This easy Lemon Rice Recipe is bursting with lemon flavor! It’s a delicious way to turn plain rice into an exotic dish and is the perfect accompaniment to any meats and/or veggies.
AN EASY LEMON RECIPE RECIPE
HELLO! What’s up what’s up?! I have very important news. Very. I took almost an entire week away from the blog! I’m shocked at myself. I still worked, but away from home and WITH people! As in, not by myself in a kitchen creating recipes and taking photos in a 2×4 make-believe studio for 8 hours a day. #foodbloggerproblems
Sneak peek of where I was and what I did:
Will talk to you about it in an upcoming post. EEEP!
I know. You came here for the rice.
Have you ever had Lemon Rice?! If not, you really, really, reaaaallllly should! It will change you 4EVA.
WHAT IS LEMON RICE?
You know what’s in here, right? I mean, besides the lemon. Any ideas? It’s turmeric! That’s why it’s so golden and pretty and SO freakin’ hard to photograph! Yellow food is my enemy. But, who cares… I brought you sunshine in a dish! The rice is amazing and that is all that we need to worry about.
Now, before my Indian friends notice that there’s no roasted peanuts in here and red chilies, allow me to explain. This is how we, Macedonians, make it: green onions, garlic, lemon zest and as much lemon juice as one needs. I, however, did add a bit of extra: turmeric. In as far as I know, we don’t use turmeric, but I had to stir it in – it’s just too pretty and too good-for-you to pass up.
Also, the rice is cooked in broth and milk instead of water, which in turn makes the rice a bit creamy and so much more flavorful.
A sprinkle of dill at the end is every.thing.
Now, normally, I would sit around and talk to you a whole lot more, but because I took days away from the kitchen, I must hop back in there today and work for the next 12 hours…. on a Friday. WELP!
ENJOY!
TOOLS AND INGREDIENTS USED IN THIS RECIPE
Lemon Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 green onions , white parts only, cut into thin rounds (reserve green parts for garnish)
- 3 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 cup long grain rice
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- salt and fresh ground pepper , to taste
- 1 cup low sodium vegetable broth
- 1 cup half & half (or heavy cream or evaporated milk)
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
- chopped fresh dill , for garnish
- chopped green onions , for garnish
Instructions
- Melt butter and heat olive oil in a nonstick pan.
- Add onions and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in garlic and lemon zest; continue to cook and stir for 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
- Add rice; season with turmeric, salt and pepper, and cook and stir for 1 minute.
- Stir in vegetable broth, half & half, and lemon juice.
- Turn up the heat and bring mixture to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer; cover the pan and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes, or until liquid has evaporated.
- Remove from heat.
- Fluff with a fork and taste for seasonings; adjust accordingly.
- Garnish with dill and green onions.
- Serve.
30 Min
Slow Cooker
Freezer Friendly
One Pot
Low Carb
Instant Pot
Gluten Free
Keto
Chicken
Beef
What brand of rice do you use? I normally have basmati or jasmine rice, but I don’t think that’s long grain.
Hi!
Jasmine and basmati are actually long-grain varieties with different flavor, but for this particular recipe I used good ol’ Uncle Ben’s long grain white rice because I always have it on hand. 😊
This rice side dish was absolutely delicious. My husband and I loved it. This will be my go to Rice dish as I don’t like plain rice as a side with our meals.
That’s great! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I picked up the only long grain rice… long grain brown rice. It took and hour and a half to cook through and I had to keep adding water. Also it turned out sour. But that is probably because my lemon was super juicy. Yuck!
This would be better as white rice with less lemon juice probably.
I simplified this recipe and used 6 ingredients, , including coconut milk. Just delicious!
Can I use Jasmine rice?
Do you cook the rice first?
Or use uncooked rice
Does it really need the milk??? Not sure I want to mix rice with lemon and milk.
Hi!
The milk adds creaminess to the overall dish, but you don’t have to use it – you can always add more broth or even water.
would lemon rice go well with a chicken marinated in lime, honey, and rosemary. Or would that be a citrus overload?
appreciate your opinion and thanks for the recipe
This was delicious and the creamiest rice I have ever had. I used coconut milk instead of 2% dairy and loved it. It was beautiful, tasty and will be made again and again at my house. I am looking forward to trying it with roasted peanuts and chili peppers. I skipped the dill since my husband doesn’t like that.
Lemon juice will sometimes curdle milk when added to it when hot. Try adding the lemon juice finally after fully cooking and the heat has been turned off.
Thank you! I used 1/2 and 1/2 and the last thing I wanted to have is curdled milk. Absolutely delicious!
Why did my milk curdle? How do I prevent that in the future? I used 2% milk
My milk curdled too ☹️
This rice looks amazing! I’m planning on making it ahead of time for a Christmas shindig. Can I serve it cold? Or does it have to be eaten hot?
How many servings does this make…only one? So should I multiply all ingredients by how much I need?
Hi! As a side dish, this will serve 4. One cup is 1 serving. Hope that helps! 🙂
This Lemon Rice dish looks delicious! I’m going to try it soon. However/ I have a question regarding the Nutritional Information. Is the serving size really (1 g) ?
Hi! No, that’s a typo! 🙂 That should be 1 cup. Thank you for catching that and letting me know. Have a wonderful Sunday!
Phew!! I was worried that I’d only be able to have a small spoonful.
Thank you for the clarification. 🙂
Why milk? Can it be done with more broth instead? Thanks!
Hi! Sure, you can definitely use broth, but the milk will make it a bit creamier.
this was linked in a recent tandoori rice bowl recipe, love it, love this flavor with dill, etc., and I think the photos look great, so thank you for this too!
I didn’t have dill but it ended up being the best rice dish I have made in a very long time. Thanks for having shared the recipe. I will definitely do this over and over again. ☝
Oh my goodness this was AMAZING and the color is so pretty! This will definitely be a staple in my house!
A wonderful rice dish. Will certainly make this again and again.
i enjoy doing this actually. I made this using low flame, Butter taste compliments the taste of lemon.
I am loving the color of this rice! What a fabulous side dish (or main dish!!)
It looks as though you had a fun week – can’t wait to read about it! And this rice – so pretty to look at and I’ll bet it tastes just as good.
Love the idea of adding the lemon to my rice! So many dishes this will go with!
I think I know what you were doing in Cleveland. 😉 And this rice looks delicious! What a great way to jazz up a staple side dish.
Sunshine in a pan — It’s gorgeous, and I love it!
I really want to try this, it sounds incredible. And the addition of turmetic is perfect, makes it such a brilliant color!
This really does look like sunshine in a dish!
This is absolutely gorgeous! Love it.
This looks so fresh-tasting and delicious!
I love the slices of lemon in the rice. Makes it so pretty. Will work for Indian-style lemon rice as well, thanks for the idea 😉
OH good!! I was afraid my Indian friends would give me “the look” if I didn’t add roasted peanuts and dried chilies! ;-))