🇹🇷 Turkish Rice Pilaf

🇹🇷 Turkish Rice Pilaf

Learn how to make authentic Turkish rice pilaf with buttery, fluffy grains and golden toasted orzo. It’s the perfect side dish for homemade doner, chicken shish, kofte and other Turkish kebabs.

Serves: 4
Preparation and cooking time: Approximately 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup long-grain or Baldo rice
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons orzo (arpa şehriye)
• 1½ cups hot chicken stock or water
• ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
• Optional: a small squeeze of fresh lemon juice

How to Make Turkish Rice Pilaf

1. Rinse the rice several times until the water runs mostly clear. For a more traditional texture, soak the rice in warm salted water for 15–20 minutes, then drain thoroughly.
2. Melt the butter with the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the orzo and cook, stirring regularly, until it turns a deep golden brown.
3. Add the drained rice and gently sauté for 2–3 minutes. Make sure every grain is coated in the butter and oil.
4. Pour in the hot chicken stock or water and add the salt. Stir once, then bring everything to a gentle boil.
5. Cover the saucepan and reduce the heat to its lowest setting. Cook for 12–15 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed. Do not stir the rice while it cooks.
6. Turn off the heat. Place a clean kitchen towel or sheet of kitchen paper underneath the lid and leave the rice to rest for 10–15 minutes.
7. Remove the lid, gently fluff the rice with a fork and serve.

The Secret to Fluffy Turkish Rice

Do not skip the resting stage. Resting allows the remaining steam to distribute evenly, giving you fluffy rice with beautifully separated grains instead of wet or sticky pilaf.

What to Serve with Turkish Rice Pilaf

Turkish rice pilaf is the perfect accompaniment to homemade kebabs. Serve it alongside chicken shish, doner kebab, kofte, Adana kebab or shawarma with grilled vegetables, salad and warm flatbread.

Use our authentic kebab seasonings to recreate proper kebab-shop flavour at home without complicated spice measuring.

Planning a Turkish-style family dinner? Explore the full range of Baharat Turkish spices and kebab seasonings and choose your favourite flavour.

For an easy fakeaway night, pair this rice pilaf with seasoned meat, homemade chilli sauce and tzatziki. Shop all Baharat products and build your own kebab feast.