Easy Greek Rice with Lemon and Dill
I went Greek this week.
After spending so much time in the kitchen last week baking up a storm for Valentine's day, I opted for some lighter menu items this week. So, naturally I looked to the Mediterranean. I originally created this easy rice dish with farro a while back, but sadly that superfood is also full of gluten. So instead, I went with brown rice this time. However, if you are not gluten free, then farro is a great choice. Actually, any grain would work quite well, as the lemon and dill are truly the stars. And, without any additions of butter, oils, or fats of any kind, this rice still comes out with the perfect sticky texture, as any fattier rice would and should.
A quick note.
When I went forth to make the rice this week, I followed the recipe as my previous recipe creation called for, with onion powder and garlic powder. However, I had also left a note that it may taste better with real minced garlic and chopped onion. Of course, I was going to test this out ahead of time to see what the recipe should truly be.
So, I made both versions.
In all honesty, I didn't notice that much of a difference in flavor or texture. The rice may have been the smallest amount wetter with the fresh garlic and onion. However, I could barely tell the difference side by side, when I was analyzing it closely. So, if you have the garlic and onion and feel like chopping and mincing. Go for it! Otherwise, I would say to keep it simple with the spices. And keep the prep time down. Actually, this easy greek rice is the perfect option for a weekly meal prep since it has so few ingredients and requires little prep time.
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Additional Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 30 mins
Ingredients
4 Cups Water (Follow the directions on the back of the bag of the grain of your choice for specific directions)
2 Cups Brown Rice (Or grain of your choice)
1 tsp Onion Powder (Or 1 Cup Chopped Onion, if you choose to go with fresh veggies)
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder (Or 2 TBSP Minced Garlic, if you choose to go with fresh veggies)
1/8 -1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
1/2 C Fresh Dill (This is a minimum amount. Use as much as you can handle. I used a full cup).
Juice from 2 Lemons
Instructions
Follow instructions on back of grain bag to determine how much water and how much grain to use. The brown rice I used called for 2 cups water to 1 cup rice.
Place all ingredients except for rice in pot. Let water come to a boil.
Add rice. Stir.
Place lid on, and bring heat to low setting to simmer for required time per bag instructions.
Notes
One Knorr bouillon (large rectangle) is equivalent to 2 bouillons for any other brand – so if you aren’t using Knorr, then you will want to compensate.
After about 10 minutes I check my rice every 5-7 minutes and stir to make sure the bottom is not burning. I also generally take it off the heat before the time listed on the bag.
