A staple ingredient in almost every cuisine is the ever delicious and ever satisfying rice. Here is a collection of the BEST middle eastern rice dishes! All of these are tested to perfection and guaranteed to succeed in your kitchen. From easy weeknight recipes, to sides, and to main dishes where rice is the star; you’ll enjoy the authentic taste of rice from the middle east!

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Rice is a central ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine, and almost always served on the dinner (or lunch) table alongside any other dish.

To help you on your rice discovery journey, I have hand picked and organized 15 rice recipes for you to try. There are easy recipes for a quick meal, special occasion rice entrees, and for when you have some more time on your hands, stuffed rice recipes. Check them out and let me know what you try!

If you’re a beginner in the kitchen, I recommend starting with long grain rice and mastering that first. It is the easiest rice to cook and the most commonly used in these recipes.

Yellow Rice served on a large white platter

Tips for cooking rice perfectly

Ask any Middle Eastern mom or grandma and each one will give you their unique way of cooking rice. And while there are many tried and true methods out there, it does come down to a few basics that every beginner cook should keep in mind. These apply to rice in general, and each rice recipe will have specific instructions unique to the recipe.

My rules of thumb when it comes to cooking the best rice ever include:

  • Wash your rice until the water runs clear. I can’t stress this enough, no matter what type of rice you are using. Yes, it does take some time, and likely 7-8 cycles of washing and rinsing, but it’s worth it. This isn’t an issue of dirty rice. In fact, most rice that you buy will be fairly clean. The main objective here is to get rid of excess starch, which helps to ensure your rice is not too sticky.
  • Use measuring cups. For some of you veteran cooks, maybe you don’t need to. But if you’re still struggling with cooking perfect rice, make sure you carefully measure your rice AND your water per the recipe to get great results. And make sure you use the same exact measuring cup for both the rice and the water.
  • Use the right rice to water ratio for the type of rice you are using. This will be different depending on the type of rice, and also depending on whether or not the rice has other things mixed in it (like vermicelli noodles, meat, vegetables, etc.). For regular basmati rice, my go-to ratio is always 1.5 cups of water to 1 cup rice, with no soaking required. For medium or short grain, this depends on the type and it generally ranges from 1 to 1 and a quarter water to rice, and also involves soaking the rice for a bit.
  • Season with salt generously. There’s nothing more bland and disappointing than under seasoned rice. Seriously, make sure you season well. My rule of thumb here is to taste the liquid and ensure it is visibly salty… kind of like seasoning your pasta water.
  • Use oil/butter and broth for ultimate flavour. I know a lot of people cook their rice with just water and salt. But that’s if you want regular rice. If you want AMAZING rice… use chicken broth (or vegetable) and make sure you add some fat in the form of vegetable oil, butter, or ghee. You can even toast the rice in the fat before adding any liquid to bring out the nuttiness. Once you try cooking rice with broth and fat, you won’t ever want to eat it any other way.
  • When the recipes says don’t open the lid; don’t open the lid. Rice likes its own space once it gets settled in the pot. Give it space and time… don’t try to open the lid and peek inside. Rice needs to steam with the heat that is created inside the pot, and opening the lid releases all the steam and will mess up the cook on it.
  • Always fluff the rice with the back of a fork. Rice grains after cooking are fragile and can easily break, so gently fluffing it with the back of a fork is the best way to avoid breaking the grains.
  • Allow the rice to stand for a few minutes after cooking. Rice will often feel “wet” or too soft as soon as its finished cooking. Allow it to stand after fluffing and it will dry up and become more sturdy and ready to eat.

Rice recipes for Everyday (Easy and quick)

These are some of my favorite recipes for easy meals to whip up. They shouldn’t take you too long in the kitchen and can be served with any stew or protein of your choice.

Arabic Rice with Vermicelli

5 from 19 ratings
This classic Arabic Rice with Vermicelli noodles is served as a side next to many Middle Eastern dishes such as stews and meats. It’s SO easy to make but be warned: it’s addictive. You only need 3 main ingredients: vermicelli noodles, rice, and oil. Give it a try!
Check out this recipe!
Arabic rice with vermicelli served in a plate with blue pattern

Shawarma Rice with White Sauce (in one pot!)

5 from 112 ratings
This chicken shawarma rice cooked all in one pot is the best weekday dinner. Yellow rice, perfectly spiced chicken and the most amazing white sauce make the ultimate combination. A must try!
Check out this recipe!
Shawarma rice consisting of yellow rice with chicken pieces in a plate, drizzled with white sauce and with a green salad on the side.

The Best Carrot Rice Recipe (Iraqi Timman Jizar)

4.9 from 24 ratings
This carrot rice recipe, also known as Timman Jizar, is an incredible Iraqi vegetarian recipe and basmati rice dish! Flavoured with onions, grated carrots, tomato, and a hint of cinnamon, it strikes the perfect balance. This quick and easy carrot rice recipe is ready to serve within just 30 minutes!
Check out this recipe!
Carrot rice served in a white plate, garnished with fried almonds on a grey background

30-Minute Mediterranean Rice (Yellow Basmati Rice)

4.9 from 36 ratings
This 30-minute Mediterranean yellow rice is the perfect accompaniment to any main dish. Perfectly fluffy, it's quick and easy to make!
Check out this recipe!
A decorative plate of Mediterranean Yellow Rice, filled with saffron rice, raisins, slivered almonds, chopped herbs, and a cinnamon stick. A spoon rests in the rice, with small side bowls of toppings nearby on a tiled surface.

Baghali Polo or Timman Bagilla (Dill Rice)

5 from 14 ratings
Baghali Polo or Iraqi Timman Bagilla is a popular rice dish made with fava beans and dill. It’s so flavourful and comes together in one pot. You can make it with meat or keep it vegetarian. A must try if you are bored of plain old rice!
Check out this recipe!
Baghali polo served on a white platter, garnished with radish and dill, with a white side plate full of rice

Fluffy Egyptian Rice (Medium Grain Rice)

5 from 5 ratings
This Egyptian rice is a classic side dish with any middle eastern stew. It's cooked with vermicelli noodles that are toasted in oil, along with chicken broth, to make a very flavourful pot of rice!
Check out this recipe!
Cooked Egyptian rice and vermicelli in a beige bowl with slices of red onion and cilantro on top on a woven background and a fork beside the bowl of rice

Instant Pot Tomato Rice

4.8 from 6 ratings
A quick vegetarian rice dish that's full of flavor
Check out this recipe!
A bowl of vibrant Instant Pot Tomato Rice garnished with fresh cilantro sits on a white surface beside another bowl with red onion slices and cilantro. Two metal spoons rest in the rice bowl, and both bowls feature delicate blue floral patterns.

Rice dishes for Special Occasion

When I’m hosting a dinner, I also have one show stopper rice and meat platter on my table. Try one of my special occasion rice recipes for your next dinner party, and I’m sure it will beautifully decorate your table and satisfy your friends.

Maqluba (Makloubeh) with Lamb (Arabic rice dish)

5 from 115 ratings
Maqluba is a layered dish that is served by flipping upside down to reveal layers of vegetables (commonly eggplant, potato and cauliflower), meat and rice. It’s so flavourful because everything cooks together in one pot. It’s also highly customizable and made across many middle eastern countries. If you love Arabic food… this is the dish to try!
Check out this recipe!
Maqluba served in a platter garnished with almonds and parsley. Forks, water cups, a plate with almonds in it, and a bowl with cucumber and yogurt is on the right top side of the frame

Chicken Machboos (Rice & Chicken Kabsa)

5 from 58 ratings
This chicken Machboos is a popular Arabic rice dish. Onions, garlic, dry lime, cinnamon, cardamom and bay leaves are used to perfectly spice the rice to perfection. It’s served with chicken that’s been crisped up, along with toasted pine nuts and raisins. Such a soul satisfying dish and a must try for any lover of Arabic food!
Check out this recipe!
chicken machboos served in a dish with chicken legs, pine nuts and raisins

Fragrant Lamb Kabsa (Restaurant Style)

5 from 25 ratings
Authentic lamb kabsa is made up of fragrant long-grain rice cooked with tender lamb, using aromatic warm whole spices, resulting in the most delicious meal ever!
Check out this recipe!
Lamb kabsa served on a white platter with a silver spoon, surrounded by glasses of water and bowls of yogurt.

Arabic Biryani

5 from 34 ratings
Authentic Arabic Biryani comes together with fragrant yellow rice, spiced chicken, peas, potatoes, sweet raisins and crunchy almonds. A true celebration of Iraqi cuisine – it’s a must try dish!
Check out this recipe!
A close-up of a bowl filled with rice, shredded chicken, roasted potatoes, nuts, and parsley showcases a vibrant Arabic Biryani. The dish is served on a light cloth with plates, forks, and glasses in the background on a light surface.

Quzi (Authentic Iraqi Recipe)

5 from 23 ratings
This recipe features tender lamb served over a bed of yellow rice and garnished with crunch almond and raisins. An Iraqi national dish for celebrations and gatherings.
Check out this recipe!
A platter of Quzi-style cooked lamb shanks served over yellow rice with raisins, herbs, and nuts, accompanied by bowls of yogurt, tomato stew, chopped herbs, cutlery, and salt shakers nearby.

Chicken Mandi (Yemeni Chicken & Yellow Rice)

5 from 37 ratings
This chicken and rice dish is not your average recipe – a traditional Yemeni recipe that combines succulent chicken, perfectly seasoned with a warm spice blend and served with glistening yellow rice, topped with fried onions, almond and raisins. There's nothing like it!
Check out this recipe!
Chicken and rice served on a white platter topped with cilantro, almonds, and raisins.

Stuffed rice dishes

Stuffed rice meals are always a labour of love due to the time they take, but they are absolutely worth it! In one bite you get the rice with the melt-in-your-mouth vegetable that is the most delicious reward.

Iraqi Dolma (Middle Eastern Stuffed Vegetables)

5 from 37 ratings
This authentic Iraqi Dolma recipe may be a labour of love, but it is so worth it! If you ever wanted to be transported to Iraq through your taste buds, this is the recipe to try!
Check out this recipe!
Iraqi dolma (vegetables stuffed with rice and meat) served in a blue patterned plate

Yalanji (Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves)

5 from 9 ratings
These vegetarian stuffed grape leaves are extremely addictive and will impress your guests! They're easy to make if you have a bit of time. The rice based vegetarian filling comes together in minutes, but you just need to keep rolling those leaves!
Check out this recipe!
vegetarian stuffed grape leaves served on a platter with lemon wedges

Malfouf (Lebanese Cabbage Rolls)

5 from 13 ratings
Malfouf consists of cabbage stuffed with a mixture of rice, ground beef, garlic and spices, cooked in a a garlic and lemon broth. It's a labour of love, but oh so worth it!
Check out this recipe!
Lebanese malfouf served on a pink plate and garnished with lemon wedges and fresh mint

Rice-Stuffed Mediterranean Peppers (Vegetarian)

5 from 13 ratings
These easy vegetarian rice-stuffed peppers are bursting with flavor and are quick and easy to make. The end result is a juicy stuffed pepper, with soft, tangy rice full of umami. A must try for a quick yet super satisfying dinner.
Check out this recipe!
Baked yellow, orange and red bell peppers, stuffed with a rice mixture, placed in a large enamel baking dish with tomato sauce on the bottom, garnished with finely chopped parsley.

If you tried these recipes, please consider leaving a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page – I’d love to hear from you! You can also hop on over to Instagram and say hello!