A practical side dish recipe with ingredients, method, timing, storage notes, and quick answers before you cook.
Lila Park
Prep: 10 min. Cook: 20 min. Serves: 4.
Rice pilaf is built for practical home cooking: clear ingredients, a straightforward method, and enough flexibility to fit a normal weeknight or weekend meal.
rice, onion, butter, broth, herbs, and toasted pasta if desired
1 tbsp oil
1 small onion
2 cloves garlic
1 cup broth or sauce
1 cup vegetables
salt and pepper
fresh herbs or lemon for finishing
Heat oil in a large skillet. Brown rice, onion, butter, broth, herbs, and toasted pasta if desired, then move it aside or remove it briefly if needed.
Cook onion, garlic, and vegetables until softened. Add broth or sauce and scrape up browned bits from the pan.
Return everything to the skillet and simmer until cooked through. Finish rice pilaf with herbs or lemon.
Use a wide skillet so ingredients brown instead of steam.
Taste at the end; skillet dinners usually need a final pinch of salt or acid.
Taste before serving and adjust with salt, pepper, citrus, herbs, or sauce depending on the dish.
Refrigerate up to 4 days.
Reheat covered over medium-low heat or microwave in short bursts.
Yes, but use a very large skillet or cook in batches so the food browns properly.
Rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, or a simple salad all work.
Yes. Use what cooks in a similar time, or add firmer vegetables earlier.
Rice pilaf takes about 10 min prep + 20 min cook, not counting optional resting or chilling time.
