Zesty Lemon Rice

Serves: 6

You will love this brilliant and delicious Greek Lemon Rice made with onion, garlic, fresh lemon juice and herbs! This easy accompaniment pairs very well with a number of Mediterranean favorites, such as souvlaki, shrimp, Greek baked cod and many others!

INGREDIENTS

2 cups long grain rice
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped (just over 1 cup)
1 garlic clove, minced
½ cup orzo pasta
2 lemons, juiced
2 cups low-sodium broth (chicken or vegetable broth will work)
pinch of salt
zest of 1 lemon
large handful fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp. dried dill weed

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Thoroughly wash the rice and soak for at least 15 minutes in plenty of cold water. You should be able to easily break a grain of rice by simply pressing it between your thumb and index finger. Drain well.
2. In a large saucepan that has a lid, heat the olive oil over medium heat until it is shimmering but not smoking. Add the onions and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until translucent. Add the garlic and orzo pasta. Toss for a short time, until the orzo has gained some color, then stir in the rice. Toss to coat.
3. Add the lemon juice and broth. Bring the liquid to a rolling boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let cook for about 20 minutes or until the liquid is fully absorbed and the rice is tender but not sticky.
4. Remove the rice from the heat. For best results, leave it covered and do not disturb the rice for about 10 minutes. Uncover and stir in the lemon zest, parsley, salt and dill weed. If you desire, add a few slices of lemon on top for garnish. Enjoy!

NUTRITION DATA FOR 1 SERVING

Calories 145kcal
Total Carbohydrates 18g
Protein 3g
Total Fat 7g
Saturated Fat 2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Trans Fat 0.3g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 53mg
Potassium 130mg
Dietary Fiber 0g
Sugars 0.5g
Vitamin A 5% Daily Value
Vitamin C 7% Daily Value
Calcium 24% Daily Value
Iron 15% Daily Value

This AMAZING Recipe can be found in my Mediterranean Refresh Meal Plan Cookbook here