Smoky spiced veggie rice is a vibrant and delicious side dish that brings together the perfect blend of spices, vegetables, and rice. It’s an easy-to-make dish that’s bursting with flavor, making it a great accompaniment to grilled meats, curries, or even as a standalone vegetarian meal. The smoky flavor adds depth, while the spices create a warm, aromatic base that complements the vegetables perfectly.
At the heart of smoky spiced veggie rice is the combination of spices. Smoked paprika is the key ingredient that gives this dish its signature smoky flavor, with cumin and coriander adding earthy undertones. A touch of turmeric adds color and a mild warmth, while garlic and onion bring savory depth. Together, these spices transform the rice into a flavorful dish that stands out from simple plain rice.
The vegetables in this dish are just as important as the spices, contributing both texture and sweetness to balance the smokiness. Chopped bell peppers, carrots, and peas are popular choices, but you can easily swap or add other vegetables like corn, zucchini, or spinach. As the vegetables cook with the rice, they soak up the spices, infusing every bite with rich flavor. The rice itself becomes fluffy and perfectly seasoned, with each grain coated in a layer of aromatic spices.
This dish is incredibly versatile, allowing for customization based on your preferences. For a little heat, you can add a pinch of chili flakes or diced jalapeños, or for extra creaminess, a dollop of yogurt or a sprinkle of cheese can be added before serving. Smoky spiced veggie rice pairs wonderfully with dishes like grilled chicken, tofu, or roasted vegetables, but it also makes for a satisfying vegetarian meal on its own.
Smoky spiced veggie rice is the perfect way to elevate a simple side dish into something truly special. It’s full of flavor, easy to make, and can be adapted to fit any meal. Whether served at a family dinner or a gathering with friends, this dish is sure to impress.

Ingredients
- 1 cup rice uncooked
- 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 onion large, diced
- 1 cup bell pepper mixed colors, diced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup carrots diced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and diced onion and sauté until the onion becomes translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in the diced bell pepper, frozen peas, and carrots. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Add the rinsed rice to the skillet, stirring to combine with the vegetables.
- Sprinkle in the smoked paprika, ground cumin, and ground coriander, ensuring the spices evenly coat the rice and vegetables.
- Pour in the vegetable broth and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let simmer for 20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and tender.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Remove from heat and fluff the rice with a fork. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve warm.
This dish was a delight! The spices made it really flavorful. Will definitely make it again!
This sounds good, but I’m not sure about using frozen peas in a recipe. They might taste weird compared to fresh ones. Just sayin’.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! The spices really do bring the dish to life! What other veggies do you plan to add next time?
Delish!!! 😍
Looks good, but how does it taste without the paprika? My kid hates spices.
I made this last night and it was amazing! 😋 So easy and full of flavor!
Yum! The veggies really make it pop! 🍽️
Tried this and it was kinda bland. Needs more spices, I think.
My kids loved it! This will definitely be on our dinner rotation.
I can’t believe this is all veggie! I added some chicken for protein and it was still great. Good recipe! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why would you mess up a veggie dish with chicken? 🤔 The original recipe sounds perfect as is!
I’m not a veggie lover, but this really surprised me! I might try it without chicken next time, sounds tasty! 🥗
Yum!!😍 I put in some chili flakes for a kick. Super tasty! Family loved it. Will make it again.
Can I use chicken broth instead? I don’t have veggie broth. Will it work?
Yes, chicken broth will work fine! It will change the flavor a bit but should still taste good!
Easy and quick! I used brown rice instead of white and it took longer to cook but still yummy. Def will make again!
This recipe was so good! The spices gave it an amazing flavor. I added more garlic because I love it, and it turned out perfect!
I would add more salt, it seemed bland at first. But overall good recipe.
Soooo easy to make, and I had all the stuff at home! #winning
Just made this and I used quinoa instead of rice! It’s like an explosion of flavors! 🌈✨ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was super easy to make. I never cooked rice before and it turned out amazing! Thanks!
Not for me. Too many veggies and spice for my taste. I ended up adding a lot of cheese, lol.
I thought it was a bit bland. Needed more salt or something… maybe my taste is just weird. 😕 ⭐⭐
Is it really smoky??? I don’t get how to make it smokey. Can someone help?
This was so delicious! The spices made it unique and flavorful. Will definitely make again! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick and easy. But I messed up at the vegetable chopping part… 😂 So my pieces were all different sizes. ⭐⭐⭐
Rice is rice, as far as I’m concerned. This didn’t impress me much. Sorry not sorry! ⭐
How come there’s no instructions for cooking the rice? 🤔 I just went ahead and did it in a pot. Still turned out good though, I think! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Yeah, I noticed that too! I just threw in the rice with the veggies and added water. Pretty basic, right? Glad yours turned out good! 👍
You sure you did it right? Boiling rice ain’t the same as letting it simmer. 🤷♀️ But if it tasted good, who cares! Just curious if you added any extra spices?
This recipe was fine but I think rice is overrated anyway. Just saying.
Why do you even need to rinse the rice? My mom never did that! But it tasted fine, so whatever.
I dunno, but rinsin makes sense to me. My rice always turned out weird when I didn’t do it. 😅
Rinsing the rice helps remove excess starch, which can make it sticky. But if it works for you, great! Everyone has their own way of cooking.
Pretty good but I think it needs more salt. My family didn’t like it that much.
I don’t get why people love this. The rice turned out mushy and the flavors are weird. Maybe I did something wrong?
Absolutely delicious! Great for meal prep. Leftovers taste even better!
I totally agree! The flavors are amazing and it’s so easy to make. Perfect for leftovers too!
Wasn’t a fan. The rice didn’t cook well for me, it was crunchy.
I used quinoa instead of rice and added some chicken. Gave it a different twist! 😉
I never made rice like this before! What a tasty surprise. I added some sriracha on top.
Absolutely love this recipe! The spices really bring out the flavor! Will make it again!
I messed up and put the peas in too early, they were mushy. Still tasted okay tho.
Spices were bang on! I added some chili flakes for heat. 🔥
Quick and easy dish! No fuss at all, and I loved the colors in it.
I completely agree! The colors made it so beautiful on the plate. Plus, it was super easy to make!
Quick? Sure. But is it really smoky? I couldn’t taste any smokiness… just seemed like regular veg rice to me.
Not much rice for my large family, need double the recipe next time.
You can always scale up the ingredients! Just double everything and it should be fine for your family.
Wasn’t as smoky as I thought it would be. Maybe more paprika next time?
Yeah, more paprika would help! I like it when it’s got that kick! 😋
Simple and quick weeknight dinner! Just what I needed.
Uh, what’s smoked paprika? Can I just use regular? 🤷♂️
This is sooo good! The smoked paprika gives it a nice kick.
I tried switching the rice with quinoa.. it totally ruined the dish. Stick to rice!
Loved this recipe! So flavorful and easy to make. My family can’t get enough of it!