If you’re tired of boring white rice, you’ve got to try my fresh Lemon Basil Rice. It’s easy to make and packed with so much flavor. This recipe uses pre-cooked rice that gets mixed with a homemade lemon basil garlic sauce. The sauce gives the rice a vibrant color and makes it taste great. Enjoy as a side dish or make rice bowls by adding some veggies and protein.
I know that summer is officially over, but we just had our first frost a few days ago, so I harvested all my remaining basil from the garden. As much as I love pesto, I wanted to make something a little lighter and this Lemon Basil Rice was perfect. The lemon basil sauce is bright and flavorful and takes boring plain rice to the next level.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Rice Recipe
- Packed with flavor – The fresh lemon basil sauce packs so much flavor and the warm rice really soaks it all up. You can play around with adding other fresh herbs, like parsley or cilantro, if you like.
- Easy to make – This recipe uses pre-cooked rice, so all you have to do is blend up the sauce and mix it into the rice. I usually have some frozen rice on hand, so I just heat it up in the microwave and then mix the basil sauce in.
- Versatile – This lemon basil rice can be used in so many different ways. Serve as a side dish, make a rice bowl with it or you can add it to a burrito.
Basil Rice Recipe Tips
- Use microwavable rice – I always have a few bags of frozen rice on hand for quick meals. They take about 3 minutes to heat up in the microwave and the rice is always perfectly cooked. Heat up your rice, add it to a large bowl and then mix in the lemon basil sauce.
- Add in other herbs – If you don’t have enough basil, or any basil at all, you can make this recipe using another leafy green herb of choice, such as cilantro, parsley or mint.
- Make ahead of time – I like to make a big batch of this lemony rice to have on hand so I can easily add it to meals throughout the week. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Lemon Basil Rice Recipe Ingredients
- Rice – I just use white rice for this recipe, but you can use brown rice or even quinoa if you prefer.
- Basil – I used about 1 1/2 – 2 cups of fresh basil leaves for this recipe. If you don’t have any basil, you can substitute with parsley or cilantro.
- Lemon – I like to use both the lemon juice and lemon zest, for maximum lemon flavor. I would suggest using fresh lemons, rather than bottled lemon juice.
- Olive Oil – I use a good extra virgin olive oil for the lemon basil sauce, but any kind of oil can be used.
- Garlic – You can use however much, or little, fresh garlic as you like. I used 2 small cloves.
- Salt – Season with salt, to taste.
How To Make Fresh Lemon Basil Rice
- Prepare your rice. Either heat it up in the microwave or prepare it according to package directions. Set aside until ready to use.
- To a blender, add in the basil leaves, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic and salt. Blend on high until you have a smooth sauce. Give the sauce a taste and adjust ingredients as needed.
- Pour the sauce over the cooked rice and mix until completely combined. Enjoy rice immediately, or store in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- This recipe is already vegan and gluten free.
- Can brown rice be used? Yes, you can substitute the white rice for brown rice, or even another grain of choice, like quinoa.
- Can the basil be substituted? Yes, you can substitute the basil with another fresh herb, like cilantro or parsley.
- How should this lemon basil rice be used? I like to serve it as a side dish or make a hearty bowl with it by adding veggies and protein.
- How long do leftovers last? If stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, leftovers should last for 4-5 days. Re-heat in the microwave, or in a skillet on the stovetop.
- Is this rice freezer friendly? Yes, you can easily freeze this basil flavored rice. Follow the same instructions that I use in my post all about freezing rice.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below and I will get back to you ASAP!
Looking For More Flavorful Rice Recipes?
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Lemon Basil Rice
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegan
Description
If you’re tired of boring white rice, you’ve got to try my fresh Lemon Basil Rice. It’s easy to make and packed with so much flavor. This recipe uses pre-cooked rice that gets mixed with a homemade lemon basil garlic sauce. The sauce gives the rice a vibrant color and makes it taste great. Enjoy as a side dish or make rice bowls by adding some veggies and protein.
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked white rice
- 1 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed tightly
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- 1-2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare your rice. Either heat it up in the microwave or prepare it according to package directions. Set aside until ready to use.
- To a blender, add in the basil leaves, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic and salt. Blend on high until you have a smooth sauce. Give the sauce a taste and adjust ingredients as needed.
- Pour the sauce over the cooked rice and mix until completely combined. Enjoy rice immediately, or store in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
Notes
Serving size is about 3/4 cup of rice.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
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