I didn’t grow up eating Middle Eastern food and got introduced to this cuisine only after moving to Dubai around 8 years back. But we liked it so much that now I cook dishes from the Middle Eastern cuisine quite regularly in my kitchen. A few days back I shared the recipe for a delicious Lebanese stew called bamia. Today, I am sharing the recipe for Lebanese vermicelli rice which is one of the most popular Lebanese rice recipes and a great side dish to serve with that okra stew. It’s a simple Arabic-style rice recipe that’s made with rice and roasted vermicelli. If you have got bored of eating your regular plain rice, try this rice with vermicelli recipe, you will definitely love its simple flavors.
Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
Rice: Long-grain basmati rice is the best choice for making this Arabic rice. However, if you don’t have that, use any long or medium-grain white rice that’s less starchy. Vermicelli: Use flour or semolina vermicelli pasta, don’t use rice vermicelli. Use broken vermicelli, not long strands. Olive oil: To get the best flavor, use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. I have used olive oil in moderation but traditionally more oil is used in this recipe. You can also add a few tablespoons more if you want. Instead of olive oil, you can use butter too to make delicious buttery vermicelli rice.
Step 1: Rinse rice well to remove the excess starch i.e. until you get clear water. Soak them in water for 15 minutes. After that strain the rice and discard water. Step 2: Heat oil in a cooking pot. Add vermicelli noodles and saute until it turns golden brown. Step 3: Add rice and salt. Step 4: Saute rice for 1-2 minutes. Step 5: Add water. Step 6: Cover the pot and cook on a low flame for around 15 minutes or until the rice is cooked. Switch off the stove but don’t remove the lid for at least 5 minutes. Step 7: After 5 minutes, remove the lid. Step 8: Fluff rice with a fork. Your simple Lebanese vermicelli rice is ready to be served. You may garnish it with toasted pine nuts and chopped parsley.
It’s a perfect side dish for many Arabic dishes, especially stews like bamia. It also goes well with this Persian vegan fesenjan. You can also pair it with roasted or grilled vegetables. To make a complete meal, also serve a refreshing Middle Eastern salad like Tabbouleh, fattoush, balela, or Lebanese butter bean salad. You can also include a yogurt mint dip or plain yogurt in this Middle Eastern meal. For reheating, either use a microwave or reheat on the stovetop by following the process given below:
Other rice recipes from around the world
Want to try more rice dishes from around the world? The following dishes are worth checking: If you liked this recipe, please leave a star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in the recipe card below. You can also follow me on Instagram, Youtube, and Pinterest.
Recipe
