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Buttered Rice with Peas combines fluffy basmati rice with butter and frozen peas. It’s an easy side that goes with any main dish.
Make this easy side dish in minutes!
Our Buttered Rice with Peas is made with pantry and freezer ingredients you probably have on hand – so you can make it anytime you need a delicious side dish with dinner. (We think it goes great with our Chicken Tikka Masala or our Pan-Seared Halibut with Lemon Caper Sauce.
Fluffy basmati rice is cooked to perfection, then tossed with butter and frozen peas that have been cooked while the rice cooks.
You can make this simple dish a little fancier by adding chopped fresh herbs or sauteed onions, if you’d like – but prepared as written in our recipe below, the flavors of buttery rice and peas shines through.
Why you’ll love Buttered Rice with Peas
- This simple dish is made with just three ingredients, and it takes less than thirty minutes to prepare.
- You can keep the ingredients on hand in the pantry, fridge and freezer – so you can make it at a moment’s notice.
- It’s a family favorite and absolutely delicious!
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Rice – While any long grain white rice can be used in this recipe, we prefer basmati rice. It cooks up light, fluffy, and fragrant with a delicate flavor. Jasmine rice is another good option.
- Water – To cook the rice
- Butter – Either salted or unsalted butter
- Peas – We used frozen peas, but if you are lucky enough to have access to fresh peas, use those.
- Salt & Pepper – Season this dish to suit your tastes. If you used salted butter, you may not need to add salt to the finished dish.
- (Optional) Fresh Herbs – You can jazz this dish up by adding chopped fresh herbs such as flat-leaf parsley, cilantro, mint, or dill.
Special Tools Needed
- Fine Mesh Strainer – Used to rinse the rice
- Medium pot with lid OR a rice cooker (just note that the cooking time will be longer with a rice cooker)
- Small pot
Tips & Tricks
To achieve the lightest, fluffiest cooked basmati rice texture, use less than the standard 2:1 ratio of water to rice – then allow the rice to sit in the closed pot to finish cooking. Less water allows the rice to stay firm without over absorbing too much water.
How do I make Buttered Rice with Peas?
- Rinse the rice.
- Cook the rice.
- Cook the peas while the rice cooks.
- Stir butter into the pot of rice.
- Gently stir the peas into the rice, mixing throughout.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make Buttered Rice with Peas ahead of time? You can – although freshly cooked is best.
- How do I store any leftovers? Store covered in the refrigerator for up to two days.
- How do I reheat the leftovers? Gently warm through in the microwave, stirring frequently to ensure even heating.
- Can I freeze Buttered Rice with Peas? Yes – place in a zipper seal freezer bag and squeeze out as much air as possible before closing the bag. Lay flat to freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
You might like these other Rice Recipes:
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Buttered Rice with Peas
Buttered Rice with Peas combines fluffy basmati rice with butter and frozen peas. It’s an easy side that goes with any main dish.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups basmati rice
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup water
4 tablespoons butter
Salt & Pepper, as desired
Instructions
- Pour the rice into a mesh strainer and rinse under water for one to two minutes.
- Place the rinsed rice in the pot and add water.
- Bring rice and water to a boil.
- Cover pot and reduce heat to a simmer, cooking rice until the water is absorbed. (About 10-15 minutes.) Turn off the heat and let sit, still covered for five minutes.
- Cook the peas while the rice cooks. Boil some water in a small saucepan. Add the frozen peas and immediately turn off the heat. Allow the peas to sit for two minutes, then drain to remove any excess water.
- Add butter to the pot of rice, stirring to melt the butter and combine.
- Gently stir the peas into the rice, mixing throughout.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve immediately.
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Misty says
I mean BUTTERED RICE It doesn’t get better than that!!!
Martha says
LOL – I agree Misty! 🙂