Portuguese rice. Simple, easy and ready in just under 15 minutes - this delicious rice recipe is perfect for quick weeknight meals. The hint of spice from the chilies gives a unique touch and flavor to this classic rice.
So say hello to this mildly spiced Portuguese rice recipe.
It’s basically a very classic Portuguese style recipe, and I love the idea of infusing rice with so many spices to make it super flavorful and pretty. In short, this recipe is all about getting a little creative with humble rice to make it look beautiful as well as taste very delicious.
The traditional Portuguese rice is very spicy, but feel free to add more or less chilies depending on your taste. In this recipe, the heat comes from dried red chili flakes. However, you can also add a few birdseye chilies to make it more authentic.
The recipe starts with a quick stir-fry of onions, bell peppers (capsicum), and crushed garlic in hot oil. You’ll also need to add in few spices like ground turmeric, ground cumin, and smoked paprika. Give it a quick stir, and stir-fry rice in this mixture for a few minutes.
Now it’s time to cook this Portuguese rice. Cover with plenty of water, season with a chicken cube (or veg cube if you’re vegetarian), and squeeze in lemon juice. When rice is nearly done, add in green peas, and let it cook along with the rice.
This Portuguese rice is seriously so good, you must make it for dinner tonight.
More Rice Recipes
- Indonesian Fried Rice
- Veg Fried Rice
- Lemon Rice
- Egg Fried Rice
- Ginger Capsicum Fried Rice
- Chicken Fried Rice
- Saffron Rice
- Pineapple Fried Rice
- 10 Minute Broccoli Carrot Rice
- Indian Rice
- Curry Rice
Ingredients
- ▢ 1 tablespoon oil olive oil preferred
- ▢ 1 small onion chopped
- ▢ 1 bell pepper capsicum, chopped
- ▢ 2 garlic cloves crushed
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground turmeric turmeric powder
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground cumin cumin powder
- ▢ 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ▢ ½ teaspoon dried chili flakes or 4-5 birdseye chilies chopped (optional)
- ▢ 2 cups rice rinsed (long grain rice or basmati rice)
- ▢ 1 chicken stock cube or veg stock cube, crushed
- ▢ 2 teaspoon lemon juice
- ▢ 3 cups water
- ▢ ½ cup green peas frozen or cooked
- ▢ Salt
- ▢ Coriander cilantro leaves or parsley leaves, chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add onions, bell peppers and garlic. Sauté, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes or until tender. Add ground turmeric, ground cumin, smoked paprika and chili flakes. Stir to combine.
- Add rice. Stir fry for 2 minutes. Add stock cube, water and lemon juice. ( Please check the rice package instructions for the exact amount of liquid you will need) Season with salt. Stir gently. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low, and cook, covered, for 3-4 minutes or until rice is nearly done.
- Add green peas. Cook, covered, until rice is tender and water is absorbed. Garnish with chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves or parsley.
Video
Nutrition
Like this Portuguese rice recipe? Then join Nish Kitchen on Facebook , Pinterest or Instagram. Watch exclusive recipe videos on YouTube . Don’t forget to check out:
- Portuguese Orange Cake
- Portuguese Chicken
Ingredients
- ▢ 1 tablespoon oil olive oil preferred
- ▢ 1 small onion chopped
- ▢ 1 bell pepper capsicum, chopped
- ▢ 2 garlic cloves crushed
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground turmeric turmeric powder
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground cumin cumin powder
- ▢ 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ▢ ½ teaspoon dried chili flakes or 4-5 birdseye chilies chopped (optional)
- ▢ 2 cups rice rinsed (long grain rice or basmati rice)
- ▢ 1 chicken stock cube or veg stock cube, crushed
- ▢ 2 teaspoon lemon juice
- ▢ 3 cups water
- ▢ ½ cup green peas frozen or cooked
- ▢ Salt
- ▢ Coriander cilantro leaves or parsley leaves, chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add onions, bell peppers and garlic. Sauté, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes or until tender. Add ground turmeric, ground cumin, smoked paprika and chili flakes. Stir to combine.
- Add rice. Stir fry for 2 minutes. Add stock cube, water and lemon juice. ( Please check the rice package instructions for the exact amount of liquid you will need) Season with salt. Stir gently. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low, and cook, covered, for 3-4 minutes or until rice is nearly done.
- Add green peas. Cook, covered, until rice is tender and water is absorbed. Garnish with chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves or parsley.
