Golden Turmeric Chicken Rice is a flavorful one-pot meal. It combines tender chicken, aromatic basmati rice, grated carrots, and warming spices. Turmeric gives the rice its golden color, while cinnamon, green cardamom, cumin, and star anise add fragrance. Because everything cooks together in your multicooker, cleanup stays minimal.
Why You’ll Love This Golden Turmeric Chicken Rice
You use one pot from start to finish. First, you sear the chicken. Then you bloom the whole spices and soften the vegetables. Finally, you cook the rice in the same pot. As a result, the rice soaks up the flavor of the browned chicken and spices.
Also, this golden turmeric chicken rice suits a weeknight dinner, a simple lunch, or a relaxed family meal. Best of all, you get fluffy, fragrant rice with juicy chicken in every bite.
What Gives This Rice Its Flavor
Whole spices do most of the work. First, you cook the cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, and cumin in ghee until fragrant. This step brings out their aroma before the rice goes in.
Za’atar also adds a herby, tangy note. Meanwhile, turmeric brings the golden color. In addition, lime leaves, green chili, garlic, and carrot add freshness and gentle heat.
What to Serve With It
Do you enjoy simple pressure-cooker rice dishes? Then try our Vegetable Pulao in Ninja Foodi. It comes together with just a 2-minute pressure-cook time. For something different, Black Rice (Forbidden Rice) Pilaf is a colorful alternative. Or, for a richer option, try Fragrant Arborio Rice Pilaf with Saffron, Pine Nuts & Cranberries.
Golden Turmeric Chicken Rice
Equipment
- Multi- cooker optional, you can also prepare it on stove-top
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ghee
- 1 lb boneless chicken thighs cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 green cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 medium carrot shredded
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 green chili sliced
- 1 1/2 cups basmati rice washed and drained
- 2 tsp za'atar
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 2 leaves kaffir lime
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Sear the Chicken
- Heat the ghee in the multicooker.
- Add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the multicooker and set aside.
Build the Flavor Base
- Add the green cardamom, cinnamon stick, star anise, and cumin seeds. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the chopped onion and shredded carrot. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and sliced green chili. Cook for 2 minutes.
Add the Rice
- Add the washed and drained rice and mix well.
- Add the za'atar, turmeric, and lime leaves. Mix well.
Cook the Rice and Chicken
- Add the chicken stock and the chicken pieces.
- Add the salt and black pepper and mix well.
- Level the rice and chicken so they cook evenly.
- Cook on the Rice function for 5 minutes.