Description
This Easy Greek Lemon Rice recipe is a flavorful and refreshing side dish featuring tender long-grain rice infused with fresh lemon juice, zest, and aromatic herbs. It’s a perfect Mediterranean-inspired accompaniment for a variety of meals, made simply with olive oil, garlic, and chicken or vegetable broth for a vegetarian option.
Ingredients
Scale
Rice and Broth
- 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
Flavorings
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1–2 lemons)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Herbs
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
Instructions
- Sauté Onions: Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and translucent, stirring occasionally to avoid burning.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, ensuring it doesn’t brown.
- Toast Rice: Add the rinsed rice to the saucepan and stir well to coat all grains with the olive oil and aromatics.
- Add Broth and Lemon: Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer Rice: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes until the rice is tender and all the liquid is absorbed.
- Rest and Fluff: Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it sit, covered, for an additional 5 minutes to allow the rice to steam evenly. Then, fluff the rice gently with a fork.
- Add Herbs and Serve: Stir in the chopped fresh parsley and optional dill for a burst of herbal flavor. Serve the lemon rice warm as a zesty and aromatic side dish.
Notes
- For extra lemon flavor, increase the amount of lemon zest or add a lemon wedge when serving.
- You can substitute brown rice for white rice but be sure to adjust the cooking time and liquid amount accordingly.
- For a vegetarian version, replace chicken broth with vegetable broth.
