Jazz up rice and add an extra serving of vegetables to your weeknight supper with this simple side dish for bell pepper rice.
Do you ever find yourself getting bored of plain old rice? I sure do and that’s why I’m so excited to share this recipe with you today. This recipe for bell pepper rice is packed with flavour and will make you fall in love with rice all over again. Have you ever thought about how crazy it is that people can have completely different tastes in something?
Whether it’s food, art or music, each one of us has our own distinct style. As you know, I’ve been travelling throughout Europe with my older sister. Doing all sorts of different things, hitting up the museums, visiting markets in each city (which has quickly become our favourite thing), drinking wine in France and beer in Germany. And not to mention eating everything in sight. But something that I’ve really noticed is just how different our tastes are. She loves yellow, I love navy blue. Anything caramel for her, anything chocolate for me. I love bell peppers, my sister, not so much, but we’re working on it.
This rice gets its flavour from the peppers and the help of a few favourite spices; coriander, cumin and turmeric. I couldn’t forget flavour packed herbs so you’ll find parsley and basil in here. I know that it might sound like a lot of flavour for a simple rice dish, but trust me on this one, if you’re looking for a new side to add to your weekly rotation, this rice fits the bill.
But what does any of this sister talk have have to do with bell pepper rice? Well, you see, my sister loves rice and well me, not so much. I know, I’m posting a recipe for rice and admitting that I don’t even like the grain? It wasn’t until I amped up the flavour that I really started to love rice. I’ve always found it to be extremely boring and bland, I’d even go as far as to say that I prefer brown rice to white rice, which is an uncommon opinion.
When it comes to rice, I always try to either a) avoid it or b) jazz it up. I feel like there are quite a few people out there with the same opinion about plain old boring rice as me, so this recipe is for you. I’ve decided to add sweet bell peppers (both red and yellow) in here for some added flavour and eating more vegetables doesn’t hurt, right? This dish is quite similar to a rice pilaf, if that is something you’re a fan of you are bound to love this dish. So, if you’re on the hunt for a new side dish to make for dinner, give this a try.
Bell pepper rice recipe breakdown
Add some flavour to boring rice by adding aromatic spices and herbs and sweet bell peppers – this simple rice dish will be your new favourite side dish.
Bell Pepper Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup white rice
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon basil
Instructions
- In a medium sized pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add bell peppers and onion. Cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Add garlic, coriander, cumin, turmeric, salt and pepper. Cook for another minute or until fragrant.
- Add in rice, toast the rice for 1-2 minutes, until coated in spices. Add water, parsley and basil. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes.
If you’re looking for a new side to add to your weekly rotation, look no further than this recipe for bell pepper rice.
Nell
Fabulous dish to accompany many things. Super easy and so tasty
Betty Pickens
Was looking for recipes to use my peppers ! This sounds really good. Thanks! I will add some cheese and smoked paprika and Everv thing Bagel to jazz it up and topping of onion crisp spy’s .also maybe some frozen peas. For colour!
Louisa Clements
Sounds delicious, Betty! I hope you enjoyed, love the idea of adding peas!
Sebastian
Recipes terrible added more then recommended spices and it somehow tasted bland. Added more and it just tasted like bland rice with dry rub
Louisa Clements
Hi Sebastian, so sorry you didn’t enjoy this recipe. I’ve made it a number of time and never found it to be bland–you can always adjust the seasoning and add more salt. I’d also recommend checking the expiration date on your spices, if you’ve had them for some time, they do lose their potency.
Nick PORTER
It was delicious. We added some mackerel in tomato sauce and it made for a very rounded and healthy meal indeed.
Louisa Clements
So glad that you enjoyed this–the mackerel addition sounds delicious! Thank you for letting me know and for leaving a review, it is so appreciated!
Anthony
I left out the coriander because I didn’t have any, added “Better than Bullion” chicken broth instead of water, 5 cloves of garlic and 1 can of Ro*Tel diced tomatoes. This came out awesome!
Louisa Clements
So glad you enjoyed, Anthony!
Lee Pivont
. can you substitute quinoa for rice in this recipe?
Louisa Clements
Hi Lee, I’ve never tried it myself, but I can’t see why not! I hope you enjoy.
Nancy
Just tried this recipe the other day, and hubby and I both thought it was great! Only used half a red pepper, and kept the seasonings to between 1/2 to 1 tsp. Added some onion powder, too, as I didn’t have any onions handy.
Louisa Clements
Thanks Nancy, I’m so glad you both enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for your comment! :)
Maryann Rimoin
I make this rice all of the time but have added your spices. Yum! The only thing I have always added is vegetable broth rather than water which makes the rice even more yummy. Thanks for the recipe.
Lou
So glad you’ve enjoyed this one Maryann! Vegetable broth is a great choice here.
Howie
Looks very very nice! I’ll try it and will add a few more other veggies like broccoli to make it a whole meal. :D
Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven
I’m always on the look-out for new ways to perk up rice. This gorgeous rice looks like it would be well-received in this household! Love all those pretty chunks of peppers!
Lou
Thanks Sarah!
Rachel @ Bakerita
This looks like the perfect side dish for any Mexican meal – yum!!
Lou
Ooh you’re right Rachel, this would go well with a Mexican meal!
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen
Louisa, your rice looks so fluffy and flavourful! Rice is one of my favourite foods in the earth. I cook rice a lot and I am glad you post such a gorgeous rice recipe like this one!
Lou
Thanks you Olivia, you should definitely give this a try if you love rice!