63 rice pilaf recipes

Herbed brown rice pilaf sauteed with onions and garlic, then simmered with dill, thyme, and butter. A fragrant, nutty side dish with hands-off cooking.

Earthy brown rice pilaf with mushrooms, toasted walnuts, balsamic vinegar, and a splash of aromatic bitters. A savory, lighter side dish with bold flavor that pairs with just about anything.

Kazakh rice combines ground lamb, slivered almonds, and dried apricots, dates, and prunes with garlic and onion in one pilaf-style pot. A Central Asian sweet-savory main or side.

Greek octopus pilaf simmered in tomato, white wine, and oregano for an hour until tender, served over rice cooked in the braising sauce. A traditional taverna dish.

Brown rice pilaf with toasted pine nuts, sweet raisins, garlic, and fresh parsley. A Middle Eastern-inspired whole grain side dish with nutty texture and bright herbs.

Spicy rice pilaf with olives, mushrooms, Parmesan, and a triple-sauce punch of salsa, hot sauce, and Pickapeppa. A bold, cheesy side dish simmered on the stovetop.

Indian lima bean stew (dalna) with cumin, coconut, tomato, ginger, and fresh dill. Inspired by Orissan mung bean dalna, this vegan one-pot dish pairs with rice pilaf.

Middle Eastern rice pilaf with cashews, raisins, dried apricots, and warm spices like cardamom and turmeric. A fragrant side dish with caramelized onions and a sweet-savory balance.

Orange rice pilaf cooked in fresh orange juice with orange zest, celery, thyme, and sauteed onions. A bright, citrusy side dish that pairs with poultry, pork, and holiday roasts.

Lemon orzo pilaf is a five-ingredient one-pot side of rice-shaped pasta simmered in chicken broth with basil and lemon zest. Ready in 30 minutes. Bright, simple weeknight starch.

Stuffed monster zucchini is the answer to a giant garden zucchini: halved, hollowed, and packed with a savory cumin-thyme rice and lentil pilaf, then baked until tender. A hearty, frugal vegan main.

Gujar Ka Pullao (Indian carrot rice pilaf): fragrant basmati cooked with caramelized onions, grated carrots, and whole spices like cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and cumin. A vibrant, naturally vegan side from Northern India.

Ryzi me araka: traditional Greek rice and peas simmered with onion and olive oil in a one-pot pilaf. Simple, vegan, and a no-fuss weeknight side from the Greek home-cooking playbook.

Fluffy couscous pilaf with toasted coriander seeds, red bell pepper, cayenne, and cinnamon, finished with fresh mint. Served with a blended saffron cream of Neufchatel cheese and yogurt.

Shereen Polo is a Persian jeweled rice pilau with saffron, julienned carrots, orange peel, almonds, pistachios, and rose water in sugar syrup. Served with crispy tahdig and a side of chicken stew.