Purple rice is a garlicky, butter rice side that owes its vibrant colour to red cabbage! Love this 2-in-1 that combines starch plus plenty of vegetables in one dish, rather than making a salad plus a starch separately. Goes with everything – Western, Asian, Mediterranean, Indian, Mexican!
Purple rice
You know those nights when you feel all smug because you got ahead on the weekend and marinated some chicken so you could whip up a “quick dinner” during the week, only to realise you didn’t plan for sides to fill out the meal?
Well, today’s recipe is just the sort of thing that will save you. It’s one of those side dishes I call a two-in-one because it includes plenty of vegetables as well as a starch to fill out the meal. As opposed to making two sides, like mashed potato plus a garden salad.
What it tastes like: Buttery and garlicky, and very mild cabbage flavour actually which will appeal to people who don’t jump up and down at the mention of cabbage for dinner. Bonus: it’s such a fun colour!!!
Ingredients in purple rice
Here’s what you need to make this colourful, veg loaded rice!
Jasmine rice – I like using jasmine rice in this dish because you get that lovely subtle fragrance.
Other rice – the recipe will work with long grain rice, medium grain rice and basmati rice, though you will need an extra 1/4 cup of water or vegetable stock/broth. This is because jasmine rice requires less liquid to cook than other varieties of rice (more on this in my plain jasmine rice recipe!).
The recipe is not suited to brown rice, arborio/risotto rice, paella rice, wild rice or faux rice (cauliflower rice, quinoa etc) as the cook times and methods differ so I’d need to alter the recipe.
Red cabbage – Also called purple cabbage, this is what gives the rice the vibrant purple hue! You can use plain ole’ green cabbage if you want, but where’s the fun in that?? 😎
Garlic and onion – Flavour base aromatics. You will adore the butter garlic flavour in this rice!
Butter – As above, for promised buttery flavour! You’ll be surprised how buttery it tastes even though we’re only using 30 grams / 2 tablespoons of butter.
Vegetable stock – The rice cooking liquid, tastier than water! Use low sodium stock. If yours is full salt, skip the salt in the recipe.
Salt and pepper – Seasoning for the rice.
Green onion – For fresh garnish at the end, though I wouldn’t say it’s critical.
No need to rinse your rice!
There is no need to rinse the jasmine rice to wash off excess starch to make the rice fluffy. This is a myth. You just need the correct liquid-to-rice-ratio which is 1.25 : 1 (1.25 cups of water/stock to 1 cup of rice) and the rice will be fluffy even without washing it. Most recipes get it wrong, using way too much water.
The only reason to wash jasmine rice is if you’re worried about the rice being dirty. If you bought yours at the supermarket, you shouldn’t need to clean it. If you clean your rice, reduce the stock by 2 tablespoons to account for the waterlogged rice.
How to make purple rice
One big, fat rice-making rule that applies to ANY rice you cook: DO NOT STIR, DO NOT PEEK once your put the lid on the pot! Unless, of course, you like your rice unevenly cooked, gluey and mushy. 🤷🏻♀️
Use a large saucepan or small pot, around the size of mine which is 28cm/11″. If you use a saucepan that is too small (~20cm/8″) then the rice-cabbage mixture will be too deep which will cause the rice to cook unevenly.
Sauté the garlic and onion in the butter until it smells amazing / onion is translucent. Then cook the cabbage for a few minutes until it starts to soften (rather than being stiff and pokey). Don’t let it get completely wilted and soft because it will cook more with the rice.
Add rice and stir to coat in the garlic butter.
Add stock then scrape down the sides and push the cabbage-rice under the surface of the liquid, as best you can. The main thing is that you want all the rice under the liquid. A few grains poking above the surface will be fine, they will steam-cook.
Cook 12 minutes – Bring the liquid to a simmer, then put the lid on and lower the heat to medium low, or low if your burner is very strong. Leave to cook undisturbed for 12 minutes. Do not lift the lid to peek and most definitely do not stir! That will disrupt the rice cooking and you’ll end up with unevenly cooked rice that’s mushy and gluey.
Check – At the 12 minute mark, working quickly, remove the lid and tilt the saucepan to ensure all the liquid has been absorbed. If it has not, leave it on the stove for another minute or two.
Rest 10 minutes – Remove the saucepan from the stove with the lid still on and rest for 10 minutes. Never skip the rice resting step! The rice will finish cooking and the liquid on the surface of each rice grain gets absorbed = fluffy rice.
Fluff then serve, garnished with a sprinkle of green onion!
What to serve with purple rice
This cabbage rice is fairly neutral flavoured, with a lovely buttery, garlic flavour. Which means it will go with pretty much any dish, and any cuisine, both Western and Asian.
While the possibilities are endless, here’s a starting point for you – some quick mains that I’d serve alongside purple rice:
And of course, it goes without saying that your purple rice will taste even better if you serenade it with Prince’s Purple Rain while it’s steaming on the stove. 🎶 Go on, do it. You know I did!! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Purple rice
Ingredients
- 30g / 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves , finely minced
- 1/2 onion , finely diced
- 3 cups finely shredded red cabbage (tightly packed)
- 1/2 tsp cooking salt (kosher salt)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup jasmin rice , no need to rinse or soak (Note 1 for other rice)
- 1 1/4 cup vegetable stock , low sodium (or chicken stock or water + 1 stock cube- Note 2)
Garnish, optional:
- 1/4 cup green onion , finely chopped
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large saucepan or small pot over medium heat. (Note 3)
- Sauté veg – Cook onion and garlic for 1 minute until soft. Add cabbage, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring from time to time, until the cabbage starts to soften but not completely floppy (as it will cook more with the rice).
- Coat rice – Add rice and stir well to coat in the flavour.
- Add the vegetable stock. Scrape down the sides and press the cabbage-rice mixture down so all the rice is submerged.
- Cook 12 minutes – Bring to a simmer, then cover with a lid, turn the stove down to medium low (or low on a stronger burner) and cook for 12 minutes. Do not peek or stir!
- Rest 10 minutes – Turn off the heat, remove the saucepan from the stove and let to rest for another 10 minutes (with the lid on).
- Fluff & serve – Use a rubber spatula or rice paddle to fluff the rice then tumble into a serving dish. Sprinkle with green onion and serve!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
What do you think – will he spit it out?? 😂
Can this recipe for purple rice be made in an instant pot?
Can’t wait to try this!
Hope you get a chance to! It really is good 🙂 N x
Your recipe on the Purple Rice is easy to prepare.Gonna try it!
YES it sure is! Hope you give it a go 🙂 N x
My daughter just finished making this and it’s so delicious! We will be making this again!
That’s so great to hear Siobhan! Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and let me know 🙂 N x
I’m making this now as a side dish to a Valentines dinner. All of your recipes are so spot on perfect, I know this one will be as well. Thank you!
Hope it impressed!!! 🙂 N x
Oh Nagi,
What a perfect side dish for a Mardi Gras dinner! Red cabbage is on today’s grocery list. Can not wait to try this beautiful festive dish.
Why didn’t I think of that???! N x
This rice sure caught my attention. I always have purple cabbage on hand. Easy recipe. And seems to me would be easy to adapt to some different flavor profiles, depending on spice blends and uses of vinegars. I would never have thought of this. I frequently put cabbage in rice, as well as other veggies. But this is striking. Can’t wait to give it a try.
Hope you do! It’s honestly so delish 🙂 N x
Hi Nagi, is there a rice cooker method?
Cheers,
Tom
Hi Tom! I haven’t tried I’m afraid, you’d need to start it on the stove though to cook the aromatics and cabbage 🙂 N x
I “discovered” purple rice once when cooking some leftovers and mixing the cabbage in with the rice, but your version looks like a definite upgrade!
Ha!!! That’s how we discovered this too – using up leftovers! 🙂 N x
Can’t wait to try this. Love rice and I always have red/purple cabbage leftover from making coleslaw
Leftover cabbage is exactly how this came into existence! 🙂 N x
Well that does it! I’m buying some red cabbage tomorrow and making this recipe.
What a great idea! I love, love rice and cabbage – so tasty, so good for you and now comes in a pretty color. Thanks Nagi.
YES! Try it and let me know what you think! N x
I’ll try this tomorrow for my picky toddlers who don’t eat cabbage but love rice. I usually use rice cooker to cook rice but this recipe looks easy even without it! Thank you for wonderful recipes.
Can I make this using rice cooker?
WILD rice Nagi 😜
Love it!
S x
LOL!
I may have been born in northern Europe and live in Oz but I eat rice about four times a week! All kinds – never heard of purple’! But I just love, love, love red cabbage , so back to school with thanks . . . !
I made this tonight 2/17/2023. Sautéed the onions, garlic, & cabbage on the stove then I finshed cooking the rice in the rice cooker. I served the purple rice with salmon & broccoli with fennel pollen. Delicious! I will be making this again.
Hi: I want to make this dish with coconut cream and sweet wine as part of the liquid. I usually make my coconut cream rice with “sticky rice”. What % of the liquid should I swap out? Also, can I add cubed, “oven fried” tofu to make this a higher protein dish? If not tofu, what do you suggest I add (I will be making this dish for people who only eat fish or shellfish).
You’re asking her to create a completely different recipe. Experiment a bit and find out! That’s half the fun of cooking!
I am going to swap out 50% of the liquid for Mirin wine and coconut cream. I will add some prepared tofu, edamame and cooked halibut to this dish for extra protein.
Wow! Now THAT’s elevating this humble dish! 🙂 N x
I’m obsessed with how this looks! Could I make it in an instant pot?