Your family will love this light and flavorful Greek rice. Seasoned with garlic, oregano, and fresh lemon this easy-to-prepare side dish goes great with your favorite Mediterranian dishes and so much more!
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The flavors used in Greek cooking are some of the best in the world in my humble opinion. Greek food somehow manages to be rich and flavorful, while at the same time being light and refreshing. I am convinced it's some kind of sorcery.
This rice is inspired by greek flavors that I have adapted to work for my family. This means it is faster and doesn't have any chunks of onion. While I think this recipe is delicious, it is not necessarily authentic Greek cuisine.
Tips for making the best Greek rice:
First and foremost - DO NOT skip step one! It is so important that you rinse your rice until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch and prevents the rice from being a sticky blob.
I also suggest that you brown the rice in olive oil (step two) before adding the broth. This adds a nice nutty flavor to the rice. If you are in a time crunch, you can skip this step. Be sure you still brown the garlic or substitute garlic powder for the fresh garlic.
Cooking times for rice can vary some and don't feel bad if you are a little intimidated by cooking rice on the stovetop! Check out this guide which I found super helpful.
Can I make this in a rice cooker?
While I do recommend cooking on the stovetop, you can cook this rice in a rice cooker if you prefer. Simply follow steps 1 & 2, then transfer everything to the rice cooker and proceed with the recipe following your rice cookers directions for cooking time and method.
How do I store leftovers?
Leftover rice has gotten a bad rap due to bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Luckily it is still completely possible to enjoy leftover rice as long as you store and reheat it properly.
As soon as possible, transfer the rice to a storage container with tightly fitting lit and refrigerate or freeze. Leftover rice should only stay in the fridge for about 4 days, while it can be safely stored in the freezer for up to 4 months.
The most important thing is to reheat the rice thoroughly until it is steaming throughout. I recommend reheating in the microwave. You also want to only reheat the rice once, after that it's best to toss it.
Looking for more delicious Greek-inspired recipes? Check these out:
- Greek Zoodle Salad
- Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce
- Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
- Grilled Greek Chicken
- Greek Mason Jar Salad
📖 Recipe
Greek Rice with Lemon
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Long Grain White Rice
- 2 tablespoon Garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 3 cups Chicken Broth
- 3 tablespoon Lemon Juice plus additional for serving
Instructions
- Place the rice into a strainer and rinse it under cool running water until the water coming from the rice runs clear.
- Add the olive oil to a large pot with a lid and heat over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and the rice. Continue cooking over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until the garlic and rice have begun to turn golden brown. Be sure not to let the garlic burn.
- Add the oregano, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and chicken broth then stir well. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, then cover the pot and allow it to simmer for about 20 minutes or until all of the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Remove from heat, and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve with additional lemon juice and lemon zest if desired.
Be sure to read the entire post for tips, tricks, and help troubleshooting.
The nutrition information listed here is only an estimate and is simply provided as a courtesy. It nor any other information within this post should constitute medical or nutritional advice. Be sure to read all packaging and ingredient labels for potential allergens. Optional ingredients are not included unless otherwise specified.
Nutrition
Darcy says
When do you add the lemon juice???