At our house, this easy lemon rice is a side dish staple and with just 5 ingredients, it’s a super simple way to jazz up plain old white rice any day of the week.
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No matter where your set your plate, it’s likely that rice will be one of the side dishes served on any international dinner table.
This lemon rice makes regular appearances alongside so much of my main meal cooking, like my Greek marinated chicken, or as a basic side for my Greek pork souvlaki kebabs or turkey kofta skewers, and always with my Easy Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce.
But this lemon rice doesn’t travel only in Greek or Mediterranean circles. It’s a fan of crossing all culinary borders, and it does a fine job of fitting into any dinner no matter the main dish’s international personality.
How to Make Lemon Rice
This recipe really couldn’t be any simpler. The method is the same as cooking any regular white rice, but with a zest and squeezey juiced lemon effervescence. But lemon juice isn’t the only flavor enhancer, I also add the zest of the rind that comes from the fine grating of the citrus rind, releasing the flavorful oils that will really propel the flavor infusion.
To zest the lemon, I use a microplane zester or this OXO hand held grater, rotating the lemon as I grate. And please note, a typical cheese grater won’t work for this job because the holes are far too big and not nearly sharp enough.
For the final lemon touch, adding both the lemon juice and the zest to the cooking water at the start of the cooking process makes the rice absorb the subtle flavors of the lemon.
see more: 31 Quick and Healthy Veggie Side Dishes in 30 Minutes or Less
How to Add Personality to White Rice
I’m a flavor builder, so like many of my other rice side dishes, I like to add another layer of brightness with a little chopped parsley and if there’s any extra zest, I toss it on too. But adding parsley or anything else is totally up to you and your preference.
I also add butter at the beginning of the cooking process simply because I love the combination of the lemon and the butter. If you’re more of a purist, once again, leave it out if you’d like.
Keep the rice simple by adding just the lemon, or switch it up with extra ingredients to match other cuisine flavor profiles, like:
- Chopped nuts like pistachios, Marcona almonds, or pecans
- Chopped dried fruit like apricots, cranberries, raisins, or currants
- Parmesan, feta, or goat cheese
- Chopped herbs such as dill, parsley, or cilantro
- Sauté chopped onion, red bell pepper, or garlic before adding the rice and water to the pan for a more savory flavor
see more: 30 Dinners to Make When There’s No Time to Cook
Main Meal Recipes to Pair with Lemon Rice
- 10-Minute Maple-Crusted Salmon
- 30-Minute Creamy Mushroom and Leek Chicken Breasts
- Broiled Miso Cod With Vegetables
- 10-Minute Teriyaki Shrimp
- Easy Greek Chicken Kebabs
- 10-Minute Chicken Stir Fry
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
Lemon Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1 cup white rice
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoons minced Italian parsley
Instructions
- Bring 1 ¾ cups of water to boil in a saucepan with a fitted lid. Add the add the lemon zest, lemon juice, rice, butter and salt, stir with a wooden spoon then reduce to simmer and cover. Cook for 20 minutes, then remove from the heat and fluff with a fork. Place a kitchen towel over the pot and, replace the lid, and let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and season with more kosher salt to taste and stir in the minced parsley.
More Simple Side Dishes You’ll Easily Make Too
- Easy Lemon Orzo Faux Risotto
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Easy Parmesan Buttered Noodles
- The Best Buttery Parsley Potatoes
- Green Beans and Shiitake Mushrooms
- Easy 5-Minute Parmesan Zucchini
- Heavenly Funeral Potatoes Recipe
Do you have a simple side you love to make or a request for a recipe? Share it in the comments below, or email it to me at [email protected]
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I love this recipe. it pairs so well with pesto chicken. my husband loves this rice. we both agree, it’s full of flavor. thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Teresa–we’re so happy you and your husband loved this!
Turned out beautifully with basmati rice!!!!!
I tried it first with regular long grain rice and it turned out gummy despite rinsing it and boiling all the water out. So I started over with basmati rice and it was perfect!
Thanks for sharing, Emily. We’re sorry it didn’t work out the first time but we’re glad to hear you had great results with the basmati rice!
I had the same issue, rice a little Gummy, and I did rinse it several times before cooking.
It could have been the type of rice you used, or you didn’t cook it long enough.
The flavor of this rice is wonderful, however the texture was gummy. I think it is better to wait and fluff with a fork after the 10 minute rest. I think the first fluff releases too much starch in the rice.
Hi Susan, did you rinse your rice before cooking? If not, rinse it until the water runs clear and you won’t have that problem.
Made with basamati rice was really nice. Light and tasty.
We’re happy you enjoyed it!
This rice is excellent at 20 minutes cooking. I added slivered almonds. Love lemon which brings ZEST to the dish.
Love the nutty addition Marc. Thanks for the idea.
delicious..
can I make this with brown rice also??
Hi Angela, yes you could make it with brown rice but increase the cooking time per the package directions.
This is an excellent recipe. We love it!
I’m glad it was a success Dennis!
Scrumptious! Very delicious! It was a delight!
Do you cook the rice to the water absorbs or do you drain the excess water? Apologies if it’s a silly question
Donna, not a dumb question at all. Cook the rice until the water and lemon juice absorbs.
The flavor is amazing. 20 mins on this is way too long. It came out mushy! Reduce cook time to 15
I can literally smell the fresh zested lemon. Its too yummy
Gayle that’s a personal problem
I’ve grown up eating this for breakfast and I really don’t know why. But I guess my mum would put this together when she had extra rice leftover from the previous night. Now I’ve got the point. Thanks for nice recipe post.
This is graceful work :-)
I want to make love to your recipe!
I like eating rice and this recipe looks so delicious. thanks for sharing.
I like eating rice and this recipe looks so delicious and yummy. thanks for sharing.
Amazing! I like your recipe and will try it today…
such a nice recipe Heidi. I will definitely try it. thanks for your time.
I like this recipe. thanks for sharing.
This is good i wanted something different this works thanks
This looks so delicious. I’m getting hungry at seeing this. Thanks for the recipe.
That looks delicious! I will have to try it out! I’m always trying to find ways to change things up! Thanks!
This is incredible…I made it for dinner tonight and will make it again….wonderful rice!
I can literally smell the fresh zested lemon. Thanks for sharing!
Love the lemon rice, I made it to go with spanakopita. I would have loved to put a lemon sauce/gravy over the rice. Do you have a recipe for that?
Oooo I don’t! good idea though!
Testing testing test test test
Cannot print out recipes on my IPad because the recipe page is gray.
You’ll have to adjust your software.
Gayle
Hmmm, that’s interesting Gayle. I’m able to get it to print from my desktop and my Iphone. I don’t have an iPad anymore. Is anyone else having a problem?
Easy and delicious; my favorite kind of recipe.