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This Syrian Rice recipe reminds me of my teta and my dad, of course…it was a big part of our table. I would always sneak a bowl of this basmati and fideo rice and add jocoque (Mexican labneh), something spicy like serranos, mint, scallions and fried almonds – as you can see I’ve always loved to make recipes my own! Now, I’m not claiming this is the right way to make it, but this is how it was made in my house and it is how I like it ☺️.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Syrian Rice
This Syrian Rice was a staple in my parent’s house growing up, and now it’s a staple in mine! This is my favorite rice ever. After you make this, you won’t be eating rice any other way. It’s perfect as a side dish (my kids love it as a main) and it’s very easy to make. The fried almonds on the top add a touch of crunchiness and bring a nutty taste and it is epic!
How To Prepare
Soak first and chop while you wait – Once you pour your boiling water over your basmati rice, set a timer and start prepping for the rest of the recipe.
Slice – serronos, scallions and mint
Measure – fideo, butter, broth and water (you can start getting these hot for later in the recipe)
Toast – sliced almonds in butter
If you prep, you should have smooth sailing getting the rest of this recipe together.
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🔥Chef Nadia’s Tip🔥
- Don’t skip the soaking of the rice. It plumps the rice and is very important to this Syrian Rice recipe.
- Stir constantly while toasting your fideo and sliced almonds. They can burn easily.
- Once all your liquids are in, bring your water to a low simmer and leave it alone. You may be tempted to open the lid and stir it, but that will let the heat out and we are trying to steam this rice!
Substitutions
- I used basmati rice, but you can use your rice of choice!
- You can use any pepper of your choice instead of Serrano, such as jalapeños or omit completely.
- For a vegetarian version of this Syrian Rice, swap the chicken broth for vegetable both and use salt instead of chicken bullion.
The Perfect Pairings
For this Syrian Rice, start your night out with a Cucumbertini. For your main, Chicken Shawarma Tacos and a fresh Butter Salad. Finish the night off with a Passion Fruit Panna Cotta.
Syrian Rice: Questions Answered
Toasting your rice adds depth and nuttiness to your dish. It’s the little things that add the flavor and make it worth it in the end.
Sure! Grilled chicken or fish would go great on it. You can even add an egg on top if that’s the route you want to go.
Up to 4 days if sealed well and stored in the fridge. Don’t add the labneh to the part that you’re saving as leftovers.
Syrian Rice
Equipment
- Bowl
- large pan
- pot
Ingredients
- 2 cups basmati rice
- boiling water, enough to cover your rice in a bowl
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup fideo , or vermicelli
- 1 tbsp chicken bouillon, optional
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- salt and pepper, to taste, if needed
Toppings
- sliced almonds, butter fried, to taste
- fresh mint, to taste
- serranos, sliced, to taste
- scallions, sliced, to taste
- labneh, to taste
Instructions
- Add the basmati rice to a bowl and cover it with boiling water. Let sit for 20 minutes.
- In a large pan, melt the butter on medium heat. Add the fideo and cook until pretty golden brown, stirring frequently.
- Strain the basmati rice and add it to the pan with the golden fideo. Continue to cook them together for another 3-4 minutes. Add the chicken bouillon.
- In a separate pot, bring the chicken broth and water to a boil. Once it is boiling, add it to the rice.
- Taste and add more salt at this point, if needed.
- Cover and simmer on low heat until all the liquid is absorbed. This should take about 15 minutes.
- Fluff it with a fork. Top with sliced almonds, fresh mint, serranos, scallions and labneh. Enjoy!
Kitchen Cam
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
nice
My family and friends loved this!
Hey Georgia! That makes me so happy. This is one from my dad that I grew up eating and it has a special place for me! Thank you so much for the review 🤗