If you’re searching for the perfect rice dish to serve at a special occasion, look no further—you’ve just found it! This Christmas Rice recipe is guaranteed to bring a festive touch to your holiday table. Growing up, plain white rice seasoned with garlic and onions was a staple at our table, a simple side dish that made its way to nearly every meal. But when the holidays rolled around, it was time to dress things up.
In Brazil, that usually means adding raisins to… well, just about everything! This Festive Rice is no exception, combining sweet and savory flavors to create a dish that feels as celebratory as the season itself. While it’s a natural pairing with turkey, I find it also complements fish beautifully or even a simple grilled chicken.
If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to know how you used it! Share your celebration with me in the comments—I can’t wait to hear about your festive tables.
Looking for More Delicious Rice Dishes?
Tired of the same old plain white rice? Spice things up with these flavorful rice dishes that are sure to impress! Here are some of our readers’ favorites:
- Mediterranean Yellow Rice: A vibrant and herby rice dish that brings the flavors of the Mediterranean to your table.
- Seasoned Rice: Perfectly seasoned and full of savory goodness, this rice is a great side for any meal.
- One Pot Veggie Rice: Packed with colorful vegetables and fresh flavors, this rice makes for a healthy and tasty side dish.
Check them out and give your meals the variety they deserve!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cups white rice, washed and drained
- Salt, to taste
- 3 cups champagne (or sparkling wine)
- 1 cup dried cranberries or raisins (white or black)
- 1 cup dried apricots, chopped
- ¼ cup parsley, chopped
- 1 cup sliced almonds
Instructions
- Heat a large dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sliced almonds and stir frequently until they are golden and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside to cool.
- In a medium-sized pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened.
- Stir in the rice and season with salt. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, coating the rice in the oil.
- Pour in the champagne and bring to a simmer. Cook uncovered until the liquid has almost evaporated, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the rice is tender. Turn off the heat.
- Gently fold in the raisins, dried apricots, parsley, and toasted almonds. Mix until well combined.
- Transfer to a serving dish and enjoy!
Substitutions
- Champagne:
- This recipe is originally made with champagne, but feel free to use sparkling wine instead. Alternatively, you could use chicken/vegetable broth or simply just water.
- For a less intense flavor, you can use half the amount of sparkling wine and replace the other half with water.
- Please note that substitutions will impact the flavor of the rice since chicken broth, water, and sparkling wine all taste very different. Either way, the recipe works just fine.
- Dried Fruits: I used cranberries because it’s what I usually have in my pantry. Traditionally, people use grapes—either black or white grapes. These are all great options. I also used apricot, but you can substitute with any dried fruit you prefer that would complement the flavors in this dish.
- Almonds: Almonds are my preference for this dish, but you could try them with a different nut like pecans or walnuts, or keep it nut-free. I’ve always made this with almonds, so let me know how it turns out if you try a different nut!
How to Serve
This Festive Rice is the perfect side for holiday turkey or glazed ham. It also pairs wonderfully with roasted fish or grilled chicken. Garnish with extra parsley or a few more almonds for a touch of elegance.
How to Store
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Gently warm in a skillet over low heat with a splash of broth or water to bring back moisture.
- Freeze: Though the texture may change slightly, you can freeze this rice in a sealed container for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat as above.
Christmas Rice
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion finely chopped or grated
- 2 cups white rice washed and drained
- Salt to taste
- 3 cups champagne or sparkling wine
- 1 cup dried cranberries or white or black raisins
- 1 cup dried apricots chopped
- ¼ cup parsley chopped
- 1 cup slivered almonds
Instructions
- Heat a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add the slivered almonds and stir frequently until they are golden and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside to cool.
- In a medium-sized pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened.
- Stir in the rice and season with salt. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, coating the rice in the oil.
- Pour in the champagne and bring to a simmer. Cook uncovered until the liquid has almost evaporated, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the rice is tender. Turn off the heat.
- Gently fold in the raisins, dried apricots, chili peppers, parsley, and toasted almonds. Mix until well combined.
- Transfer to a serving dish and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Inspiration
This Christmas Rice is inspired by a festive recipe from Tastemade Brazil, where it’s all about elevating the traditional rice dish with seasonal flavors. You can watch the original video and discover more at Tastemade Brazil – Arroz Natalino. It’s the perfect addition to your holiday table, combining the sweetness of dried fruits, the crunch of almonds, and the celebratory sparkle of champagne. Enjoy the flavors and the memories it brings!
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