How to Flavor Rice

Co-authored by JoAnna Minneci

Last Updated: January 20, 2022 References

Rice doesn't have to a bland side dish. If you want to spice up rice a little, you have many options. You can cook rice with herbs and vegetables to add flavor during the cooking process. You can also mix in delicious flavors after rice is off the stove. If necessary, adjust the flavor of the rice after you add your spices to make sure it isn't too sweet, spicy, or salty.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Flavoring Rice While It Cooks

1
Add salsa to the water for a spicy flavor. If you're serving rice alongside a spicier dish, you can add some spice to the rice to match. Cook rice in a mixture of half salsa and half water for a savory, spicy dish.^{[1]
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- However, keep in mind rice is sometimes used to cool down your mouth when eating something spicy. Use a salsa that's slightly more mild than the dish you're making so the rice isn't overwhelming.
- If you're making a very spicy dish, use something like carrot juice instead of salsa. This way, your rice will have a savory flavor to match without being too hot.
2
Cook rice in broth. Try substituting water for chicken or vegetable broth. This can give your rice a little extra flavor. Chicken and vegetable broth are great flavoring options if you want a side dish with a mild, but noticeable, flavor.^{[2]
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JoAnna Minneci
Professional Chef
Expert Interview. 23 December 2021.}^{[3]
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- To add a unique twist to rice, replace the water in the rice with coconut milk, then add scallions and a little fish sauce. If you'd like, add a little brown sugar or palm sugar to sweeten the dish.^{[4]
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  JoAnna Minneci
  Professional Chef
  Expert Interview. 23 December 2021.}
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3
Boil rice with diced vegetables or fruits. Vegetables with strong flavors can be diced and cooked in the pot with rice. Add some diced onions, cranberries, cherries, or peas to the pot where you're cooking rice. The flavor will seep into the rice during the cooking process, creating a rich built-in flavor for your rice.^{[5]
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- You can also add in herbs or spices that pair well with the vegetables you're adding. For example, you might sautee diced garlic and onion in a little oil, then stir in the rice and add water.
- Adding 1-2 bay leaves to the pan will give the rice a nice herbal flavor. Just pull the leaves out and discard them after the rice is cooked.^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  JoAnna Minneci
  Professional Chef
  Expert Interview. 23 December 2021.}
4
Cook your rice with cinnamon sticks and garlic cloves. For a sweet, spicy dessert rice, add a cinnamon stick to your rice before cooking. Add some cloves of cinnamon and garlic as well, for a very strong flavor. Cook your rice as you normally would. When your rice is cooked, you'll have a dish with a bold, slightly sweet flavor.^{[7]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Adding Flavor to Cooked Rice

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Stir fresh herbs into cooked rice. Fresh herbs can add a powerful flavor to a bowl of freshly cooked rice. After removing your rice from the stove, chop your chosen herbs into tiny slices. Then, mix them into the rice to add flavor. Herbs that can be added to rice include things like parsley, rosemary, cilantro, and garlic.^{[8]
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- Choose herbs that match the dishes you're serving. If you're serving rice alongside an Italian dish, for example, try adding fresh garlic and basil to the rice.
2
Cook your rice in oil after boiling it. After your rice is cooked, heat some oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Choose an oil that has a lot of flavor, such as olive oil. You can also add some herbs or spices, such as parsley or garlic. Add your rice to the skillet and coat the rice in the oil and herbs until it's golden brown.^{[9]
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- While this option adds a lot of flavor, it also adds extra calories to the rice. It's not the best option if you're looking for a side dish low in calories.
3
Add sweet ingredients for a dessert rice. After you cook your rice, mix in fruits like cranberries and cherries to sweeten it. Add sweet spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg, as well as things like vanilla or almond extract. This can create a sweet-flavored rice that can make a great dessert.^{[10]
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- Flavoring rice with fresh fruit and low or no-calorie sweeteners can be a great dessert option if you're trying to cut down on added sugar.
4
Use commercial seasoning blends on your rice. When you're in the supermarket, pick up seasoning packets from the spice aisle. Things like cajun blends, or even spice blends meant to flavor taco meat, can be mixed into rice after cooking. This is a very quick means to create a delicious rice side dish for any meal.^{[11]
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5
Add a splash of citrus flavor. Citrus flavors, like lime and lemon, can add some tang to rice. This can work great when serving rice alongside dishes such as fish, which pair well with citrus. After removing rice from the stove, try squeezing in a dash of your favorite citrus flavoring.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Avoiding Common Mistakes

1
Make sure to add enough salt. Too much salt can overpower a dish, but don't make the mistake of adding no salt to your rice. Salt, in moderation, can help bring out a dish's flavor. After flavoring your rice, add a small amount of salt and taste it. If the dish tastes a little bland, add salt in small increments until the flavor is at the level you prefer.^{[13]
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2
Adjust the rice if it's too sweet. You can go overboard on sweeteners such as extracts and sweet spices. If your rice is a little too sweet, you can adjust it by adding a splash of something acidic. A small amount of apple cider vinegar, for example, can tone down a dish's sweetness.^{[14]
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3
Tone down the flavor if your rice is too spicy. Many people enjoy adding a spicy flavor to their rice, but rice is often necessary to cool your mouth between bites of a spicy dish. If you made your rice a little too spicy, tone the flavor down by mixing in vegetables or fruits to dilute the spicy flavor. You can also add a mild amount of dairy, such as sour cream or plain yogurt.^{[15]
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