Lebanese vermicelli rice

Lebanese vermicelli rice, also known as riz bi sh'arieh, is a simple Arabic-style rice pilaf that can be paired with a lot of Middle Eastern stews and stir-fried or roasted dishes. It's made with just 5 ingredients (including salt and water). This vermicelli rice can also be enjoyed by vegans and vegetarians.

I didn't grow up eating Middle Eastern food and got introduced to this cuisine only after moving to Dubai around 8 years back. But we liked it so much that now I cook dishes from the Middle Eastern cuisine quite regularly in my kitchen.

A few days back I shared the recipe for a delicious Lebanese stew called bamia. Today, I am sharing the recipe for Lebanese vermicelli rice which is one of the most popular Lebanese rice recipes and a great side dish to serve with that okra stew.

It's a simple Arabic-style rice recipe that's made with rice and roasted vermicelli.

If you have got bored of eating your regular plain rice, try this rice with vermicelli recipe, you will definitely love its simple flavors.

Ingredients needed

To make this Lebanese rice pilaf, you will need just the following 5 ingredients if you consider salt and water ingredient too:

Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions

• Rice: Long-grain basmati rice is the best choice for making this Arabic rice. However, if you don't have that, use any long or medium-grain white rice that's less starchy.
• Vermicelli: Use flour or semolina vermicelli pasta, don't use rice vermicelli. Use broken vermicelli, not long strands.
• Olive oil: To get the best flavor, use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. I have used olive oil in moderation but traditionally more oil is used in this recipe. You can also add a few tablespoons more if you want. Instead of olive oil, you can use butter too to make delicious buttery vermicelli rice.

How to cook vermicelli with rice (step by step process)?

The rice vermicelli recipe is very simple, just follow the cooking process given below:

Step 1: Rinse rice well to remove the excess starch i.e. until you get clear water. Soak them in water for 15 minutes. After that strain the rice and discard water.

Step 2: Heat oil in a cooking pot. Add vermicelli noodles and saute until it turns golden brown.

Step 3: Add rice and salt.

Step 4: Saute rice for 1-2 minutes.

Step 5: Add water.

Step 6: Cover the pot and cook on a low flame for around 15 minutes or until the rice is cooked. Switch off the stove but don't remove the lid for at least 5 minutes.

Step 7: After 5 minutes, remove the lid.

Step 8: Fluff rice with a fork.

Your simple Lebanese vermicelli rice is ready to be served. You may garnish it with toasted pine nuts and chopped parsley.

How to serve Lebanese rice?

This simple rice dish is a part of daily Middle Eastern meals like most countries eat plain white rice.

It's a perfect side dish for many Arabic dishes, especially stews like bamia. It also goes well with this Persian vegan fesenjan.

You can also pair it with roasted or grilled vegetables.

To make a complete meal, also serve a refreshing Middle Eastern salad like Tabbouleh, fattoush, balela, or Lebanese butter bean salad. You can also include a yogurt mint dip or plain yogurt in this Middle Eastern meal.

Storing and reheating tips

To store, transfer the leftover Middle Eastern rice to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

For reheating, either use a microwave or reheat on the stovetop by following the process given below:

1. Microwave: Transfer to a microwave-safe dish. Add around a tablespoon of water, mix, and microwave for around 30 seconds. Take out the dish, stir the rice, and put the dish back in the microwave. Reheat for another 1 minute or until evenly heated.
2. Stovetop: To reheat on the stovetop, transfer to a pan with a lid. Add a splash of water, put on the lid, and reheat covered for a few minutes i.e. until heated well. Keep checking and stirring after every 2-3 minutes to ensure that the rice is not sticking to the pan and if required add some more hot water.

Recipe tips, tricks, and variation suggestions

• Use long-grain basmati rice to make this recipe. 
• Use wheat or semolina vermicelli, not rice vermicelli to make this dish.
• While roasting vermicelli, don't leave it unattended, it gets burned very fast.
• Always stir-fry the rice for 1-2 minutes before adding water. It removes the starch from the surface of rice grains and helps in making a rice dish in which rice grains don't stick to each other. It also makes the rice more fragrant.
• Vermicelli rice is a side dish that gets served with flavorful stews so add salt in moderation. We just want to gently season the dish and not create a very savory rice dish.
• You may garnish this Lebanese rice with toasted pinenuts, sliced almonds, or chopped fresh herbs.
• The rice-to-water ratio and cooking time may vary depending on the type of rice you are using. 

More easy Lebanese recipes

If you liked this recipe and want to explore the Lebanese cuisine, then don't miss to check out the following easy Lebanese recipes:

1. Fattoush
2. Tabbouleh
3. Lebanese butter bean salad
4. Hummus
5. Red lentil soup
6. Bamia (Lebanese okra stew)
7. Riz bi haleeb (Lebanese rice pudding)