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This basil rice is a tasty addition to any meal! Fresh basil and garlic bring an herbaceous aromatic flavor to this easy side dish.
If you’re always looking for new side dish ideas like I am, here’s my summer favorite: basil rice! It’s simple to whip up with fresh basil, butter, and garlic, which bring in a punch of aromatic flavor. You can also add 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. I love to make this one when I have a bunch of fresh basil—you can also make variations with any other herbs you have on hand!
Ingredients in basil rice
Making this basil rice 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 side dish to pair with chicken, fish, or vegetarian dinners. Here’s what you’ll need:
- White long grain rice
- Salted butter
- Garlic (or garlic powder)
- Fresh basil
- Lemon, zest and juice, optional
A few quick pro tips
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 Garlic Chicken
- Fish: Tuna, Fried Tilapia, Cod, Mahi Mahi, Swordfish, Halibut, or Chilean Sea Bass
- Shrimp: Garlic Shrimp or Grilled Shrimp
- Vegetarian and vegan dinners: Eggplant Rollatini, Eggplant Parmesan, Stuffed Zucchini Boats, Baked Falafel, or Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Other herb swaps
Want to try it with other herbs? You can also make this rice with other herbs you have on hand! For stronger herbs like oregano and thyme, use 2 tablespoons. For dill, tarragon, or parsley, use ¼ cup.
Dietary notes
Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy free, use olive oil.
Basil Rice
Basil rice is a tasty addition to any meal! Fresh basil and garlic bring an herbaceous aromatic flavor to this easy side dish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Rest Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry white long grain rice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1 tablespoon salted butter or olive oil
- 1 small garlic clove, finely minced (or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder)
- ½ cup thinly sliced basil (see Notes)
- Zest from 1 lemon and/or 1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional
Instructions
- Place the rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse it under cold water, then drain and shake dry.
- Place the rice in a saucepan with 1 ½ cups water and ¼ teaspoon of the kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low. Cover and simmer 12 to 15 minutes, until the water is completely absorbed. Remove from the heat, cover and allow it to rest for 10 minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork. Stir in the butter, minced garlic, basil, lemon zest and juice (if using), and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. Taste and add additional salt if necessary. Serve immediately or store leftovers refrigerated for up to 5 days; reheat gently on the stovetop with a tablespoon of water. Keep in mind, the color of the basil darkens after refrigeration, so if making in advance, add the basil directly before serving.
Notes
You can also make this with other herbs you have on hand! For stronger herbs like oregano and thyme, use 2 tablespoons. For dill, tarragon, or parsley, use ¼ cup.
Other basil recipes you might enjoy
There are so many ways to cook basil into meals! Here are a few favorite basil recipes:
- Try this classic Basil Pesto Recipe
- Make a pot of Tomato Basil Soup
- Mix up Quick Tomato Basil Sauce
- Try Basil Sauce or Basil Aioli
My husband made Caprese chicken, and this, along with roasted tomatoes, was the perfect accompaniment. So good!
This is a keeper. Made it for dinner tonight as written (other than adding a little more lemon juice)and immediately saved the recipe to my laptop.
Let us know if you have any questions!
Can you substitute brown or jasmine or basmati? Thanks, Gregory
Yes! You’ll just need to adjust the cook time accordingly.