Low Sodium Rice Pilaf Recipe (No Salt Added)
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Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Share Pin For Later EmailThis low sodium rice pilaf recipe is a bright & flavorful side dish packed with spices, veggies, and lemon. It cooks in one pot, and is ready in about 30 minutes.
Making rice is easy on the stove top, or you can make this dish in a rice cooker if you have one. Serve this up with crispy chicken breasts or low sodium burgers for a great meal!
I love a good easy, salt-free side dish! We end up eating a lot of rice at home (as it has 0-1mg of sodium per serving), and this is one of our favorite ways to enjoy it. Packaged yellow rice can be loaded with salt and preservatives, so I like making this easy homemade rice pilaf which is ready in under 30 minutes.
This dish is loaded with veggies: onions, garlic, peas, and carrots, and topped with lemon and fresh parsley for an extra kick. The yellow color in this rice comes from turmeric (a great anti-inflammatory spice) which also gives it a wonderful savory flavor.
This recipe gets a 10/10 from the hubby and I, and we can’t wait to make it again.
This Low Sodium Rice Pilaf Recipe Is
- Bright
- Fresh
- Flavorful
- Packed with Vegetables
- A Great Side Dish
- Salt Free & Low in Sodium
- Ready in Less Than 30 Minutes!
Easy Low Sodium Rice Recipes In Under 30 Minutes
This low sodium rice pilaf recipe is what I call an Easy Weeknight Meal – which is on your table in under 30 minutes. These quick and simple recipes are perfect for those nights when you want a healthy home-cooked meal but don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
Browse through our recipes that take 30 minutes or less, that are great for the whole family. From soups and stews, to pastas and proteins, these simple recipes are quick (and healthier than store-bought)!
And if you need more low sodium ideas for rice, browse all our low sodium rice recipes.
What’s In This No Salt Added Rice Pilaf?
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I like to use a fruity olive oil which has a fantastic flavor and deep color- it’s inexpensive so I keep a few liters stocked up in my pantry. Olive oil gives this dish a great taste, and also can contain heart-healthy properties!
- Onion
- Garlic
- Basmati Rice – definitely our most-used rice for recipes! I like basmati because it has typically has 0mg of sodium per serving, and also lower arsenic levels than other types of rice.
- Turmeric – a staple in our spice cabinet! Aside from all the wonderful health benefits of turmeric (hello anti-inflammation!), the flavor is fantastic. I try to add a teaspoon of turmeric into soups, stews, and rice dishes too.
- Garlic Powder: Also a major pantry staple ingredient that gets used in our house daily! I love this garlic powder and add it to a lot of recipes that I would use fresh garlic in too.
- Unsalted/ No Salt Added Chicken Stock – is a delicious base of this soup. I prefer using an unsalted broth to control the amount of salt in this dish. You can buy a fantastic container of low or no sodium broth or make your own from scratch!
- Frozen Peas and Carrots – you can also use fresh carrots too if you can’t find a frozen pea/carrot blend.
- Parsley – because it adds a wonderful freshness to this dish.
- Lemon – for a hint of brightness at the end.
- Black pepper – not only for flavor, the black pepper unlocks many of the health benefits of turmeric.
How Do I Make Rice Pilaf Without Salt?
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
- Add the rice, turmeric, garlic powder, no-salt-added chicken stock, and frozen peas and carrots. Stir well to combine.
- Bring to a boil, the reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and simmer for 20 minutes until rice is cooked through.
- Fluff rice with a fork, add the parsley and lemon juice, and stir well. Garnish with black pepper, and serve hot.
To Make This No Salt Added Rice in a Rice Cooker
- Add all ingredients (except the lemon and parsley) to the inner pot of your rice cooker, stir well.
- Set to ‘White Rice’ mode or cook on high for 30-35 minutes.
- Fluff rice with a fork, add the parsley and lemon juice, and stir well. Garnish with black pepper, and serve hot.
Low Sodium Side Dishes for a Healthier Meal
This low sodium yellow rice pilaf recipe is a fantastic dish to make without salt. We’re all about making recipes salt-free when we can. Low sodium cooking does NOT have to be bland, boring, or flavorless… It’s quite the opposite when done right.
By building meals around fresh ingredients and bright flavorful spices you can make healthier meals for you and your family. Check out all my low sodium side dishes here that are on LowSoRecipes. These easy and tasty recipes are fantastic sides for everyone at your table.
Dietary Modifications
- To make this recipe vegetarian or vegan, substitute a no-salt-added vegetable stock for the chicken stock.
- To make gluten free, ensure that the rice, stock, and all spice ingredients are certified gluten free. While this recipe contains no wheat ingredients, always check for the certified GF stamp if you avoid wheat.
Serve This Low Sodium Yellow Rice With
Crispy Low Sodium Chicken Breasts Recipe (No Salt Added)
Low Sodium Chicken Marsala Recipe
Low Sodium BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe
Share This No Salt Added Rice Pilaf
As always, if you make this low sodium rice pilaf recipe be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag us @lowsorecipes on Instagram so we can feature you. We love seeing all your photos of our recipes!
Let’s keep in touch – don’t forget to follow over on Instagram, Facebook, & my Youtube channel for more amazing low sodium recipes – I’d love to connect with you there!
Low Sodium Rice Pilaf
Equipment
- large pot
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups long-grain rice I used basmati rice
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 cups No-Salt-Added Chicken Stock
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
- ½ cup chopped parsley
- 1 lemon juiced, about 2 tablespoons
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
- Add the rice, turmeric, garlic powder, no-salt-added chicken stock, and frozen peas and carrots. Stir well to combine.
- Bring to a boil, the reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and simmer for 20 minutes until rice is cooked through.
- Fluff rice with a fork, add the parsley and lemon juice, and stir well. Garnish with black pepper, and serve hot.
Notes
To Make This No Salt Added Rice in a Rice Cooker
- Add all ingredients (except the lemon and parsley) to the inner pot of your rice cooker, stir well.
- Set to 'White Rice' mode or cook on high for 30-35 minutes.
- Fluff rice with a fork, add the parsley and lemon juice, and stir well. Garnish with black pepper, and serve hot.
Nutrition
*Please note, all nutrition content is estimated based on the ingredients we used, it may vary based on your ingredients. Always check your nutrition labels to verify sodium amounts.
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