Simple & Delicious Rice Pilaf in a Rice Cooker
Amazingly simple and delicious rice pilaf with orzo made in a rice cooker! Perfect side dish. Vegan + gluten free!
This rice pilaf made with orzo is so fluffy and simply spiced with garlic, onion, coriander and paprika. It’s filled with flavor but simple enough that you can easily add this to your weeknight dinner rotation since it’s made in the rice cooker! Add all the ingredients to the rice cooker, give it a stir, and hit the start button! In 25 minutes you’ll have an easy side dish with almost no work.
Add this rice pilaf to all sorts of dinners! It’s perfect with some bbq tofu, oven baked herb tofu, grilled or roasted veggies, or alongside a vegan quiche.
Ingredients
Here is a quick rundown of what you’ll need to make this rice pilaf. For the recipe amounts, please see the recipe card below.
- Rice: Jasmine rice and basmati rice are my two go-tos for this recipe but any long grain rice will work.
- Orzo: This is a type of pasta that is small and shaped like rice and tastes so good in this! Yes, there are gluten free orzo pastas available, but if you like, you can use any teeny tiny pasta shape. Even alphabet noodles would work!
- Onion and Garlic: Some aromatics to make this taste great.
- Spices: Coriander, paprika, and dried garlic and onion
- Salt: A pinch of salt to round out all the flavors.
Instructions
This rice pilaf comes together so quickly! It really is easy to make.
Make sure to check out the recipe card below for the full recipe and ingredient list.
Step One: Rinse the Rice
Start by rinsing the rice. Make sure that the water runs clear so that you have removed a lot of the starch. If you skip this step, the rice can turn out gummy. I typically use a big mesh strainer and wash it for a full minute under running water.
Step Two: Prep the Veggies
Chop the onion and garlic into small pieces. If you are sensitive to onions, you can rinse them under some cool water for a minute to help remove some of that sulfur. I always do this!
Step Three: Add to the Rice Cooker
Next, add the rinsed rice to the rice cooker. Then add the orzo, onions, garlic, and spices. Give this a stir first to evenly distribute the spices. Finally, add the broth.
Give it a good stir and press the “on” button (or the equivalent on your rice cooker). And that’s it! Now it’s time to wait while the rice cooks.
Depending on if you made a single or double batch of this rice, in about 25 minutes your kitchen should be smelling amazing.
Tip! When the rice is done, let it rest for about 5 to 10 minutes with the lid on but don’t stir it. This helps to finish steaming.
Fluff the rice with a fork and serve.
Top Tips
- Rinse Rice: It can’t be understated how important it is to wash the rice! Rinse the rice in a fine mesh strainer under cool water for 1-2 minutes until the water runs clear. This removes that extra starchiness and prevents the rice from being gummy.
- Don’t Stir: As soon as the lid of your rice cooker goes on, refrain from stirring the rice as this can cause the rice grains to break resulting in sticky rice.
- Allow the Rice to Rest: After cooking, don’t remove the lid and let the rice rest in the hot pot for about 5 to 10 minutes to allow the moisture to distribute evenly and let it finish cooking.
How to Store
Fridge: Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To Reheat: Place the rice in a microwave safe bowl along with a sprinkle of water. Cover with a damp paper towel and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring and re-covering until heated through.
More Rice Recipes
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Equipment
- Rice cooker
- measuring cups
- mixing spoon
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain rice
- ½ cup orzo
- ¼ onion minced
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon dried onion
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Rinse the rice. Using a mesh strainer or a large bowl, rinse the rice til the water runs clear. Make sure to shake out any excess water.
- Prep the vegetables. Mince and chop the onions and garlic. If you’re sensitive to onions, be sure to rinse the onions to remove some of the sulfur before adding it to the rice.
- Add the ingredients to the pot. Add the rinsed rice to the rice cooker along with the onion, garlic, broth, orzo, oil, and all the spices.
- Cook the rice. Press the start button and let it go! Or, follow the instructions for your unique rice cooker.
- Serve. When the rice is finished, let it sit undisturbed for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork and adding the freshly chopped parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
- How to Store
- Fridge: Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat: Place the rice in a microwave safe bowl along with a sprinkle of water. Cover with a damp paper towel and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring and re-covering until heated through.
Nutrition
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