This Lemon Rice recipe is so good, you will want to eat it plain, straight out of the pot! It’s a Greek Rice made with sautéed onion and garlic, rice cooked in chicken broth then finished off with lemon and herbs.
Serve this Greek Lemon Rice with your favourite Greek food like Greek Chicken, Gyros Chicken, Greek Meatballs or Souvlaki!
Greek Lemon Rice recipe
I made this Lemon Rice Pilaf as a side for a Greek Feast that I shared in my Chicken Souvlaki recipe. And I promise, it is so good, you honestly will want to eat it straight from the pot.
The reason this is not just “another flavoured rice” is because it’s made as a pilaf.
A pilaf is simply a rice dish that starts like risotto – sautéing garlic and onion in olive oil (or butter), then stirring in the rice grains until they become translucent with the oil, then cooking the rice in a broth.
Cooking rice in this way transforms plain rice into a flavoured dish that is tasty enough to eat plain.
In fact, there are many rice dishes around the world that are made this way, loaded up with even more flavour and with proteins added. From risottos, to Spanish Paella, Indian Biryani and Jambalaya.
This Lemon Rice is a side dish so I’ve kept it quite simple. Pictured above, as a side dish with some juicy Garlic Prawns (Shrimp).
While some Lemon Rice recipes cook the rice with the lemon juice, my preference is to stir the lemon through the rice once it is cooked. I find that the lemon flavour is fresher, and also I stir it through while the rice is hot so it sucks in all that fresh flavour.
YUM!
Greek Lemon Rice is super versatile, but especially perfect for Mediterranean dishes. Think: Greek food, Spanish, Italian. And of course seafood. This goes fabulously with any form of seafood.
Enjoy! – Nagi x
Try this Greek Lemon Rice with…
- Greek mains – Greek Chicken , Gyros Chicken (skip the pita bread, or stuff the rice inside it!), Greek Meatballs, Souvlaki
- Garlic Prawns (pictured)
- Crispy Pan Fried Fish – or try it with this amazing Lemon Butter Sauce
- Super Quick Crispy Garlic Chicken or sticky Honey Garlic Chicken
- Marinated Pork Chops or Marinated Beef Steak
- Don’t forget greens! Can’t go past a Greek Salad
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Lemon Rice Pilaf
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp extra virgin oil (or butter)
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1/2 onion , finely chopped (white, brown, yellow)
- 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice , uncooked (Note 1)
- 1 1/4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 large lemon (1 tsp zest + 3 - 4 tbsp lemon juice)
- 3 tbsp finely chopped parsley
- 3 tbsp finely chopped dill (or sub with parsley, oregano, basil chives, mint)
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium heat in large saucepan or small pot.
- Add garlic and onion. Cook for 5 minutes or until translucent and sweet.
- Add rice and stir until rice turns mostly translucent.
- Add broth and water. Place lid on, bring to simmer then turn heat down to low.
- Cook for 12 minutes or until water is evaporated.
- Remove from from stove and rest for 10 minutes (keep the lid on).
- Remove lid. stir through lemon zest, lemon juice, herbs and salt and pepper to taste.
- Lovey served warm or at room temperature.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Try this Greek Feast!
Complete with Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki, Easy Soft Flatbreads (No Yeast), Greek Salad and this Lemon Rice Pilaf.
I have made this several times and it’s always a big hit with the family. Easy to scale up or down for big families or date night for two, and it reheats well the next day.
This is seriously the best rice side dish I think I’ve ever made. A smidge more labor intensive than I prefer my side dishes to be but so worth it! I will make this again and again.
Hello Nagi,
Love your blog and recipes! Just one thing, it is a commonly but mistaken belief that paella starts with frying the rice which is not exactly like that. After frying the meats you create a broth with the fried meats and vegs and then you add the rice. That is what theory says, but TBH I make it fried most of the times! Gives me a better control on the “Al Dente-ness” l want to achieve.
Absolutely Devine
Hi Nagi,
Can I use parboiled rice for this recipe? Thanks!!
Hi Amy, no that won’t work in this recipe unfortunately as it will overcook and the liquid ratios will be out. N x
This rice was phenomenal!! I added a dollop of butter at the very end with the herbs. Paired it with some chicken gyros and tzatziki. Thanks for a wonderful recipe!!
Yum! Sounds like you nailed it Vanessa! N x
My family absolutely loved the lemon rice pilaf. They commented on the wonderful flavor and the great aroma. They said it was a great complement to their Falafel and pita bread. Thanks for a great recipe I will prepare again and again.
This is awesome rice, but can I freeze any leftovers? Hate to waste it
Hi Angie, yes you definitely can! N x
Can I freeze some for later?
I normally wash the rice before cooking, should I ignore that process and use the rice as is? Please advise.
Hi Sue, no nee to wash the rice here – N x
No need to wash the rice? Really? Rice is filthy! Does it change the recipe?
If your rice is filthy then yes of course, wash it. But if you bought it at a store in packets, then it should be clean!
Devine! Served it with some roasted lamb and a mint pesto sauce I make. 😊
I LOVE this recipe. Super easy and my teenage son asks for this over and over, for a boy who is eating chicken rice and veg for his gym workouts – he could eat this everyday until he dies he’s said. Well done xx
Made this this evening, and it was fantastic! Perfect addition to the souvlaki, and veg.
Sounds fabulous Megan, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! N x
Tasted amazing! Thankyou
You’re so welcome Leane! N x
Yes Nagi, I could eat this plain on its own – and I did! It was so delicious and my 3 picky eaters all loved it.
I’m so glad it was a hit Angelina, that’s great! N x
I make this frequently but I use basmati and brown the rice unevenly in oil first. It adds a lovely nutty flavour
Never made a pilaf before and now this will be the only pilaf I ever make! Simple, healthy, and so good! It paired perfectly with my gyros for my Greek dinner party! Thank you!
Perfect combo Freda!