Vegetable Rice Pilaf

Elevate your weeknight dinner game with this vibrant Vegetable Rice Pilaf, a colorful medley of fluffy long-grain white rice, tender sautéed vegetables, and aromatic spices like cumin and turmeric. Cooked in rich vegetable broth, each grain is infused with deep, savory flavor, while the addition of zucchini, red bell pepper, carrots, and sweet peas creates a symphony of texture and freshness. Perfect as a hearty side dish or a light vegetarian main course, this easy-to-make recipe is ready in just 40 minutes and comes together in a single saucepan for minimal cleanup. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a burst of color and herby finish, and serve it warm to enjoy its comforting, wholesome goodness.

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup long-grain white rice
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 medium carrot, finely diced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium zucchini, diced
• 0.5 cup frozen peas
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch. Set aside.

Step 2

Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

Step 3

Add the diced onion and carrot to the pan. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened.

Step 4

Stir in the garlic, red bell pepper, zucchini, ground cumin, and ground turmeric. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the vegetables are slightly tender and fragrant.

Step 5

Add the rinsed rice to the saucepan, stirring to coat it in the oil and spices. Cook for 1-2 minutes, allowing the rice to toast lightly.

Step 6

Pour in the vegetable broth, and add salt and black pepper. Stir well to combine.

Step 7

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid and let simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is fully cooked and the liquid is absorbed.

Step 8

Remove the pan from heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 5 minutes.

Step 9

Stir in the frozen peas (the residual heat will thaw them) and fluff the rice with a fork.

Step 10

Transfer the rice pilaf to a serving dish and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1265.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	912.4

Total Fat 34.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 5.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.1g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3550.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 129.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.2g	0%
Total Sugars 27.2g
Protein 24.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 245.8mg	0%
Iron 10.9mg	0%
Potassium 2357.3mg	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: 33.7%

Protein: 10.5%

Carbs: 55.7%