Lemon Dill Rice
20 minutes and one pot is all it takes to make this flavorful and fluffy lemon dill rice. Infused with the bright flavors of lemon and the herby deliciousness of dill, this rice dish is going to be your next favorite side to pair with almost any meal.
Team it up with some white chicken karahi or any other curry to turn it into the ultimate comfort food.
I've recently been trying a lot of curries, and have been mostly pairing them with my favorite bullet naan bread. My chickpea tikka masala and bhuna gosht have been huge hits, but I really wanted to pair them with some rice.
And because I always end up making jeera rice, this time, I thought of trying a different flavorful rice to pair with these curries. If you love serving flavored rice dishes as a side, check out my coconut lime rice and garlic turmeric rice recipes too!
Quick Look
- 🔪Prep time: 5 minutes.
- ⏲️Cook time: 25 minutes.
- 👪 Servings: 4 servings.
- 📋Main ingredients: Basmati rice, butter, garlic, chicken stock, onion, seasonings, lemon, dill.
- ♨️Cooking method: Sauté onion and garlic 🡢 add washed rice 🡢 cook for a few minutes 🡢 add stock, lemon and seasonings 🡢 cook until tender 🡢 add chopped dill and serve.
- ⭐Difficulty: Easy.
- 🥣Serving ideas: Pair with some meatballs, top with chicken floss, or serve with a side of spinach and feta crisps.
Jump to:
What's So Great About the Recipe?
- The ingredients list is super short and simple- you'll just need some long grain rice and a handful of pantry staples to make it.
- Everything comes together in just one pot, which means less mess to clean up later.
- Best of all, this rice dish is super versatile! You can use it as a base for you salads or team it up with some grilled meat. I love pairing it with my Sumac chicken and chicken malai tikka.
Recipe Ingredients
- Rice: Use any long-grain rice you can find. I'm partial to Basmati rice, but Jasmine rice can also work well.
- Butter: For that rich flavor.
- Aromatics: I used a mix of onion and garlic to build that savory flavor. Sometimes, I use my roasted garlic for a smoky depth.
- Chicken stock: To cook the rice. You can use vegetable stock or just plain water too!
- Dill: For that freshness and a bit of color.
- Lemon: Freshly squeezed, for that tangy, citrusy deliciousness.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- For some extra lemony flavor, swap the butter in the recipe for lemon infused olive oil.
- I absolutely love garlic, and use my garlic butter instead plain butter for a stronger flavor whenever I have some leftover.
- You can also try this with a different herb if you don't have dill. I love using my Air Fryer dried parsley.
How to Make Lemon Dill Rice
Step 1: Heat butter in a pot over medium heat and sauté the chopped onions and garlic until translucent.
Step 2: Add the washed rice to the pot and cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 3: Add the chicken stock, lemon juice and seasonings and give it a good mix.
Step 4: Turn down the heat and add the chopped dill. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is nice and fluffy.
💭Top Tip
Let the rice cool down for 5-10 minutes to help it absorb all the liquid, fluff it up with a fork and then serve it!
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- Bulk up the rice dish by adding some veggies into the mix. Green beans, peas, zucchini and bell peppers are good choices.
- You can also add proteins like shrimp, meatballs and chicken (try my Air Fryer shredded chicken) into the rice to make it a whole meal.
- Make sure you wash the rice thoroughly. This extra step helps remove the extra starch and ensures the rice is perfectly fluffy.
- Also remember to toast the rice for a few minutes before you add the stock. This helps build flavor.
- Cook the rice on medium-low heat, and stir occasionally. High heat will cause the rice to burn and stick to the bottom of the pot.
How to Serve Dill Lemon Rice
Enjoy this flavorful and zesty rice with your favorite curry or grilled protein. I love pairing it with my achar gosht, which I serve with some masala chaas or mango lassi, mix veg raita and some masala papad.
Sometimes, I also team it up with my lemon butter garlic shrimp and some grilled green onions on the side.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
You can! Simply swap the butter for some olive oil and use vegetable stock or water as the liquid for cooking the rice.
Not washing the rice properly or overcooking it can cause it to become sticky and mushy. Make sure you cook it just until it has absorbed the liquid, and wash it before you use it.
Store the leftover dill lemon rice in airtight containers for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Make sure you allow it to cool down first and the transfer it to the container.
You can also batch-make and freeze the rice for up to 3 months if you want to. Just use freezer safe containers or bags to prevent freezer burn, and make sure you thaw the rice first before you reheat it.
To reheat the rice, simply microwave it (with a little splash of water to moisten it), pausing at every 20 second interval. You can also reheat it in a skillet or a non stick pan over low heat.
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
If you tried this lemon dill rice or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Lemon Dill Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati rice
- 1 ½ cup chicken stock
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1 teaspoon dill
- 2-3 garlic
- 1 onion
- 1 teaspoon butter
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat butter in a pot over medium heat and sauté the chopped onions and garlic until translucent.
- Add the washed rice to the pot and cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the chicken stock, lemon juice and seasonings and give it a good mix.
- Turn down the heat and add the chopped dill. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is nice and fluffy.
Notes
- Bulk up the rice dish by adding some veggies into the mix. Green beans, peas, zucchini and bell peppers are good choices.
- You can also add proteins like shrimp, meatballs and chicken into the rice to make it a whole meal.
- Make sure you wash the rice thoroughly. This extra step helps remove the extra starch and ensures the rice is perfectly fluffy.
- Also remember to toast the rice for a few minutes before you add the stock. This helps build flavor.
- Cook the rice on medium-low heat, and stir occasionally. High heat will cause the rice to burn and stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Let the rice cool down for 5-10 minutes to help it absorb all the liquid, fluff it up with a fork and then serve it!
