Festive Braised Rice Microwave Recipe

Brighten up your weeknight dinners or holiday table with this Festive Braised Rice Microwave Recipe—a quick, one-dish wonder packed with vibrant colors and bold flavors! This easy recipe combines fluffy long-grain white rice with a medley of diced carrots, sweet dried cranberries, and tender peas, perfectly seasoned with aromatic cumin and turmeric for a hint of warmth. Made entirely in the microwave, this dish saves time without sacrificing taste, thanks to a rich vegetable broth base and fragrant sautéed onions and garlic. Perfect as a side dish or light vegetarian main, it’s ready in just 30 minutes and can be garnished with fresh parsley for a touch of elegance. Whether you're looking for a hassle-free weeknight solution or a stunning (and simple) addition to your festive spread, this microwave braised rice hits all the right notes!

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup long-grain white rice
• 2 cups hot water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 0.5 cup onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 0.5 cup carrot, diced
• 0.5 cup frozen peas
• 0.25 cup dried cranberries
• 1 unit vegetable broth concentrate or bouillon cube
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.25 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (optional for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the rice in cold water until the water runs clear. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

In a microwave-safe 2-quart dish, melt the butter by microwaving it for 20-30 seconds on high power.

Step 3

Add the chopped onion and garlic to the melted butter. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until softened and fragrant.

Step 4

Stir in the diced carrot, frozen peas, and dried cranberries. Microwave for an additional 2 minutes on high.

Step 5

Dissolve the vegetable broth concentrate or bouillon cube in the hot water. Add the broth mixture to the dish along with the rinsed rice, ground cumin, ground turmeric, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.

Step 6

Cover the dish tightly with a microwave-safe lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap, leaving a small corner vented to release steam.

Step 7

Microwave on high power for 15 minutes. Halfway through (around the 7-minute mark), carefully remove the dish (it will be hot!), stir the mixture, and re-cover it before returning it to the microwave.

Step 8

Once cooked, let the rice sit covered for 5 minutes to allow it to fully absorb any remaining liquid.

Step 9

Fluff the rice with a fork, garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1020.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	747.4

Total Fat 25.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 13.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.7g
Cholesterol 65.8mg	0%
Sodium 2333.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 117.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 11.9g	0%
Total Sugars 36.5g
Protein 13.1g	0%

Vitamin D 4.5IU	0%
Calcium 197.0mg	0%
Iron 6.1mg	0%
Potassium 843.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 30.1%

Protein: 7.0%

Carbs: 62.8%