Do you struggle with deciding on a side dish to pair with your meals? Look no further! The recipe for Zesty Lemon Herb Rice is perfect for you. Its blend of citrusy and herb flavors will leave you wanting more.
Recently, my husband and I have embarked on a journey towards healthier eating, and I am thrilled about it. This has encouraged us to explore beyond our usual southern comfort foods and experiment with fresh ingredients to expand our taste buds.
Want more Easy Recipes with Rice? You have to try the Chicken Broccoli and Wild Rice and Easy One Pan Lime Chicken & Rice
I made this recipe when I needed to go grocery shopping, and I only had a few random ingredients on hand. I used some fresh lemons and parsley that I always keep stocked, and some rice from my pantry. Despite the limited ingredients, it turned out to be a delicious side dish.
Which Rice Can I Use for this Recipe?
For this Lemon Herb Rice Recipe, I used Brown Rice, but you will notice that there are no limitations in creating your very own masterpiece here. Feel free to explore the type of rice you like and try different herb combinations too. Here are a few Rice alternatives you can use:
- Brown Rice is whole grain rice with a mild nutty flavor and maintains an outer bran layer. It’s the perfect alternative for its nutritional benefits. Brown rice offers delicious wholesome options for those wanting to make healthier choices.
- White Rice is known to be a common staple food in the pantry. White Rice comes in a variety of short, medium, or long grains. Its soft fluffy texture has a mild flavor and serves as another great option for this recipe.
- Wild Rice is good for those who like more of an earthy nutty flavor. This whole grain is rich in antioxidants along with many other health benefits. Wild Rice takes about 45 minutes to cook. Once the rice has cooked you will see the split in the grain with an inner white soft texture different from the outer.
- Cauliflower Rice is not a grain but can be used as another healthy alternative when wanting to cut down on carbs. Cauliflower Rice is broken down usually by a food processor with just a few pulses to get rice-like in size. or perhaps can be purchased already processed at the grocery store usually found on the freezer aisle.
What you’ll need for this Recipe:
- Brown Rice
- Quinoa
- Lemon (Juice & Zest)
- Fresh Herb Blend- Parsley, Dill and Chives
- Onions
- Garlic
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Salt & Pepper
How to make Lemon Herb Rice
- Prep– Dice the 1/2 onion and minced 2 cloves of garlic. Chop up 1/3 cup of fresh parsley to go into the dish but save a little for garnish. For fresh dill, pull the fine leaves from the stem and give both the dill and chives a rough chop for 1 TBSP and set aside.
- Heat 2 tbsp of oil or butter in a skillet or saucepan. Once the oil has heated or the butter has melted, add in the onions and cook till translucent. Add in the garlic, parsley, dill, chives, lemon zest and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir all ingredients around.
- Then, you can add Rice and Quinoa. Use a wooden spoon to stir the rice mix around. do this for 2 minutes or until the Rice is lightly toasted. It will give a perfect aroma to your dish.
- Next, you must add 2 1/2 cups of chicken broth and 2 Tbsp of lemon juice. Keep stirring until everything is well combined. Bring to a boil for about 2 minutes then reduce the heat. Allow to simmer until the rice has absorbed the liquid and the rice is tender.
- Ready to serve. serve it as a side dish or enjoy it as a main course. It is a healthy and delicious recipe that you can try anytime. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Lemon Garlic & Herb Rice Blend:
The best part about making this Rice blend is that it pairs perfectly with a variety of main courses and veggies.
- Red Snapper
- Grilled or Baked Salmon
- Roasted Chicken
- Grilled Shrimp
- Side Salad
- Steamed Broccoli
- Roasted Mixed Vegetables
Storing Leftovers
Storing your leftovers is a breeze. Just put the rice in an airtight container and refrigerate it. It can be stored in the fridge for up to three days to keep it fresh.
Zesty Lemon Herb Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup Brown Rice
- ⅓ cup Quinoa
- 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil or Butter
- 2½ cup Chicken Broth
- ¼ cup Onion Diced
- 2 cloves Garlic
- ¼ cup Parsley (fresh)
- 1 Tbsp. Dill (fresh) optional
- 1 Tbsp. Chives
- ½ tsp. Crushed Red Pepper
- 1 Lemon (zest & juice)
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Begin by heating olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onions, parsley, chives, dill, minced garlic, crushed red pepper, and lemon zest. Stir and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the brown rice and quinoa. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes to lightly toast the rice. Add chicken broth and lemon Juice. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat. Cover and allow to simmer for 25 minutes or until the rice has absorbed the liquid.
- The rice should be tender and ready to serve. Garnish with some lemon slices and Parsley. Enjoy!