4.9 from 24 votes
South African Yellow Rice
This fragrant, fluffy, and tasty South African yellow rice also known as geelrys is the perfect side dish!
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings:
5
Calories:
354 kcal
Course:
Main Course, Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine:
African, South African
Ingredients
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 2 tablespoon butter (ghee, or your favourite cooking oil)
- 1½ teaspoon Turmeric
- ⅓ cup golden raisins or sultanas
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon (or a few cinnamon sticks)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4¼ cups water
Instructions
- Properly clean the rice until the water is no longer cloudy.
- In a medium-sized pot or pan, combine the rice, salt, turmeric, brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins, butter, and water then bring to a boil uncovered. Once it comes to a boil, cover, reduce the heat to low, and allow the rice to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until all the water has been absorbed and the rice is fluffy.
- Once cooked, remove the pot or pan from the heat and fluff with a fork. Serve warm with bobotie or a side of your choice.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- rice variety -the best variety of rice to use is basmati or white, long-grain rice. While you can still use brown rice, which obviously has more health benefits, it takes longer to cook and simply does not soak up the colour from the turmeric, as much as basmati rice does.
- variations - this recipe uses raisins but feel free to substitute this for your preferred dried fruit or vegetables, such as green peas. You can also use curry powder, in place of turmeric. Just bear in mind that you will need to use double or even triple the amount of curry powder, to obtain the golden yellow colour that you would get from turmeric.
- as a useful tip, cut a piece of aluminum foil around the cooking pot, once you have reduced the heat to a low. This creates a tight seal that helps steam the rice.
Nutrition Information
Calories
354kcal
(18%)
Carbohydrates
70g
(23%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
5g
(8%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Trans Fat
1g
(50%)
Cholesterol
12mg
(4%)
Sodium
284mg
(12%)
Potassium
175mg
(4%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
8g
(16%)
Vitamin A
141IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
36mg
(4%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 5 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 354
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 354kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 70g | 23% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 5g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 12mg | 4% |
| Sodium | 284mg | 12% |
| Potassium | 175mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 141IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 36mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.