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    Home » Recipes » Pilaf and Biryani

    Riz bi Sharieh | Lebanese Vermicelli Rice

    Published: Aug 12, 2021 · Modified: Sep 13, 2022 by Famidha Ashraf with 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    As promised in my Dawood Basha recipe post, here is how I make Riz bi Sharieh, the staple Lebanese style rice with vermicelli with just four simple ingredients! This traditional rice with butter toasted vermicelli is a great alternative to the regular rice dish. The lovely contrast in colour and texture makes it stand out and goes well with any Middle Eastern stew or main course. Did I tell you this is super easy to make too? 

    riz bi sharieh in platter with meatballs by side

    I was never drawn to the idea of adding vermicelli pasta to rice until I saw Riz bi Sharieh being served at all major restaurants here. Lebanese Vermicelli Rice is buttery, nutty and fluffy rice that is so good to eat on its own and my personal favourite with tomato-based stews. Ever since I made it during Ramadan to serve with Daoud Basha, I have been making it each time to serve with any Middle Eastern main course. 

    Though calling it Lebanese, Riz bi Sharieh can be seen across all the Levant and Middle Eastern countries including Turkey. Egyptians too have similar dish but they use short or medium grain rice.

    Ingredients

    1. Butter: You can use salted or unsalted. You may mix in some olive oil or ghee.
    2. Vermicelli pasta: Any broken thin short stick pasta vermicelli will work. Don't use rice vermicelli. 
    3. long-grain rice: I have used basmati. Nowadays, there are many varieties of long-grain and basmati rice, so make sure you follow pack instructions for soak time and water quantity. 
    4. Water or broth: Use room temp water. As the vermicelli gets toasted in butter it doesn't need excess water to cook. I consider only the rice to decide the quantity of water. The vermicelli gets cooked along with the rice. You may replace some water with chicken or meat broth. 
    5. Salt to taste
    6. Optional garnish items: Toasted or fried pine nuts or almonds and fresh parsley or coriander for garnish.
    riz bi sharieh served in platter along side meatballs stew

    Instructions

    Riz bi Sh’arieh is a simple dish but looks grand and tastes good on its own. With a few steps, you can make this rice easily! I mentioned easy and easily but that does not mean quick or fast, ok? Any rice dish is best made when given the time and not rush it.

    You will have to rinse the rice a few times or until the water is not too cloudy. Soak in clean water for at least 30 minutes or as per the pack instructions. Then drain the rice into a mesh colander and let it sit while you start with the vermicelli. I use the same vermicelli that I use to make Balaleet and semiya upma.  

    roasting vermicelli in butter
    roasting vermicelli in butter in a deep pot
    boiling rice
    boiling rice
    a pot with covered lid
    riz bi sharieh served with daoud basha
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Riz bi Sharieh | Lebanese Vermicelli Rice

    Riz bi Sharieh, the Lebanese vermicelli rice dish made with butter-toasted vermicelli and basmati rice goes well with any Arabic stew or main course.
    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time35 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: arabic, lebanese, middle eastern
    Keyword: riz bi sharieh, vermicelli rice
    Servings: 3 people
    Author: Famidha Ashraf

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon butter and oil
    • ¼ cup vermicelli pasta
    • 1 cup basmati rice
    • 2 cups water or as required
    • Salt to taste
    • pine nuts (toasted or fried) optional
    • fresh parsley optional

    Instructions

    • Rinse the basmati rice a few times and soak in water for 30 to 45 minutes or as per the pack instructions. Drain the rice and keep it aside.
    • Heat butter or any cooking oil in a deep thick bottomed pan on a medium flame. If using pine nuts or sliced almonds, fry them until light brown, remove them with a slotted spoon, and keep them aside for later.
    • Add more butter if required and stir fry and roast the vermicelli pasta for 2 to 3 minutes or until they are evenly browned to a dark golden shade. You will notice that the butter will foam and froth and smell fabulous as the vermicelli get toasted. Make sure you don't burn so keep the heat low.
    • Next, stir the drained rice into the vermicelli. Saute for a few seconds to coat the grains with butter. Pour enough water (room temp) as per rice pack instructions or go with a 1:2 rice to water ratio. Pour at least 2 cups of water or just enough water that is 1 cm above the rice level. (1 cm is roughly half of the first knuckle of your index finger.)
    • Stir in salt to taste and bring the whole thing to a full boil on a high flame. Boil until most of the water evaporates and the grains and vermicelli surface up.
    • Reduce the flame to the lowest and cover the pan with a tight lid. Let it slowly steam cook for 8 to10 minutes.
    • Open and stir the rice gently to bring the bottom portion to the top, cover the pot again. Cook for another 5 minutes and switch off. Let the pan sit undisturbed for another 5 to 8 minutes.
    • Open, fluff and serve on a platter. Garnish with fried nuts and chopped parsley. Serve Lebanese vermicelli rice with any Arabic side dish like Daoud Basha, Dawood Basha

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Unknown says

      August 21, 2021 at 5:00 pm

      Yum! This looks so delicious and tasty!

      Reply
    2. Krissy says

      February 01, 2023 at 11:18 pm

      5 stars
      Gorgeous

      Reply

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    I'm Famidha, a chai lover, Indian in UAE, Hooman of two cats, a Malabari who loves Tamil food and the cook cum writer behind But first Chai.

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