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Lebanese vermicelli with rice in a bowl with a fork.
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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.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Arabic, Lebanese, Middle Eastern
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 3
Calories 430kcal
Author Vandana Chauhan

Equipment

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

Ingredients

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