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Greek Lemon Rice

4.77 from 217 votes
lemon rice with fresh herbs in a bowl with a spoon
Bright and zesty Greek Lemon Rice is super tasty and so easy to make. With just a few simple ingredients and less than 30 minutes, you can turn a pantry staple into a flavorful side dish for your favorite meals!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings:4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup long grain white rice, rinsed (see note)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh herbs, optional (dill is my favorite!)

Instructions

  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter.
  • Stir in rinsed rice for 1 minute, then stir in turmeric.
  • Stir in the broth, lemon juice, and salt and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce to a high simmer, cover, and cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring once or twice throughout. Fluff with a fork, stir in fresh herbs if desired, and serve.

Notes

  • When using long grain white rice it's always a good idea to rinse the rice first as it helps to achieve fluffy (not sticky) rice. Pour the rice into a fine-mesh strainer in the sink and give it a rinse for about 30 seconds or so to get rid of some of the starches that can cause rice to stick together. 
  • This lemon rice will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. 
  • You can freeze this easy rice recipe for up to 2 months but I don't think it tastes as good once it thaws as the rice can get a little mealy.  
  • For  the butter, I use unsalted butter, then add salt later to taste. If you use salted butter, you might not want to use as much actual salt. But it's totally a personal preference! 
  • If you want to add a little something "extra" to this lemon rice, try fresh herbs like parsley or oregano, a cup of frozen peas, a can of diced tomatoes (drained), or some toasted pine nuts. 
  • Do add butter (or you can use oil) to the grains before adding the water. The rice will soak up the

Nutrition

Calories: 187 kcal, Carbohydrates: 40 g, Protein: 5 g, Fat: 1 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 3 mg, Sodium: 1028 mg, Potassium: 122 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 1 g, Vitamin A: 19 IU, Vitamin C: 9 mg, Calcium: 32 mg, Iron: 1 mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Author: Tiffany