📋Easy Greek Rice (with lemon) Recipe

Greek rice with lemon and herb garnish in orange dish

5 from 1 vote

📋Easy Greek Rice (with lemon) Recipe

This easy Greek rice (with lemon) is a shortcut recipe made with instant rice, quick microwaved onions and fresh herbs! It makes a perfect side dish or pilaf for any meal.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Greek, Mediterranean

Keyword greek, lemon, rice

Special Diet Dairy-free, meatless

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings servings

Calories 115kcal

Author Terri Gilson

Ingredients

1 small onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon garlic minced * I use from jar
1 ½ tablespoons water
4 cups instant white rice * I use Minute Rice
4 cups chicken broth
½ cup lemon juice (from concentrate)
¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped

Garnish:

lemon wedges or lemon zest
additional fresh herbs

US Customary - Metric

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Instructions

Cook onion and garlic in microwave with water on high for 3 minutes and 30 seconds- 4 minutes until soft (depending on the wattage of your microwave)
Add the rice, broth, lemon juice, and cooked garlic and onion to pot.
On stovetop, bring rice to a boil in liquid (without lid) stirring at regular intervals. Then cover with lid , turn down to a simmer (3-4 on control) for 5 additional minutes.
Remove from heat, keep the lid on, and let it sit for another 5 minutes. The liquid should be fully absorbed when it's ready.
Uncover the saucepan and stir in the parsley and dill.

Garnish

Garnish with additional herbs and lemon slices (optional) and serve.

Notes

Recipe Tips:

- Use Fresh Herbs for the Best Flavor. Fresh parsley and dill are key to achieving authentic Greek flavor. If you must use dried herbs, use ½ of the fresh amount, as dried herbs are more concentrated.

- Use Fresh Lemon Zest for More Citrus Punch. While lemon juice gives the rice its signature tang, adding lemon zest boosts the fresh citrus flavor without making it overly acidic.

- Let the Rice Rest Before Fluffing. After cooking, let the rice sit covered for 5 minutes. This allows the grains to fully absorb the moisture, resulting in light, fluffy rice.

- Enhance Flavor with a Bay Leaf. For added depth, toss a bay leaf into the rice while it cooks. Remove before serving. This is a common trick in Mediterranean cooking!

- Make It Creamier. For a slightly creamier texture, stir in a tablespoon of butter or a drizzle of olive oil after cooking.

- Turn It Into a One-Pan Meal. Add cooked chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas to the rice for a complete, protein-packed dish.

🌡️Storage

Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

You can freeze this rice for up to 3 months, but don't put the garnish on until serving.

Nutrition