Easy Yellow Spanish Rice (Arroz Amarillo) Recipe / Video

Name: Easy Homemade Yellow Spanish Rice
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Spanish
Ingredients: 1 Tbsp olive oil; 1/2 cup onion, diced; 1/2 cup carrots, diced; 2 cups long grain rice (white basmati is my favorite); 1/4 tsp ground turmeric; 1/4 tsp salt; 3 1/2 cups broth or water; 1 cup frozen peas, defrosted

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This easy homemade yellow Spanish rice recipe (AKA Arroz Amarillo) is a colorful and versatile side dish with peas and carrots. The yellow rice color comes from the addition of a little bit of saffron or turmeric.

Yellow Spanish Rice With Peas and Carrots In a Brown Bowl With a spoon On a Dark Wood Table.

What kind of rice do you use for yellow Spanish rice?

Any rice works for this this yellow rice recipe, so use your favorite. I usually go with a fluffy long grain white basmati rice or jasmine rice, but short grain or brown rice work too. I like long grain basmati rice the best if you're asking 🙂

Short grain is generally stickier so a longer grain will fluff and separate better. Usually, we love to see this vibrant yellow color, so a white rice variety will show the yellow color the best.

Where does yellow rice come from?

Yellow rice is popular in so many different countries and cultures: India, Puerto Rico, Africa, Asia, Iran, etc... Each has their own nuances.

This yellow rice recipe is a basic easy homemade rice recipe. Serve it with Spanish Chicken and Rice.

What spices can I use for yellow Spanish rice?

Saffron is very expensive so go with the turmeric to make yellow rice :). But, if you have saffron laying around your home, you can substitute a pinch of it (around 10-15 threads) instead of using ground turmeric. Annatto is another spice that will make yellow rice.

Wanna make your life even easier? Cool, check out pre-made yellow rice mixes made from Mahatma, Vigo, or Goya. But, honestly, just give this easy recipe a try before you spend the extra cash.

Add some fresh chopped herbs or chopped Spanish Olives to level up this yellow rice recipe a notch.

Bonus: Use leftover yellow rice the next day by adding meat or veggies from your fridge and make a fried rice main dish.

How do I cook rice?

Cook rice according to package instructions if you have them.

Rice generally takes a 1:2 ratio (rice:water), but the more you increase the rice, the less the water ratio gets (so if cooking larger quantities you need less water).

To me, larger quantities of rice mean anything over 1 ½ cups of rice. For 1 ½ cups of rice, I might start with 2 ½ - 2 ⅔ cup of water or broth, but have more at the ready.

Undercooked rice? Add a little more water and/or turn down the heat when cooking and cook for longer.

Sometimes, a crunchy caramelization happens at the bottom of the rice pot (if you're lucky!) after cooking. The Spanish call this crunchy rice socarrat. It's like the crispy edges of a brownie. Enjoy it if you get it!

Yellow Spanish Rice With Peas and Carrots In a Brown Bowl With a spoon On a Dark Wood Table. Top view.

Spanish Yellow Rice FAQS

What seasoning is used to make yellow rice?

Saffron if you've got the cash. I use ground turmeric. Annatto is also a spice that can be used for it's vibrant yellow color.

When do I add the frozen peas to yellow rice?

I remove the Spanish yellow rice from heat and add peas defrosted for 5-8 minutes on top of the steaming hot rice and put the cover back on the pot. This steams them so they keep their vibrant green color. You can add them frozen too but it will take longer.

What can I add to a yellow Spanish rice recipe?

Anything you want: garlic, peppers, sazon or goya seasoning (pre-made Latin mixes), salsa (would change the color to a more red Spanish rice), tomato sauce (would change the color to a more red Spanish rice), herbs like cilantro or scallions, spices like cumin or oregano.

Easy Homemade Yellow Spanish Rice

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This easy homemade yellow Spanish rice recipe (AKA Arroz Amarillo) is a colorful and versatile side dish with peas and carrots.

Author: beckie
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 6
Category: Side Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Spanish
Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Ingredient List Yellow Rice:

1 tablespoon olive oil
½ cup onion, diced
½ cup carrots, diced
2 cups long grain rice (white basmati is my favorite)
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
¼ teaspoon salt
3 ½ cups broth or water
1 cup frozen peas, defrosted

Instructions

Bring a medium size pot to medium high heat and add oil. When hot, add onions and carrots and cook ~ 4-5 minutes at a lower heat or until veggies are soft and translucent.
Stir in ground turmeric to the mixture.
Add rice and stir to coat.
Add broth or water after the rice is coated with the oil/spice mixture.
Bring rice to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and cook covered ~ 20 minutes (or according to package instructions). Don't stir rice during this process. Just let it do it's thing undisturbed.
Remove rice from heat and add peas (after rice is cooked) and keep rice covered to steam them ~ 8 minutes (this keeps their vibrant color).
Remove lid and fluff yellow rice before serving.
Add salt to taste. Happy Eating! Beckie

Notes

Undercooked rice? Add a little more water and/or turn down the heat when cooking. Rice generally takes a 1:2 ratio (rice:water), but the more you increase the rice, the less the water ratio gets (so if cooking larger quantities you need less water).
What kind of rice do you use for yellow rice? Any, your favorite... I usually go with a fluffy long grain white basmati rice, but jasmine, or brown rice work too (short grain is generally stickier). Usually, we love this vibrant yellow color, so a white variety will show that best.

Things In My Kitchen:

3 Piece Glass Measuring Cups - Made in the USA, glass, stackable, and 1, 2 , & 4 cup capacity.

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Serving Suggestion

Serve this Yellow Spanish Rice recipe with coleslaw "dip" or Jalapeno poppers, or alongside the delicious Azteca chicken soup, or use it as a side for a chicken dish.