Traditional Lebanese Rice Recipe

Recipe By The Spruce Eats

If you grew up in the united states, chances are you have seen those boxes of rice-a-roni with the combination of rice and noodles. It came with a mysterious sauce/flavor packet, was easy to make, and was totally irresistible. And even those mothers who were not big fans of box mixes often found themselves giving in to childhood requests for this side dish and serving it with some baked or broiled chicken. Well, this american classic is really a middle eastern standard. Most commonly referred to as lebanese rice, it's probably the most common rice side dish throughout the middle east. While the typical side dish does not usually combine two different kinds of starches, the hallmark of this rice dish is, in fact, the toasted broken bits of vermicelli pasta. To toast it, some use olive oil, others use butter or clarified butter (ghee) but, either way, it's very important to get the pasta crispy but not burned. It's a fine line and you need to watch your noodles carefully. But the deeper the color, the nuttier the flavor. And when the dish is done, some of the harder, more brown bits at the bottom of the pot are considered the cook's treat. The biggest question when it comes to this recipe is whether or not to soak the rice ahead of time. Purists will tell you that soaking it is a must and that you also need to massage the grains of rice between your fingers to get some of the starch off and ensure a fluffier finished product. Whether or not you actually go to these lengths is up to you but be assured that you will get a delicious side dish either way. In any event, once done the combination of fluffy rice and crispy pasta provides a perfect canvas to add some additional flavors. Herbs such as chopped parsley add a nice freshness and toasted pine nuts add a great crunch. Just serve alongside your favorite protein for a meal everyone will love.

4.7
11 Rating -
Rate
Vegdiet
35minstotal
5minsPrep
30minsCook
35m.total
5m.Prep
30m.Cook
Traditional Lebanese Rice
plan
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ingredients serve

Ingredients for Traditional Lebanese Rice Recipe

  • 0.06 cup Unsalted butter
  • 0.13 cup Vermicelli pasta, broken into small pieces
  • 0.38 cup Medium grain rice
  • 0.56 cup Water
  • As required Salt, To Taste
Nutrition
value
364
calories per serving
1 g Fat9 g Protein76 g Carbs6 g FiberOther

Current Totals

  • Fat
    1g
  • Protein
    9g
  • Carbs
    76g
  • Fiber
    6g

MacroNutrients

  • Carbs
    76g
  • Protein
    9g
  • Fiber
    6g

Fats

  • Fat
    1g

Vitamins & Minerals

  • Calcium
    27mg
  • Iron
    4mg
  • Vitamin A
    1mcg
  • Vitamin B1
    < 1mg
  • Vitamin B2
    < 1mg
  • Vitamin B3
    2mg
  • Vitamin B6
    < 1mg
  • Vitamin B9
    7mcg
  • Vitamin B12
    0mcg
  • Vitamin C
    2mg
  • Vitamin E
    < 1mg
  • Copper
    < 1mcg
  • Magnesium
    65mg
  • Manganese
    < 1mg
  • Phosphorus
    152mg
  • Selenium
    5mcg
  • Zinc
    1mg
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. All nutritional information presented are estimates and not meant to substitute professional dietary advice or treatment
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Recipe By The Spruce Eats