→ Aromatics & Herbs

08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Spices & Seasoning

12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
13 - 1/2 teaspoon turmeric (optional)
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, adjust to taste

→ Oils

15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

# How to Make It:

01 - Rinse the rice under cold water until water runs clear; drain thoroughly.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and red bell pepper; sauté 4 to 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in garlic, thyme, oregano, black pepper, turmeric, and salt; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add the drained rice to the pan, stirring to coat evenly with vegetables and spices.
05 - Pour in vegetable broth and bring mixture to a boil.
06 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
07 - Stir in frozen peas, cover again, and cook an additional 5 minutes until rice is tender and liquid absorbed.
08 - Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes.
09 - Fluff rice with a fork, stir in chopped parsley, and serve warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes and tastes like you spent way more time than you actually did.
  • Every vegetable softens into the rice rather than staying separate, creating this unified, warming dish.
  • You can customize it based on what's in your fridge without any guilt or complicated substitutions.
02 -
  • If you skip rinsing the rice, you'll end up with a gluey, sticky dish no matter what else you do right—I learned this the hard way.
  • The moment the liquid comes to a boil, turn the heat down immediately and don't lift that lid; the magic happens in undisturbed steam, not active cooking.
03 -
  • If you don't have vegetable broth, water works fine—just add an extra pinch of salt and let the vegetables and herbs carry the flavor.
  • The texture of your rice depends on the rice-to-liquid ratio and your heat; if you prefer softer rice, add a bit more broth, and if you like it firmer, reduce it slightly next time.

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