Roasted Garlic Turmeric Rice

Garlic Turmeric Rice. This one-pot rice recipe will be a hit every...single...time. A mix of garlic, turmeric, and ginger together creates a powerful aroma and flavor that is unmatched.

Consider this the easiest turmeric recipe on the block. This recipe uses jasmine rice which cooks fairly quickly. From start to finish, you should be enjoying your garlic turmeric rice in less than 20 minutes.

I love rice. I mean what African doesn't? Being Nigerian, 80% of our diet involves carbohydrates.

For a while, I ate rice every day with 50% of my meals. Brown rice, white rice, and now turmeric rice.

Rice gets a bad rap in the fitness industry.

Are we eating carbs, or are we eliminating them? Make it make sense!

I could go on a whole tangent about the importance of carbohydrates and their place in your weight loss journey, but there is not enough room on this page.

Just remember this, carbohydrates are a MACROnutrient because your body can't function without them.

So when you are telling yourself "I can't eat that," try changing the language to what carb source provides me with the most nutritional benefit?

Why You'll Love This Garlic Turmeric Rice

I mean, who wouldn't opt for a well-seasoned, anti-inflammatory rice recipe? Turmeric is known for providing relief to joints, decreasing bloating, controlling diabetes, and improving overall digestion.

Research on turmeric dates back hundreds of years in Indian, Chinese, and African medicine.

When turmeric is cooked, it provides a warm yellow-orange color to its dish along with a mildly earthy bitterness that blends well with other spices.

This is what gives curry powder its color.

That is why this turmeric recipe is a great dish to add to your meal prep routine.

Calories in This Recipe

This macro breakdown is for 1 serving of Garlic Turmeric Rice. Based on your energy requirements, you might need more or less.

Total Calories: 218

Protein: 4g

Fat: 2g

Carbs: 45g

Ingredients for Garlic Turmeric Rice

• turmeric. This is the star of the show. Turmeric is going to add to the color and aroma of
• Jasmine rice. Jasmine rice has a great aroma and cooks very quickly. You don't have jasmine rice? That is fine. This recipe will work with any long-grain rice.
• whole garlic. This recipe uses one whole garlic bulb for roasting. The top will be cut off to expose the garlic. Drizzle with a little olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast for 45-55 minutes.
• yellow onion. Diced & sautéed in coconut oil.
• ginger. Use ground ginger or finely chopped ginger. If you are using fresh ginger, sauté it with the onions.
• other seasonings & herbs. chicken bouillon, dried thyme, complete seasoning, & bay leaves.
• basil leaves. Fresh basil is a must for this recipe. You can chop it as large or as fine as you want.
• habanero/scotch bonnet. In this recipe, the pepper is to flavor the rice and not for heat. It is the last ingredient before covering with a lid.
• coconut oil. This is also a must unless you don't like the taste of coconut. Virgin coconut oil adds a little bit of nuttiness and aroma to the rice which accompanies turmeric very well.

How to Make Roasted Garlic Turmeric Rice

ROASTING THE GARLIC

• Preheat oven to 450℉. Cut the top off the head of garlic and place in foil
• Drizzle a little olive oil over the top and sprinkle a pinch of salt before wrapping and placing it in the oven.
• After 45 minutes, remove the garlic from the oven and set aside to cool for about 10 minutes.
• Once the garlic is cool enough to handle, remove the cloves from the shell making sure not to bring along the casing. 
• Mash garlic in a small bowl with a fork until it becomes a paste and set aside for later.

COOKING THE RICE

• On medium heat, add coconut oil to the pot. When it heats up, sauté chopped onions for about 1 minute.
• Next, add the mashed roasted garlic and mix with the chopped onions.
• Then add turmeric and combine with the garlic and onions.
• Add the washed & strained rice to the pot along with the remaining ingredients (ginger, bouillon, thyme, complete seasoning, basil, and bay leaves)
• Add 2½ cups of water, and adjust the heat on the stove to low. Place the habanero pepper on top without opening.
• Place foil on the pot before covering it with the lid and let the rice cook for 15 minutes before checking. Cooking time may vary slightly based on the stove being used.
• The rice should be fluffy when cooked. Adjust the salt & pepper to your preference and enjoy.

Can I Use Another Type of Rice For This Recipe?

I have successfully used long-grain, parboiled, and basmati rice with this recipe. Short grain, brown rice, and sticky rice will require a different cooking time.

Can I Use a Rice Cooker?

Definitely! Follow the recipe as directed on the stove and transfer everything from the pot into the rice cooker and follow your cooker's directions for the proper rice settings. It will be perfection.

Cooking Tips and Variations

1. If you want a spicier turmeric rice, chop the habanero pepper instead of keeping it whole.
2. Substitute curry powder instead of turmeric for a more Caribbean flavor.
3. Make vegetable fried rice with your leftovers. Use this Nigerian Fried Rice recipe for inspiration.

Storage & Reheating

Once the rice cools to room temperature, you can place it in an airtight container before going in the fridge. If you don't have a container, a Ziploc/storage bag will do the trick.

Leftover rice will be at its best for 3-4 days.

More Healthy African Inspired Recipes...

• Turmeric Chicken Salad
• Turmeric Chicken Thighs
• How To Prepare Jollof Rice With Chicken
• Vegan Jollof Rice
• Nigerian Fried Rice