Name: Lebanese Vermicelli Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 17 min
Ingredients: 1 cup Basmati Rice (or any white long grain); ½ cup Vermicelli Pasta (or angel hair pasta); 1½ tbsp Olive oil (or dairy free butter); ½ tsp Salt (or to taste); 1½ cups water (or make sure the water line is about 2 cm above the rice)

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Vermicelli rice is a staple in Lebanese cuisine and the perfect side dish, made with just three simple ingredients. It features soft, buttery toasted vermicelli noodles intertwined with perfectly cooked, fluffy rice grains.

lebanese vermicelli rice in a brown bowl with silver cutlery — Once you try this Lebanese rice, it's hard to go back to plain

What Is Vermicelli Rice?

Vermicelli rice, often called a traditional Lebanese rice, or Arabic rice, is an everyday simple rice pilaf that's paired with most Lebanese stews.

I grew up eating it with foods such kidney bean stew which I now make into a vegetarian fasoulia and a jute mallow stew called molokhia. Others included stew okra and tomatoes and stewed peas. I am well aware that there are other Middle Eastern versions of all these dishes, but I am referring to what I grew up with.

In Arabic, it is referred to as Riz Bi Sha'rieh which translates to "hair in rice".

Ingredients You'll Need

The complete list of ingredients with measurements, can be found in the full recipe card below.

The best type of white rice is a long-grain like basmati or jasmine. I prefer Basmati as it cooks perfectly every time. Rinse the rice in cold water until clear to remove excess starch. Avoid short grain rice as it's too starchy.

Vermicelli Pasta, also known as angel hair or capellini, this pasta is crucial for authentic vermicelli rice. Crush it by hand into small pieces. For a vegan diet, ensure the pasta doesn't contain egg. I've also used it to make this delicious vermicelli vegetable soup.

Butter or Olive Oil. Traditionally, these are used to brown the vermicelli and add a buttery flavor. For a dairy-free option, use vegan butter or oil. You can also combine both for added richness, I tend to do this.

The Cooking Process

Rinse

Rinse the rice in cold water until it runs clear before cooking this will help to expel excess starch.

a bowl of white rice in water and vermicelli noodles in oil in a pot

Caramelize the Vermicelli

Heat butter or olive oil in a pot over medium high heat. Add crushed vermicelli and stir continuously until golden brown. Once golden, immediately add the rinsed rice to diffuse the heat.

caramelizing vemicelli pasta and adding rinsed white rice to it in a pot

Cook

Stir the rice to coat it with the butter or oil. Add water and salt to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook for about 10 minutes.

Let It Steam

Turn off the heat and let the pot sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving with a stew like spinach and rice.

Note: The cooked vermicelli will mostly sit on top, which is normal and will mix through when fluffing.

cooking white rice and caramelized vermicelli noodle in a pot and then a cooked version next to it

Janelle's Tips

The rice-to-water ratio is always 1 cup of rice to 11/2 cups of water.

The richer the golden hue of the pasta, the more intense the flavor becomes. It's worthwhile to aim for a deep golden brown color (not too brown). When frying vermicelli, ensure you keep a close eye on it and stir continuously, as it tends to heat up rapidly and can easily scorch towards the end.

For something similar yet different to this recipe, try vermicelli bulgur.

Storage

Allow it to cool to room temperature before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Reheat as needed.

a brown bowl of white rice with toasted vermicelli noodle

Did you make this? I'd love to know! Leave me a comment below with a ★★★★★ star rating or tag @plantbasedfolk on social media.

Recipe

Lebanese Vermicelli Rice

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Lebanese, Middle Eastern

Diet: Vegan

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 12

Total Time: 17

Servings: people

Author: Janelle Hama

Ingredients

1 cup Basmati Rice or any white long grain
½ cup Vermicelli Pasta or angel hair pasta
1½ tablespoon Olive oil or dairy free butter
½ teaspoon Salt or to taste
1½ cups water or make sure the water line is about 2 cm above the rice

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

Rinse the rice under cold water to expel excess starch until the water runs clear, drain and set aside.
Heat olive oil (or butter) in a saucepan over high-medium heat. Add crushed vermicelli and continuously stir until golden brown.
Add the rinsed rice and stir through, coating it with the buttered vermicelli.
Add water and salt. Bring it to a boil and then turn the heat to low and allow to cook for about 10-12 minutes. Once the rice is cooked, allow it to sit (covered) for about 10 minutes (see notes below), and then fluff with a fork and serve.

Video

Notes

Do not over-crush the vermicelli noodles, small pieces tend to burn fast, especially toward the end of frying them.

Do not open the lid immediately after cooking. Allowing the pot to sit helps the heat to steam the pilaf a little bit more.

Garnish suggestion - top with toasted pine nuts and chopped fresh parsley.

Sabanekh wa Riz is another Lebanese stew made of spinach which is often paired with this vermicelli rice recipe and a dollop of plain yogurt.

Next time, you might want to try this other Lebanese rice recipe called Mujadara made with lentils or this spiced Lebanese rice with nuts that's filled with vegetables and topped with toasted nuts. These two rice dishes are consistently praised for their flavors.

Nutrition

N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.

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Comments

4.98 from 71 votes (62 ratings without comment)

Lebanese Vermicelli Rice

What Is Vermicelli Rice?

Ingredients You'll Need