Looking for a fun way to step up your regular plain rice? Try this easy lemon garlic rice a try! Great for going alongside your dinner or in a meal prep.
Lemon Garlic Rice
Growing up in an Asian household, rice was a daily staple. And by daily, I mean DAILY. There was always rice in the rice cooker. I don’t think I ever saw it empty! It got to the point that the second I left home for university, I said goodbye to rice because eating plain white rice for 18 years was just something that I was totally over! It’s only in the last year or so that I’ve started to re-accept rice back into my life after a long break with it.
One of my favourite recipes on this blog is my lemon garlic chicken thighs recipe. Lemon and garlic is definitely one of my favourite flavour combination and it’s no surprise that this lemon garlic rice is one of my new favourite go-tos for meal prepping and dinner.
It’s just so nice to have a boost of flavour in the rice that makes it stand apart and makes it more exciting than regular plain rice. A bonus is that is also make the kitchen smell lovely!
How to make Lemon Garlic Rice
If you can make regular rice, then you can make this lemon garlic rice! The method is the same as cooking regular rice either on the stove or in the rice cooker. All you need to do is the add in the “extras” aka flavour boosters! The instructions down below are made with 1 cup of rice so the liquid ratio is 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of liquid.
- Bring 1 3/4 cups of water to a boil on the stovetop in a pan with the lid on.
- Add lemon zest of one lemon (here’s the handheld grater I used), lemon juice (1/4 cups), 1 tbsp of butter, 1/2 tbsp garlic powder, 1 cup of long grain white rice. Adding the flavours into the pot early on makes sure the rice absorbs all the flavour instead of mixing it in at the end.
- Stir with a wooden spoon and let it simmer on low heat for around 20 minutes. Remove the lid, fluff your rice, and then cover the pot with the lid again and let it sit for a couple of minutes.
- If you are using a rice cooker, just toss everything in, stir, and set it as you usually would.
- To top off the rice, I added more lemon zest and a sprinkle of parsley just to add some colour to it.
Recipes you can pair this easy lemon garlic rice with
HOW TO FREEZE LEMON GARLIC RICE
- Once the rice has cooled, freeze it in glass meal prep containers or in silicone freezer bags.
- Store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- To reheat, transfer the frozen rice to a microwave safe container and microwave until it’s heated through.
- Stir the rice a couple times in the middle of reheating.
- You may want to add a tablespoon or two of water into the container and cover the container with a damp paper towel to help keep the rice from drying out.
Lemon Garlic Rice
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cup water
- 1 lemon zest
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 cup white rice
Instructions
- Bring 1 3/4 cups of water to a boil on the stovetop in a pan with the lid on.
- Add lemon zest of one lemon, lemon juice, butter, garlic powder, and white rice into the water.
- Stir with a wooden spoon and let it simmer on low heat for around 20 minutes. Remove the lid, fluff your rice, and then cover the pot with the lid again and let it sit for a couple of minutes.
RESOURCES AND TIPS FOR MEAL PREPPING
- How To Cook Chicken Breasts Perfectly
- What Is An Instant Pot
- Tips To Help You Meal Prep For The Week Successfully
- Tips for Meal Prepping on a Budget
- 7 Freezer Friendly Chicken Marinades
- 5 Freezer Friendly Marinades
Other places to connect with me
Instagram: @carmyshungry
Twitter: https://twitter.com/runcarmyrun
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmyycom
Email: carmy@carmyy.com
Vlogs/Recipe Videos: Youtube
Sarah s.
October 5, 2019 at 6:24 pmJust a lovely touch for rice. The perfect amounts of seasoning and easy! Will not compete with other flavors, such a complement to main dish!
Carmy
October 5, 2019 at 7:05 pmThank you Sarah!
Pam Mullins
January 4, 2020 at 10:49 pmWonderful recipe! Made in my rice pot. Served with baked fish, and steamed veggies. Thanks so much for such a delightful rice!
Carmy
January 4, 2020 at 11:26 pmThank you! So glad you enjoyed!