South African Yellow Rice

This classic South African yellow rice, also known as Geelrys, with a sweet spicy taste is vegan, so good and easy to make! Made with white rice and raisins and spiced with cinnamon and turmeric. Tastes great with chicken stew, chicken curry, bobotie or beef stew.

This traditional South African yellow rice also known as Geelrys is very popular in Namibia. You’ll find it almost everywhere across the country. The rice is very easy to make, looks and tastes great and uses a handful of ingredients.

Yellow rice can be cooked with any type of white rice. I personally prefer making it with jasmine or basmati rice. The classic recipe uses butter that is added towards the end of cooking process. I prefer using sunflower oil and combining all the ingredients at the beginning.

What you’ll need to make South African yellow rice with raisins

• 200 g (7.1 oz/ about 1 cup) jasmine rice
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• a handful raisins
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 350 ml (12 fl oz/ 1 ½ cups) water, cold tap water
• 1 teaspoon sunflower oil
• 1 teaspoon salt

How to make South African yellow rice: Step by step photo recipe

Begin by cleaning rice. Simply put rice in a bowl and add cold running water. Stir the rice around with your hands and drain. Repeat the process for two to three times.

In a small pot, add water, drained rice, cinnamon, turmeric, raisins, sugar, salt and sunflower oil and stir well.

Cover and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Once the water starts to boil, without removing or lifting up the lid, reduce the heat to medium low and let cook for 10 minutes. 

After 10 minutes remove the pot from the heat and let sit for 10 minutes.

Use a fork and fluff the rice. Enjoy!

What to serve South African yellow rice with:

• Jerk Chicken
• Wors stew
• Southern African style chicken stew
• Baked chicken legs
• Namibian Spinach stew

Did you make this South African yellow rice recipe? I’d love to hear from you! Simply write a comment and add rating to it.