• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Munaty Cooking
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Meals
  • Chicken
  • Dessert
  • Videos
  • About Me
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Meals
  • Chicken
  • Dessert
  • Videos
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Main Meals

    Lemon Rice

    Published: Jul 20, 2023 by Muna · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe

    This Lemon Rice is packed with flavor to give you the tastiest side dish and pairs well with just about any meat, chicken, or vegetable main dish. It's the perfect summer dish that makes everything else taste even better. The bright citrus flavor shines through each bite.

    Lemon rice feature image 2023.
    Jump to:
    • ❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
    • 📝 INGREDIENTS
    • 🔪 HOW TO MAKE IT
    • 👩🏽‍🍳 PRO TIPS
    • 🍽️ HOW TO SERVE IT
    • 📋 VARIATIONS
    • 🌡️ STORING
    • 📣 MORE RICE RECIPES
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    This recipe combines the aromatic flavors of onion, garlic, and cumin with the freshness of mint, parsley, and lemon, creating a truly mouthwatering and refreshing dish. Long-grain white rice provides the perfect texture while adding beef or chicken bouillon enhances its savory taste.

    The generous amount of lemon juice adds bright, and zesty flavor. This lemon rice recipe is the perfect way to jazz up any meal and will impress your friends and family! It tastes a lot like the stuffing of grape leaves, an Arabian dish called Waraq Enab.

    ❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

    Versatile: Lemon rice is a versatile dish that can be served by itself or as a side dish. It goes especially well with all kinds of meat like fish, chicken, and beef. 

    Easy to make: This recipe is easy to make and requires only a few simple steps! It is a great dish for beginners or anyone who is short on time but still wants to enjoy a flavorful and satisfying meal.

    Flavorful: Even though it's easy to make, this recipe is bursting with flavor! The unique blend of herbs pairs with the zestiness of the lemon juice to create a unique taste profile. 

    Lemon rice close up image.

    📝 INGREDIENTS

    All you need are some incredibly simple, pantry staple ingredients to make the tastiest lemon rice you've ever had! Let's look at some of the main ingredients.

    You can scroll down to the recipe card for further details and instructions.

    Rice: I've found that long-grain parboiled white rice works the best. However, you can use short-grain or Basmati. 

    Herbs and aromatics: Much of the flavor in this rice comes from the unique blend of herbs and aromatics. We'll need some mint, parsley, garlic, and onion. 

    Lemon: It wouldn't be lemon rice without a generous amount of lemon juice! I recommend using freshly-squeezed lemons. 

    Butter: To add a nice rich flavor with a bit of creaminess we will use butter.

    🔪 HOW TO MAKE IT

    Making lemon rice is incredibly easy and quick too, and will give you a delicious side dish. 

    The full instructions are in the recipe card below, but let's look at the main first.

    Step 1: 

    In a pan, add the butter and one tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onion and cook until translucent. Then add the garlic and stir for a minute on medium heat.

    Adding olive oil to pan with butter.
    Frying garlic with onion in a pan.

    Step 2: 

    Next, add the rice to the pot and stir for another minute. 

    Adding rice to pan.

    Step 3: 

    Add mint and parsley, and cook for 2 minutes.

    Adding mint and parsley to rice.

    Step 4: 

    Pour the boiling water, and when it comes to a boil again, add the black pepper, cumin, lemon juice, bouillon, and ½ tablespoon olive oil. Stir then taste and add salt if needed.

    Adding spices to the rice.

    Step 5: 

    Cover and cook for 25 minutes on the lowest heat. You can serve lemon rice as a side dish, but it also tastes great on its own.

    Lemon and rice cooked and to be served.

    👩🏽‍🍳 PRO TIPS

    Don’t overcook: The key to perfect lemon rice is not overcooking it. Overcooking can cause the rice to become mushy and unappetizing.

    Rinse the rice: Rinse the rice thoroughly with cold water before cooking to remove any excess starch and impurities. This will prevent the rice from clumping together and ensure that it cooks evenly.

    Fluff the rice: Once the lemon rice is cooked, let it sit for a few minutes before fluffing it with a fork. This will help to separate the grains and create a light and fluffy texture.

    🍽️ HOW TO SERVE IT

    This lemon rice recipe is delicious as a standalone dish, but it also pairs really well with a variety of main dishes. Lemon rice with lamb shanks is one of my favorites, and it's scrumptious with just about any chicken recipe!

    It's also a great rice for stuffing vegetables with. In the middle east, a very popular choice for this is stuffed grape leaves. Other veggies like zucchini, potatoes, and bell peppers work great also! Lemon rice can also be eaten at room temperature, making it a great choice for outdoor picnics. 

    Freshly prepared lemon rice with parsley and mint.

    📋 VARIATIONS

    Lemon rice is one of those dishes that can be easily adapted to suit any palette. Here are some delicious variations you can try:

    Add lemon zest: To give it an even more citrusy, lemon flavor, you can add the zest of half a lemon to your delicious rice minutes before it's done and give it a quick stir.

    Add veggies: You can easily saute some vegetables like mushrooms and bell peppers, and then add it to this rice dish to make it a healthy vegetarian meal. 

    Nuts: Adding chopped nuts such as almonds or cashews is a great way to add some Mediterranean touch.

    🌡️ STORING

    Leftover lemon rice can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. To reheat, place the desired amount of rice in a covered bowl and microwave for 1 minute or until hot. You can also place the leftover lemon rice in a skillet over low heat and stir occasionally until heated through.

    To freeze, allow it to cool down to room temperature and then transfer it to freeze-safe bags and press lightly to remove as much air as possible before sealing them. You can also freeze it in an airtight container. Freeze them for up to three months! When you're ready to have it, allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating as per the instructions above. 

    📣 MORE RICE RECIPES

    • Vermicelli rice feature image.
      Vermicelli Rice
    • Mexican rice with enchilada feature image 2022.
      Mexican Rice
    • Parboiled rice feature image 2022.
      Perfect Parboiled Rice Recipe
    • Mujadara. Lebanese side dish turned into a meal in my house! Easy to convert to vegan delight by using vegetable stock. Lentils with rice topped with caramelized onion. You won’t believe how delicious this dish is until you taste it. www.munatycooking.com | @munatycooking
      Mujadara Lentils And Rice Vegan Recipe With a Video

    📖 Recipe

    Lemon rice feature image 2023.

    Lemon Rice

    This easy-to-make Lemon Rice is packed with flavor to give you the tastiest side dish that goes with just about any meat, chicken, or vegetable main dish.
    No ratings yet
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Middle Eastern
    Keyword: Lemon Rice
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 People
    Calories: 324kcal
    Author: Muna

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup Parboiled white rice
    • 1 medium onion finely chopped
    • ¼ cup chopped mint leaves
    • ¼ cup chopped parsley leaves
    • 3 garlic cloves thinly sliced
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 1 cube beef or chicken bouillon low sodium
    • 2 teaspoons butter
    • 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
    • Salt to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon cumin powder
    • 1 ⅓ cup boiling water

    Instructions

    • In a pan, add the butter and one tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onion and saute until translucent. Add the garlic and stir for a minute on medium heat.
    • Add the rice and stir for another minute.
    • Add the mint and parsley, and cook for 2 minutes.
    • Pour the boiling water, and when it comes to a boil again, add the black pepper, cumin,  lemon juice, bouillon, and ½ tablespoon olive oil, stir then taste if it needs salt. Cover and cook for 17  minutes on lowest heat.
    • Turn off the heat and keep the pan covered for 10 to 15 minutes. Fluff the rice and serve.

    Notes

    • Do not overcook the rice or add more water; it will turn mushy.
    • If you are using regular long-grain or short-grain rice, the water should be one cup instead of 1 ⅓.
    • This post was originally posted in 2014.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 Serving | Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 40mg | Potassium: 158mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 131IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?Please let me know how you liked it! Tage me @MunatyCooking

    Share on PinterestShare on FacebookShare on WhatsApp
    « Apple Pear Galette Recipe
    Kunafa with Cream Arabian Dessert »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Angie (@angiesrecipess)

      June 23, 2014 at 2:28 pm

      This is the kind of rice I would enjoy too, Muna. Isn't Basmati long grain rice?

      Reply
      • munatycooking

        June 23, 2014 at 11:44 pm

        Basmati is long grain, but the texture is completely different, Uncle Ben's rice has more of al dente texture.

        Reply
    2. Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine

      June 23, 2014 at 9:20 pm

      This sounds delicious and like it would go with so many things.

      Reply
      • munatycooking

        June 23, 2014 at 11:39 pm

        Thanks Chris, I agree! I found that kids eat more vegetables when I cook this rice on the side 🙂

        Reply
    3. Ami@naivecookcooks

      June 25, 2014 at 4:30 pm

      Looks so good. There's a lemon rice dish from South of India which I totally love. Looking forward to try your recipe!!

      Reply
      • munatycooking

        June 25, 2014 at 10:09 pm

        Hi Ami, I've tried the Indian version and it was amazing, specially with fish curry, so aromatic and delicious, hope you like this version of Lemon rice 🙂

        Reply
    4. Alida

      June 25, 2014 at 5:53 pm

      This is a wonderful rice with an aromatic lemony flavour. I love the spices you used especially mint and cumin, I love them both. Tasty recipe and lovely photography!

      Reply
      • munatycooking

        June 25, 2014 at 10:07 pm

        Thanks Alida, I love to cook with cumin, and in this recipe the amount used is just right, even for those who are not fond of it. It is really a great side dish and a great companion to many main meals!

        Reply
    5. Deborah

      June 27, 2014 at 3:33 pm

      This rice is amazingly good! I had everything on hand,except the mint leaves. I used mint tea instead. My son wanted to know if I bought KFC rice and put it in the pot. Child of mines, I cooked it myself.

      Reply
      • munatycooking

        June 27, 2014 at 11:03 pm

        Hi Deborah, I'm so glad you liked my Lemon Rice, thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it 🙂

        Reply
    6. PS

      August 09, 2023 at 5:43 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe, love lemon rice. My mother would make it (South Indian.)

      Reply

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Avatar new

    Hello there, and welcome! I’m Muna, the writer, food photographer, and videographer at Munaty Cooking. I’m also the mother of a handsome young man. I’m from and reside in Sharjah. Oh, and there are more fun facts. 

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Orange cake feature image for 2022.
      Best Orange Cake Ever
    • Focaccia bread feature 2023.
      Easy Focaccia Bread Recipe (With A Video!)
    • Smothered Chicken Gravy feature image 2023.
      Easy Smothered Chicken Gravy - A Soul Food Recipe
    • Pepper steak recipe feature image 2023.
      Pepper Steak with Onions
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Footer

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Recipes

    • Dinner Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes

    Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. You can learn more about our affiliate policy. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Copyright © 2021 Munaty Cooking