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    Home » Healthy Arabic Recipes

    Arabic Yellow Rice with Chickpeas

    Published: Feb 25, 2022 · Modified: Mar 2, 2025

    Yellow rice with chickpeas recipe
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Arabic yellow rice with chickpeas. My Arabic spiced rice with chickpeas is a super easy recipe to make and is the perfect side dish! This Palestinian rice recipe is so delicious and healthy for you too made with my gut healing homemade bone broth!

    Arabic yellow rice, also called Palestinian kudra, is a delicious and popular side dish all over the Middle East.

    My Arabic yellow rice is spiced with saffron, black pepper, cardamom, clove, and cinnamon. Each region makes their yellow rice a little differently, so please adjust the spices to your liking!

    Do you love Arabic food and want to learn how to make delicious authentic Arabic recipes at home? Make sure to read my complete guide on Cooking Arabic Food at Home!

    WHAT DOES ARABIC YELLOW RICE WITH CHICKPEAS TASTE LIKE?

    Arabic yellow rice tastes savory with hints of cinnamon, clove, and cardamom. It is not too strong and pairs perfectly with Arabic roasted chicken.

    IS ARABIC YELLOW RICE HEALTHY FOR YOU?

    Yes! My Arabic yellow rice recipe is totally healthy for you! Most recipes are made with white rice, which doesn't have any nutritional value. I made my recipe with healthy and hearty brown rice, plus chickpeas for even more nutrients!

    Arabic yellow rice is also totally gluten free and it can easily be made dairy free by substituting out the ghee for any plant oil.

    ARABIC YELLOW RICE INGREDIENTS

    • Brown rice- high in fiber for gut health!
    • Ghee- clarified butter has pre-formed vitamin A.
    • Onion- high in vitamin C for healthy collagen in your skin!
    • Chickpeas- loaded with many nutrients like fiber, manganese, folate, copper, iron, and more! Almost like nature's multivitamin.
    • Broth- bone broth is high in collagen for healthy joints, skin, and hair.
    • Spices (saffron, sea salt, black pepper, cardamom, clove, and cinnamon)- many of these spices have anti-inflammatory properties.

    TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST ARABIC YELLOW RICE FLAVOR

    SOAK BROWN RICE IN SAFFRON AND BROTH. For the signature yellow rice color, soak saffron and rice with boiling hot broth.

    USE ALREADY COOKED SOFT CHICKPEAS. Dry chickpeas will not have enough time to soften in the rice, so use already cooked soft chickpeas.

    SAUTE ONION WITH SPICES. Add the spices to the onion before adding the broth. This allows the onions to soak up some of the flavors and make your rice very flavorful.

    COOK TILL WATER IS COMPLETLEY ABSORBED. Keep cooking rice until there is no water left. Don't take it off the heat too soon or you will get soggy rice.

    SERVE WITH TOASTED SLIVERED ALMONDS OR PINE NUTS. The best topping for Arabic yellow rice is toasted nuts! This is a very authentic way to serve the rice. Make it even more authentic with just a pinch of sumac on top too.

    MAKE MY ARABIC YELLOW RICE WITH BROWN RICE

    I took a classic yellow rice recipe and made it much healthier with brown rice and chickpeas! It'll taste just as delicious as the classic white rice version, but with way more health benefits.

    HOW TO MAKE IT WITH BROWN RICE

    Step 1- grind saffron and soak rice

    In a mortar and pestle, grind ¼ teaspoon of saffron. Add it to a heat proof bowl along with 1 cup of washed brown rice and 2 cups of boiling hot chicken broth.

    Stir to mix the saffron in and set aside while you prepare the rest.

    Step 2- sauté onion and spices

    In a medium sized sauce pan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of ghee or organic butter. Add 1 large diced yellow onion. Sauté until the onion is soft and very fragrant.

    Stir in 1 teaspoon pink sea salt, ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper, ½ teaspoon cardamom, ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves, and ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Some people also like ½ teaspoon of ground cumin to theirs.

    Step 3- add soaked rice and chickpeas

    Once spices are fragrant, add all the yellow rice and broth with saffron to the pot along with 1 cup of soft chickpeas.

    Stir and bring to a boil.

    Step 4- cook and serve

    Once broth is boiling, stir again and cover with a tight fitting lid.

    Reduce heat to low and cook until rice has absorbed all the water, about 20-30 minutes.

    Serve Arabic yellow rice with toasted almonds, sumac, and fresh chopped parsley.

    This yellow chickpea rice goes perfectly with my Persian pomegranate chicken recipe!

    More Healthy Appetizers and Snacks you're going to love!

    1. Perfect Steamed Chickpeas
    2. Authentic Arabic Hummus
    3. Beet Root Hummus (Pink Hummus)
    4. Shorbat Adas
    5. Arabic Chopped Salad
    6. Gut Healthy kale Salad
    FAQ's

    Frequently asked questions about my Palestinian yellow rice recipe.

    How do I serve Arabic yellow rice?

    Serve yellow rice as a side dish, usually some kind of meat dish like roasted chicken. Top your rice with sumac, parsley, and toasted slivered almonds.

    Can I make it with white rice instead?

    Yes! Use the same amount of everything for the white rice version.

    How can I color yellow rice if I don't have saffron?

    Use ½ teaspoon of turmeric instead of saffron to color rice yellow.

    How long does yellow rice last?

    This will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.

    Looking to make some Arabic dessert? Try my Arabic Walnut Baklava!

    Arabic yellow rice with chickpeas and saffron

    If you try my Arabic Yellow Rice with Chickpeas Recipe, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube!

    Arabic yellow rice with saffron and chickpeas

    Arabic Yellow Rice with Chickpeas (Palestinian Kudra)

    Delicious Arabic yellow rice with saffron. My easy Arabic yellow rice with chickpeas makes the perfect healthy side dish. I made my Middle Eastern saffron rice healthy with brown rice plus chickpeas!
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Arabic, Jordanian, Middle Eastern, Palestinian
    Servings 5 people
    Calories 128 kcal

    Equipment

    • large heat proof bowl
    • medium sauce pan

    Ingredients
      

    For the yellow rice:

    • ¼ teaspoon dried saffron threads
    • 1 cup brown rice
    • 2 cups hot chicken or beef broth sub vegetable broth if vegetarian
    • 1 tablespoon ghee
    • 1 lg yellow onion, diced
    • 1 teaspoon pink sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 cup soft chickpeas

    To serve:

    • toasted almond slivers
    • sumac
    • fresh chopped parsley

    Instructions
     

    Step 1: grind saffron and soak rice

    • In a mortar and pestle, grind ¼ teaspoon of saffron.
      Arabic yellow rice recipe
    • Add saffron to a heat proof bowl along with 1 cup of washed brown rice and 2 cups of boiling hot chicken broth.
      Stir to mix the saffron in and set aside while you prepare the rest.
      saffron soaking in rice

    Step 2: sauté onion and spices

    • In a medium sized sauce pan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of ghee or organic butter. Add 1 large diced yellow onion. Sauté until the onion is soft and very fragrant.
      Stir in 1 teaspoon pink sea salt, ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper, ½ teaspoon cardamom, ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves, and ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Some people also like ½ teaspoon of ground cumin to theirs.
      spices for Arabic yellow rice

    Step 3: add soaked rice and chickpeas

    • Once spices are fragrant, add all the yellow rice and broth with saffron to the pot along with 1 cup of soft chickpeas.
      Stir and bring to a boil.
      Arabic yellow rice recipe

    Step 4: cook then serve

    • Once broth is boiling, stir again and cover with a tight fitting lid.
      Reduce heat to low and cook until rice has absorbed all the water, about 20-30 minutes.
      Serve Arabic yellow rice with toasted almonds, sumac, and fresh chopped parsley.
      cooked Arabic yellow rice

    Video

    Notes

    Nutrition facts for any recipe on thehintofrosemary are only an estimate and not guaranteed. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving Arabic yellow rice (about ½ cup)Calories: 128kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 4gFat: 2.2gPotassium: 135mgFiber: 3gVitamin C: 0.45mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 166mg
    Keyword arabicsaffronrice, arabicsaffronricerecipe, Arabicspicedrice, Arabicspicedricewithchickpeas, Arabicyellowrice, Arabicyellowricewithchickpeas, Arabicyellowricewithsaffron, deliciousArabicyellowricerecipe, easyArabicyellowrice, healthyArabicyellowrice, kudrarecipe, lebaneseyellowrice, middleeasternsaffronrice, middleeasternyellowrice, palestiniankudra, thebestArabicyellowricerecipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Healthy Arabic Inspired Dinner Recipes

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      Saniya Jaj (Arabic Baked Chicken)
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 10 votes (8 ratings without comment)

      Leave me a comment!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. S

      March 15, 2022 at 9:54 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made yellow rice many times before and it just wasn’t perfect. But you absolutely nailed the spices in this! Thank you!!

    2. Kathy

      March 15, 2022 at 9:54 pm

      5 stars
      I love Arabic yellow rice! I’m so excited to try your healthy version with the brown rice how unique !!

    3. Rosemary

      March 16, 2022 at 12:43 pm

      I'm so glad you liked it!!

    4. Rosemary

      March 16, 2022 at 12:44 pm

      I can't wait to hear what you think of the healthy version!!

    5. Erin

      January 28, 2024 at 8:47 pm

      I’m obsessed with this recipe. SO good and flavourful. I also added a handful of sultanas the second time and it worked out really well.

    6. Rosemary

      March 17, 2024 at 5:55 pm

      ooo the sultanas are such a great idea!

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    Rosemary Squires registered dietitian of the hint of rosemary blog

    Hi, I'm Rosemary, a registered dietitian and proud mom to a lively toddler. Back in 2015, I launched Hint of Rosemary to share my genuine passion for delicious and enjoyable healthy eating.

    In our home, I celebrate the delightful fusion of American and Jordanian cuisines, drawing inspiration from the rich tapestry of Arabic cuisine, and striving to create a harmonious blend of cultures. My hope is that you'll find inspiration here and, above all, savor every bite.

    More about me →

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