Garlic Lemon Herb Rice Spinach (Printable)

Aromatic rice with garlic, lemon, and herbs served alongside wilted spinach for a vibrant Mediterranean-style dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ For the Herb Rice

01 - 1 cup long-grain white rice (basmati or jasmine)
02 - 2 cups vegetable broth or water
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ For the Sautéed Spinach

11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
12 - 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
13 - 8 ounces fresh baby spinach
14 - Pinch of salt
15 - Pinch of black pepper
16 - Lemon wedges for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear. Drain thoroughly to remove excess starch.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to brown the garlic.
03 - Add the rinsed rice to the saucepan, stirring constantly to coat each grain with the aromatic oil mixture.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth or water. Add salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is fully absorbed.
05 - Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff the rice gently with a fork to separate grains.
06 - Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, chopped parsley, and dill. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
07 - While rice rests, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
08 - Add fresh spinach to the skillet. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until spinach is just wilted but still bright green. Remove from heat immediately.
09 - Plate the lemon herb rice on a serving platter or individual plates. Arrange sautéed spinach alongside or on top. Garnish with additional lemon wedges for squeezing at the table.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The lemon and herbs make plain rice taste like something from a restaurant
  • You can easily double it for meal prep without losing any freshness
  • It works as a side dish or stands alone as a light vegetarian dinner
02 -
  • Do not skip rinsing the rice or it will turn out gummy and clumpy
  • Add the fresh herbs after the rice cooks or they will lose their vibrant flavor
  • The spinach cooks down to almost nothing, so do not be alarmed by how much you start with
03 -
  • Zest the lemon first, then juice it, it is so much easier that way
  • Use a wide skillet for the spinach so it has room to wilt evenly

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