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Home ยป Vegan

Lebanese vermicelli rice

Published: May 4, 2023 by Vandana Chauhan. This post may contain affiliate links.

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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.

Lebanese vermicelli rice in a black bowl with a fork.

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.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients needed
  • Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
  • How to cook vermicelli with rice (step by step process)?
  • How to serve Lebanese rice?
  • Storing and reheating tips
  • Recipe tips, tricks, and variation suggestions
  • Frequently asked questions
  • More easy Lebanese recipes
  • Other rice recipes from around the world
  • Recipe

Ingredients needed

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

Ingredients required to make vermicelli rice, labeled.

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:

Collage of images of steps 1 to 4 of Lebanese vermicelli with rice recipe.

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.

Collage of images of steps 5 to 8 of Lebanese vermicelli with rice recipe.

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.

Arabic vermicelli rice in a bowl with a fork and some side dishes in the background.

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. 

Frequently asked questions

Can I use regular white rice instead of basmati rice in this recipe?

Though long-grain basmati rice is the best choice for making vermicelli rice, you can use any other less starchy white rice variety. Long grain rice will be the best choice but if you don't have that medium grain rice is fine too. Don't use a short variety of rice.

Can brown rice be used to make vermicelli rice?

No, the size and texture of brown rice, also, the difference in the time required to cook brown rice and vermicelli don't make brown rice a suitable choice for making this dish.

Can store-bought pre-roasted vermicelli be used to make this dish?

Yes, you can also use the pre-roasted vermicelli that's available in the market. However, do saute them too in olive oil just for a few seconds.

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)

Other rice recipes from around the world

​Want to try more rice dishes from around the world? The following dishes are worth checking:

  1. Jeera rice (Indian)
  2. Curried rice with vegetables (Indian)
  3. Mexican beans and corn rice
  4. Spanakorizo (Greek spinach rice)
  5. Savory pumpkin and rice casserole (American)
  6. Biko (Philippines)
  7. Thai mango sticky rice
Close up shot of Lebanese rice with vermicelli garnished with chopped parsley.

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Recipe

Lebanese vermicelli with rice in a bowl with a fork.

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.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Arabic, Lebanese, Middle Eastern
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 3
Calories: 430kcal
Author: Vandana Chauhan

Equipment

  • cooking pot with lid
  • Spatula
  • large bowl to soak rice

Ingredients

  • 1 cup long grain basmati rice
  • ½ cup broken vermicelli pasta
  • 1.5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 cups water

Instructions

  • Rinse rice well i.e. until you get clear water. Soak rice in water for around 15 minutes. After 15 minutes strain and discard the water.
  • Heat oil in a cooking pot. Add vermicelli and stir fry until the vermicelli turns golden brown.
  • Add rinsed rice and salt. Saute for a minute.
  • Add water, mix, and cover the pot.
  • Cook covered on a low flame for around 15 minutes. Turn off the heat.
  • Don't remove the lid for at least 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, remove the lid and fluff rice with a fork.

Video

Notes

  • 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 recipe tips and tricks are shared in the post above, please follow them to make this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 430kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 83mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg
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Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog. My name is Vandana Chauhan and I am on a mission to explore vegan/ vegetarian recipes from around the world. I am delighted to welcome you to join me on this exciting journey.

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