Basil Rice

Need an easy side dish? Try this herbaceous basil rice! It’s simple to whip up with fresh basil, butter, and garlic, which bring an aromatic flavor to this easy side dish. A bit of lemon zest and juice add an extra citrus spin! It’s amazing what a few extra ingredients can do to add pizzazz to simple rice. This one is a standard on our table (and, you can make variations with any herbs you have on hand!).

Ingredients in basil rice

It’s simple to make basil rice, and it’s perfect for when you have fresh basil on hand. Whether it’s fresh from your garden or leftover from the store, it works perfectly to make an impressive and easy side dish. Here’s what you’ll need:

White long grain rice Salted butter Garlic (or garlic powder) Fresh basil Lemon, zest and juice, optional

Tips for basil rice

There’s no trick to basil rice: the fresh basil and bright lemon carry the flavors! Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you make a pot of rice:

No shortcuts with a short ingredient list! Use a real garlic clove for the best flavor (not jarred). But if you don’t have garlic on hand, garlic powder tastes good too. If you have it, a real lemon gives a big punch to this recipe! But it’s optional and tastes great either way. Rinse the rice. This removes starch from the outside of the grains, which prevents a gooey, sticky, gummy pot of rice. Allow the pot to stand for 10 minutes after cooking. This rest time is crucial because it steams the rice, letting the water become fully absorbed into each grain.

Leftover storage

This basil rice recipe tastes the best the day of serving. But leftovers also keep well! Store leftover basil rice refrigerated for up to 5 days; reheat gently on the stovetop with a small splash of water. You may need to add an additional pinch or two of salt. One thing to keep in mind for leftovers: the color of the basil darkens after refrigeration. So if you’re making this ahead, keep the basil separate and add right before serving.

Ways to serve basil rice

Basil rice is very versatile: it pairs with many Mediterranean-style recipes from chicken to fish and vegetarian dinners. Here are a few great ways to serve it:

Salmon: Pan Seared Salmon or Brown Sugar Salmon Chicken: Grilled Chicken, Pesto Chicken or Creamy Garlic Chicken Fish: Tuna, Fried Tilapia, Cod, Mahi Mahi, Swordfish, Halibut, or Chilean Sea Bass Shrimp: Garlic Shrimp or Grilled Shrimp Vegetarian and Vegan Mains: Eggplant Rollatini, Eggplant Parmesan, Stuffed Zucchini Boats, Baked Falafel, or Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms