Try this lemon rice recipe for a burst of fresh citrus flavor! Make the classic base recipe or dress it up \u2013 you\u2019ll have a quick and easy side dish for dinner either way!<\/p>\n
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\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWith two growing teenagers, I\u2019m always looking for ways to keep our grocery budget<\/a> low while still filling their bellies with good, wholesome foods.<\/p>\n Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice<\/a> and Coconut Rice<\/a> are the two easy rice recipes I make most often, while Crispy Potato Wedges<\/a> and Hasselback Potatoes<\/a> are the two most requested potato recipes.<\/p>\n Both rice and potatoes are affordable, but I tend to lean towards rice because it\u2019s freezer-friendly and hands-off when I use my Instant Pot.<\/p>\n I tried making an Instant Pot lemon rice recipe not too long ago, and it was a huge hit. I think you\u2019re going to love it too!<\/p>\n One of the reasons I love lemon rice so much is that it uses very simple ingredients that I have on hand all the time. No running out to the store for something at the last minute! It\u2019s also:<\/p>\n Let\u2019s break down how quick and easy it is to turn plain rice into the best lemon rice recipe!<\/p>\n You only need 5 ingredients for this rice lemon recipe:<\/p>\n Psst! Not all salts are made the same! I love Ava Jane\u2019s Kitchen because it doesn\u2019t have microplastics<\/a> (gross, right?) and it\u2019s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!).<\/em><\/p>\n As written, this lemon rice recipe was a huge winner for my family. But in case you\u2019re like me and you want a bit of extra lemony flavor, try one or more of these:<\/p>\n These are optional ingredients that you can add along with the lemon juice for extra lemon flavor.<\/p>\n Follow these instructions to learn how to make a lemon rice in the Instant Pot.<\/p>\n Step 1: Measure rice, water, and salt in the inner pot of the Instant Pot<\/a>.<\/strong> Close the lid and turn the pressure valve to \u201csealing.\u201d Press the \u201crice\u201d function and cook on medium pressure. The Instant Pot will automatically detect the volume in the pot and cook for the appropriate time.<\/p>\n If your Instant Pot doesn\u2019t have the \u201crice\u201d function, pressure cook the rice according to the following cooking times, based on the type of rice you\u2019re using:<\/p>\n Step 2: When the rice is done cooking, <\/strong>let the pressure release naturally. This will take about 10 minutes.<\/p>\n Step 3: When the pressure pin drops, <\/strong>remove the lid and immediately drizzle the fresh lemon juice and lemon zest over the cooked rice. Stir it in using a fork instead of a spoon. This will fluff the rice and distribute the lemon flavor throughout the dish. Be sure to stir to the bottom of the pot, to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom.<\/p>\n If you choose to add the optional lemon essential oil<\/a> and lemon extract, add it with the lemon juice.<\/p>\n How to make lemon rice without an Instant Pot. <\/strong>You can make easy lemon rice in a slow cooker<\/a>, rice cooker<\/a>, in the oven, or simmer in a pan on the stove, just like you would any other rice recipe. Cook your rice with your preferred method and pick up with step 3 to add the remaining ingredients.<\/p>\n Store leftovers of lemony rice recipes<\/strong> for 3-5 days in an airtight container<\/a> in the refrigerator.<\/p>\n If you aren\u2019t serving the rice immediately, leave the lid sealed. <\/strong>This will keep the rice moist and prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom. Simply stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest before serving.<\/p>\n You can also use this lemon rice recipe as a base and make a few tweaks to add variety to your meal plans<\/a>. Try one of these recipes for lemon rice with some yummy additions:<\/p>\n Measure 2 to 4 cups of cooked and seasoned rice into freezer-safe storage bags<\/a>. The amount of rice you freeze should be the amount of rice you tend to consume in one meal.<\/p>\n Lay the bag flat, remove the excess air, and seal the bag. Label and date the bag and place it in the freezer for 6-8 hours.<\/p>\n Thaw the rice overnight in the refrigerator, or in a shallow pan of warm water for a couple of hours.<\/p>\n This Greek rice recipe is a fantastic rice side dish with almost any protein, but we especially like to serve lemon rice with:<\/p>\n This lemon rice recipe also complements simple side dishes like:<\/p>\n One big thing I\u2019ve learned on my nutrition journey is that carbs are NOT the enemy.<\/p>\n The internet has painted a negative picture of carbs over the years, when the reality is that we NEED carbs to fuel our bodies. They are literally the body\u2019s source of energy. They\u2019re also required for gut health, hormone regulation, and proper digestion<\/a>. <\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re chasing kids, studying for tests, driving teens around, or managing a law firm, your body needs energy!<\/p>\n There are two things to consider when it comes to carbohydrates:<\/p>\n Once I learned which carbs my body responded best to, and how much my body needed every day, I was able to freely enjoy carbs as part of my meals, knowing I was doing something good for my body.<\/p>\n You can, but I don\u2019t recommend doing this. The lemon flavor gets lost in the cooking process, and you\u2019ll have to add more after the rice is cooked anyway.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n You can make this lemon rice recipe in a slow cooker<\/a>, rice cooker<\/a>, in the oven, or simmering in a pan on the stove, just like you would any other rice recipe. Skip the first two steps (adding the ingredients to the Instant Pot and cooking) and pick up with step 3 to add the remaining ingredients.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The difference is in the spices. Both have cooked rice with lemon, but Indian lemon rice has mustard seeds, chiles, ginger, and curry leaves, while Greek lemon rice includes spinach and fresh dill. This lemon rice recipe is a great base recipe, which you can season however you wish!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Sign up for my FREE Fight Inflation Workshop<\/strong>\u00a0and learn simple strategies to save money, even with rising food costs!\n\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nEASY LEMON RICE RECIPE<\/h2>\n
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RICE LEMON RECIPE INGREDIENTS<\/h2>\n
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BONUS INGREDIENTS FOR EXTRA LEMONY RICE RECIPES<\/h2>\n
HOW TO MAKE A LEMON RICE (INSTANT POT METHOD)<\/h2>\n
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LEMON RICE RECIPE TIPS<\/h2>\n
MORE RECIPES FOR LEMON RICE<\/h2>\n
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How to Freeze Lemon Rice<\/h2>\n
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SERVE LEMONY RICE RECIPES WITH<\/h2>\n
INCLUDING CARBS IN YOUR REAL FOOD GOALS<\/h2>\n
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RECIPES FOR LEMON RICE FAQS<\/h2>\n
Can you add lemon juice to the rice while cooking?<\/h3>\n
How do you make lemony rice recipes without a pressure cooker?<\/h3>\n
What is the difference between Indian lemon rice and Greek rice recipes?<\/h3>\n
MORE EASY RICE RECIPES<\/h2>\n
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Fight Inflation Workshop!<\/h4>\n