An easy side dish made with long grain brown rice, fresh basil, spinach, and a little bit of lemon and garlic.  This rice is packed with greens, and protein, and has so much flavor!

If you’re on the lookout for a flavorful and vibrant summer side dish to complement your meals, look no further than Basil Rice, also known in our house as Green Rice. This dish, infused with the fresh flavors of basil, lemon, and garlic, is not only visually pretty but it is also delicious and packed with greens and protein.  Perfect for pairing with a variety of main courses, I hope this recipe becomes a favorite at your house too!

This is a great way to get veggies and a little extra protein into your kiddos.  They won’t even know they’re there!  This is a perfect side dish for fish, grilled chicken, or steak.  It can be cooked in the oven while you are outside grilling or you can even make this rice ahead of time and just warm it up for a couple of minutes when you are ready to eat.

Ingredients

To make basil rice, you will need the following ingredients:

• Brown Rice – The main ingredient! Any leftover rice would be fine in this recipe too.  We sometimes use day-old jasmine rice.
• Fresh Basil – Italian basil is my favorite in this recipe
• Fresh baby spinach – Extra greens that give the rice its green color
• Parsley
• Olive Oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon sea salt 
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped or you could use 2 tsp of garlic paste
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 
• Juice from 1/2 a lemon
  

Instructions

How to Make Lemon Basil Rice

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

• In a large skillet on medium-high heat, saute the onion in about 2 tablespoons of oil until the onion is translucent.
• Add in the baby spinach, garlic, and salt, and cook until the spinach is just wilted but still bright green.
• Add the spinach mixture to a blender and add the cottage cheese, parsley, and the eggs.  Blend until smooth.
• Stir the green sauce with the cooked rice, lemon juice, another pinch of salt, and cheese.
• Bake the rice mixture in a greased 9×13″ casserole dish, covered with a lid or foil, for a cook time of 25 minutes, and then uncovered for another 10 until it is nice and gold on top. 

Garnish and Serve

To finish off the dish, we’ll add some garnishes that will enhance both the flavor and presentation of the Basil Rice.

1. Garnish with Basil Leaves: Tear a few fresh basil leaves and sprinkle them over the rice for an extra burst of basil flavor and a pop of color.
2. Serve with Lemon Wedges: Serve the rice with lemon wedges on the side. Guests can squeeze additional lemon juice over their servings for an extra zing.

Serving Suggestions

Basil Rice is a versatile dish that pairs well with a variety of main courses. Here are some serving suggestions:

1. Grilled Chicken or Fish: The fresh and zesty flavors of the rice complement the smoky and savory taste of grilled meats and fish perfectly.
2. Vegetarian Delights: Serve it alongside grilled vegetables or a hearty vegetable curry for a satisfying vegetarian meal.
3. Mediterranean Feast: Pair the rice with Mediterranean-inspired dishes like lamb kebabs, tzatziki, and a Greek salad for a themed dinner.
4. Simple Elegance: Enjoy Basil Rice as a light meal on its own, perhaps with a side of sauteed summer vegetables to make it a whole meal and a glass of chilled white wine.

Tips and Variations

1. Spicy Kick: If you like a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the basil sauce or sauté diced red chilies with the onions and garlic.
2. Herb Variations: While basil is the star, you can add other herbs like parsley, green onion, chives, or cilantro to the pesto for a different flavor profile.  Or add in a bit of lemon zest for extra lemon flavor.

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

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Basil Rice Recipe | Green Rice with Lemon and Garlic

An easy side dish made with long grain brown rice, fresh basil, spinach, and a little bit of lemon and garlic.  This rice is packed with greens, and protein, and has so much flavor!

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 10 people

Ingredients

• Brown Rice
• Fresh Basil Italian basil is my favorite in this recipe
• Fresh baby spinach
• Parsley
• Olive Oil
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 cloves of garlic finely chopped or you could use 2 tsp of garlic paste
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• Juice from 1/2 a lemon

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large skillet on medium-high heat, saute the onion in about 2 tablespoons of oil until the onion is translucent.
• Add in the baby spinach, garlic, and salt, and cook until the spinach is just wilted but still bright green.
• Add the spinach mixture to a blender and add the cottage cheese, parsley, and the eggs. Blend until smooth.
• Stir the green sauce with the cooked rice, lemon juice, another pinch of salt, and cheese.
• Bake the rice mixture in a greased 9×13″ casserole dish, covered with a lid or foil, for a cook time of 25 minutes, and then uncovered for another 10 until it is nice and gold on top.