French Onion Butter Rice (Printable)
Buttery rice with golden caramelized onions and herbs for a comforting French-inspired side.
# What You'll Need:
→ Rice & Broth
01 - 1 cup long-grain white rice (Basmati or Jasmine)
02 - 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
→ Onions & Aromatics
03 - 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
04 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
08 - 1 bay leaf
→ Seasoning & Garnish
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
10 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
12 - 1/4 cup grated Gruyère cheese (optional, for serving)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat until butter melts and foams slightly.
02 - Add sliced onions with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring frequently, for 18-20 minutes until onions are deeply golden brown and caramelized.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and dried thyme; cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
04 - Add rice to the pan and toast for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until grains are well coated with fat and slightly translucent at edges.
05 - Pour in vegetable broth and add bay leaf, remaining 1 tablespoon butter, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine and bring to a rolling boil.
06 - Reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 18 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is fully absorbed.
07 - Remove from heat, discard bay leaf, fluff rice with a fork, and let stand covered for 5 minutes to finish steaming.
08 - Fold in fresh parsley and top with grated Gruyère cheese if desired. Serve immediately while warm.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It transforms humble ingredients into something restaurant-worthy with almost zero effort
- The leftovers reheat beautifully and might taste even better the next day
02 -
- The onion caramelization step cannot be rushed because this is where all the deep flavor develops
- Letting the rice rest covered for those 5 minutes makes the difference between fluffy and gummy texture
03 -
- Slice onions as thinly and uniformly as possible for even caramelization
- Keep the heat at medium or medium-low during the onion step to prevent burning