Greek Lemon Rice
Complete your Mediterranean dinner with Greek Lemon Rice—an alluring side dish made with turmeric, dill, and a refreshing blast of lemon.
Table of Contents
Click on this link and what do you see? A LOT of recipes with “Mediterranean” in their titles, right? But do you notice something missing? I don’t have a rice dish! Well, we’re going to change that today with this recipe for Greek Lemon Rice.
Light and fluffy rice is combined with turmeric, chicken broth, and, of course, lemon to produce a delicious side dish that can join your baked chicken or any of a multitude of entrees.
I’ve turned to citrus fruits a few times to bring life to my rice, whether it’s my Baked Cilantro Lime Rice or the “imitation” rice of my Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice but, as you can tell, it’s usually lime that does the trick. So I’m excited to use lemon, which, I feel, gives the recipe that Greek/Mediterranean zing. Below, I include recipes you can pair with this one to create a menu fit for any Athens café!
Is This A Pilaf?
Yes, it is! A pilaf (or pilau or pulao, as it is sometimes called) involves rice (or a similar grain like quinoa or bulgur) and additional ingredients, like vegetables, meat, or spices, being sauteed in oil or butter then simmered in a broth or stock until the liquid (and its flavors) has been completely absorbed by the rice. Typically, when cooking rice, you wouldn’t sauté it first in fat nor would you simmer it in anything other than water. The result is a side dish with more flavor and texture (depending on what you add to it).
Is Greek Lemon Rice Healthy?
Yes, this recipe is healthy. It uses whole foods and checks so many boxes for those on a Mediterranean diet, which comes with it a number of health benefits. It’s gluten-free and could be a part of a paleo, keto, or low-carb diet if you used cauliflower rice instead of white rice.
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- pinch of salt
- pinch of turmeric
- dill and parsley, finely chopped
- sliced lemon (for garnish)
INSTRUCTIONS
Warm
In a large skillet or pot, melt the butter over MED-HIGH heat. Stir in the rice and warm for 1 minute.
Season
Season the rice with a pinch of turmeric and salt. Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice and bring the mixture to a boil.
Simmer
Reduce the heat to LOW and cover the pot or skillet. Simmer the rice for 15-20 minutes until the rice is cooked. Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.
Garnish
Stir in the finely chopped dill and parsley, then garnish with lemon slices.
DEVOUR!
Tips & Tricks to Making Perfect Greek Lemon Rice
- Wait 5 minutes after removing the rice from the heat before opening the pot up and fluffing it. The steam will loosen up the grains and finish off cooking the rice.
- Use fresh lemon juice instead of store-bought, pre-packaged juice, which more than likely contains unwanted (and unnecessary) ingredients.
- To up the citrus ante, stir in some lemon zest before serving.
- Rinse the rice with cold water to remove the excess starch and make the rice less sticky.
FAQs
Yes. Brown rice is healthier than white rice, as it contains more fiber. It has a slightly chewier texture though, which may or may not be to everyone’s liking. It also takes longer to cook, so adjust your times accordingly.
Any long-grain rice will do. I recommend jasmine or basmati, as both have a nice aromatic flavor to them.
Sure. Use olive oil, which will keep with the Mediterranean theme.
Keep that temperature on LOW and stir occasionally. If the broth has evaporated and the rice is still hard, add a bit of water to see it through.
Sure. Using vegetable broth will obviously alter the flavor but will make it a vegetarian dish.
Serving Suggestions
Garlic Roasted Potatoes: As seen in many a Greek restaurant, pilaf is regularly featured alongside roasted potatoes such as these.
Mediterranean Cucumber Salad: A gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and Whole30 salad made with cucumber (obvs) and red onions.
Sun-Dried Tomato Greek Yogurt Chicken With Zucchini Noodles: To find out what’s in it, you only need to look at the title of the recipe.
Greek Turkey Meatballs with Feta: Feta, herbs, and spices make these meatballs a tasty option for an appetizer or as part of a Mediterranean feast.
How To Prep and Store Greek Lemon Rice
Let the rice cool completely then store in an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge for no longer than 4 days. You can also freeze the rice, though the texture may not be how you remember it upon thawing. It should keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. After, thaw it in the fridge overnight then cook it in a pan on the stove. If you don’t want to thaw it overnight, you should be able to warm it slowly on the stove.
Greek Lemon Rice
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup long-grain white rice rinsed
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- pinch of salt
- pinch of turmeric
- dill and parsley finely chopped
- sliced lemon for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet or pot, melt the butter over MED-HIGH heat. Stir in the rice and warm for 1 minute.
- Season the rice with a pinch of turmeric and salt. Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to LOW and cover the pot or skillet. Simmer the rice for 15-20 minutes until the rice is cooked. Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.
- Stir in the finely chopped dill and parsley, then garnish with lemon slices.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon (and juice) instead of store-bought, pre-packaged juice, which more than likely contains unwanted (and unnecessary) ingredients.
- To up the citrus ante, stir in some lemon zest before serving.
- Rinse the rice with cold water to remove the excess starch and make the rice less sticky.
Nutrition
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