CREAMY Turmeric Rice with Vegetables | Heart-Healthy 40 Minute Recipe
This creamy turmeric rice with vegetables, known as arroz meloso con curcuma y verduras, is what the Mediterranean kitchen is all about. It’s filled with flavors, made with heart-healthy ingredients, and all done in about 40 minutes. Serve it next to a crunchy baguette and a bottle of Spanish wine for a fabulous meal.

To make this recipe, I used Spanish short-grain rice, which is similar to Arborio. You can use other types of rice if you like. Just make sure to check the cooking times; that way, you cook it right on the money. You also want to add in a bit more liquid than what the package states, as that is one of the elements to achieve that creamy goodness.

As for the vegetables, I used onion, garlic, zucchini, red bell pepper, and carrots. You can mix it up and use other types of vegetables or whatever you have on hand. As for the zucchini, I sautéed it first and then removed it. Then added it back towards the end so it doesn’t get a mushy texture and fall apart.

TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: You want to make sure to mix the rice every 2 to 3 minutes. This way it releases its starch. This, along with the extra liquid, is what gives this dish that creamy texture. This dish will hold for up to 3 to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container.

Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY COOKWARE
MY CHEF´S KNIFE
EXTRA VIRGIN SPANISH OLIVE OIL
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Watch the Video Below on How to Make CREAMY Turmeric Rice with Vegetables
CREAMY Turmeric Rice with Vegetables | Arroz Meloso con Curcuma y Verduras
Ingredients
- 1 liter vegetable broth 4 1/4 cups
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 60 ml
- 1 small zucchini
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 carrot
- 1 tsp ground turmeric 2 grams
- 1/2 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika 1.25 grams
- 1 cup short-grain rice 190 grams
- 2 tsp lemon juice 10 ml
- sea salt & black pepper
- chopped cilantro
Instructions
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Cut the zucchini into 1/4 inch (0.625 cm) thick rounds, finely chop the onion, roughly chop the garlic, finely chop the carrot (peeled), and cut the red bell pepper into small strips
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Add the broth into a saucepan and heat with a medium heat
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At the same time, heat a large fry pan with a medium heat and add in the olive oil
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After a couple of minutes, add the sliced zucchini into the hot fry pan, mix it together, and then mix every 1 to 2 minutes
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Once the zucchini is lightly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes, remove it from the pan and set aside
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Using the same pan with the same heat, add in the chopped onion, garlic, carrot, and red bell pepper, mix continuously, after 4 minutes and the vegetables are lightly sautéed, add in the turmeric, paprika, and season with salt & pepper, mix together, then add in the rice and mix continuously
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After sautéing the rice for 2 minutes, gently add in the simmering vegetable broth and mix together, then mix every 2 to 3 minutes, as this will help release the starch in the rice
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After simmering the rice for 16 minutes, which in my case was 2 minutes shy of the rice being cooked through, add the sliced zucchini back into the pan and mix it together, simmer for another 2 minutes or until the rice is cooked through, then turn off the heat, add in the lemon juice, and give one final mix
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Transfer into shallow bowls, and top off with chopped cilantro, enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Get the Spanish Olive Oil I used to make this Recipe
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