Happy Meatless Monday! I am just returning from a fabulous, whirlwind weekend in Vegas. We flew out with a bunch of my husband’s friends to celebrate his 50th birthday. I am going to try to recap all our fun later this week so stay tuned. I know I am looking forward to getting back on my regular eating plan for sure! I started making this fun Holiday Funfetti Rice dish a few months back and I think it makes the perfect Holiday Side.
With Tina away on her honeymoon this month, I have Sarah co hosting with me today. Please visit her over on Tina’s blog today too!
This Holiday Funfetti rice dish is bursting with the flavors of tumeric, cumin and paprika and filled with texture from dried fruits and nuts. It makes a perfect side for your Holiday entertaining. It’s super easy to make and you probably have most of the ingredients in your pantry already. This Mediterranean inspired dish will please the vegetarians, vegan and gf guests alike.
I like to volunteer to bring sides to family get togethers so that I am ensured that I will have a healthy vegetarian option for myself. You never really know what the host might be serving but rice dishes like this one pair very nicely with most main dishes. The pop of color is great too!
Holiday Funfetti Rice
12/14/2015
Ingredients
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp tumeric, cumin, pepper and cinnamon
- Olive oil
- 1 cup of carrots diced
- 1/2 onion chopped
- 10 dried apricots
- 1/4 cup dried cherries
- 1/4 c pistachio nuts
- 1 cup Basmati rice
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
- Orange zest
Instructions
- combine spices together in a small bowl
- Add olive oil to sauce pan on medium high
- Saute rice with spices 2-3 minutes
- Add water (amount determined by typed of rice used. Consult rice package)
- Bring to a boil, cover and simmer on low for 20 min
- Remove from heat and let sit for 10 min
- Fluff rice with a fork
- Add dried fruits and nuts
- Zest orange on top
- sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and serve
The orange zest and pomegranate topping really finish the dish off well and give the Holiday Rice Funfetti a wonderful festive holiday look. This is an easy dish to make at the last minute but looks like it took hours. The flavors of the fruits and spices are a delicious combination. Hope you and your guests enjoy!
What are your go to Holiday Sides?
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Love the Pomegranate in this! How festive. Hope you had fun on your trip. Check out my post today– I’ve been in one of our favorite places :-))
thanks I think the poms give a nice little pop! Heading over now
Yum! I love the pomegranate seeds! I will be trying this one!
Thanks! They do add a nice little pop of color and flavor
YUM! Love how festive this is! Thanks so much for the linkup 🙂
Thanks! I love the colors and textures too
Yummm this looks so pretty with all the fruit colors! I wish I had this recipe yesterday, I made plain old brown rice for my lunches this week. I’m going to make this though, skipping the apricots I don’t like them…it’s weird. I can’t explain why I don’t I just don’t.
Great recipe and round up as always Deborah!
Plain old rice just won’t do! You can sub out the apricots and use cranberry or any other fruit really.
What if I eat all the apricots and pomegranate seeds….
You would be very happy 🙂
so many deliciousness in one bowl – i love the nuts and fruits which makes it so festive and the crunch – yummmm
Thanks so much I love all the texture too!
I always bring a few sides too, for the same reason. At least I know there will be something that my husband and I can eat. This rice sounds fabulous.
Yes it’s always a good plan! I love all the flavors and textures in this dish too
Oh I love the flavors you have in there, it really is like a party! Nuts, cranberries, cinnamon and turmeric, such a great combo! Happy Meatless Monday!
Thanks so much I love all the flavors too!
ooh, I’m bookmarking this!! Looks so fun. Whole Foods has a fall festive salad very similar to this, with butternut squash, and I couldn’t quite figure our the recipe but this is great!
Thanks so much I am loving all the flavors mixed together
Such an interesting combination of spices and flavors. Sounds great!
Thanks so much!
This is right up my alley. Savory with a little sweet and totally fun!
exactly! I think it’s a great flavor combo
This looks so good! Kind of a nice way to use up those pantry goodies from making Christmas cookies, too! 😉
Well yes there’s that too! Bonus 🙂
Yes all the turmeric – I’m so in love with the colors of this dish! And you made funfetti healthy, so I’m going to have to try this recipe 🙂 happy birthday to your hubs and OMG you looked stunning this weekend in your pics 🙂
Thanks so much all around! I am loving all the spices in this rice too they blend really well with the fruit
This is something very similar to what I used to to do with quinoa! Thanks for the reminder. Looks so tasty!
Ooh that would be great too wonderful idea!
oooo I just acquired a bunch of dried fruit. Might need to chop them up and whip this up!
It is a great way to enjoy the dried fruit and nuts in a healthy way.
I love this kind of thing: Lots of flavor without unhealthy stuff! Thanks for sharing the recipe, and thanks for hosting!
Exactly! Hope you enjoy and happy Holidays
Wow, this sounds delicious and it seems like it would have made the kitchen smell great too!
It smelled fantastic when I was cooking the rice and spices yum!
I love seeing all of your meatless recipes. This sounds good. I love me some rice.
Thanks! I love a great rice dish too
This funfetti rice looks so delicious! I’ve never had dried apricots but it looks delicious!
They are great in here gives a nice texture and flavor.
This looks great! I am a huge Pomegranate fan!
This week I have a goal to cook all my own meals, no eating out. I’ve actually got a few of your past ones (soups) pinned that I plan on giving a try this week.
Oh yeah let me know what you think of them. I am on a quest to eat at home each night as well. It’s a challenge this time of year
This looks so good! I love dried fruit in my sides. I am the only though. Total bummer. I am contributing roasted veggies to Christmas Eve dinner. Fast, simple and easy to transport.
That works too! Perhaps you can try it another time. I even froze some of it the other day bc no one over here it eating it either 🙂
This looks delicious and super easy to make. My go to holiday side is corn pudding. Its so delicious!
Ooh that does sound good too! Perhaps you will link it up with us sometime
I’ve been less than thrilled by the rice from my rice cooker. Maybe it’s time to go back to the saucepan – this recipe sure would up the flavor!
I have a rice cooker that I have never used! The flavors in this one are really yummy
That looks so festive! What a great side dish!
Thanks so much!
That rice looks so festive!
Thanks it’s super easy as well.
Basmati rice always seems so exotic to me. It goes so well with various flavors!!
It does and it’s really yummy
This sounds tasty. It would make a great Christmas side dish.
Thanks so much! The flavors are great hope you give it a try
Ooh I love rice and pomegranates so this sounds amazing and looks so pretty too!
Thanks so much! I think its a great combo as well.
This recipe looks divine! The colors are so beautiful and festive. I am getting more and more into pomegranates, especially when mixed with citrus, and this would be such a great way to combine them. I adore recipes that contrast savory, sweet, and crunchy! Thanks so much for sharing!
I am DYING to hear about Las Vegas! Happy 50th to your husband!!!
Once again – thank you for the holiday card and little something!!! Happy holidays!!!
Ah thanks! I love the flavors in this rice as well they pair very nicely together. So glad you liked the card have a great Holiday season.
You have officially inspired me to make funfetti rice with cauliflower… Throw in some colorful bell peppers – OOOO I could do Red & Green for XMAS! 😀
Well that does sounds yummy too!
This would be such a pretty side – I love the color and texture pomegranate arils add.
I love all the colors and textures as well. Thanks!
I’m hooked on purple rice lately. So good and nutrient dense. I hope the family likes it too. It’s on the Christmas day menu.
I love the purple rice too and I recently had pink rice.
Wow, this is a beautiful dish! The flavors sound amazing as well. I have to do some meal planning for the family trip to Florida – lots of mouths to feed with all of us together!
Oh I bet! Good luck with that
This sounds absolutely DELICIOUS!! I want some!
Thanks so much! It’s very easy to make but looks like it takes hours
Looks tasty! I love pomegranates.
I do too! They add some great color and texture to this one
Oh this sounds so good! My husband is Persian and this seems like a very Persian-style dish that he would love! Going to make this week!! xo
Oh yea I bet he would love it! Let me know how it goes.