Easy Green Rice
Deliciously flavored with garlic, jalapeño, and cilantro, this easy Green Rice is a flavorful and nutritious side dish, that pairs well with many other dishes. There are two ways to make it, and they are both outlined below.
Forget about eating your greens and rice separately, instead, enjoy them together in this easy green rice recipe! This recipe is so flavorful and nutritious. And, it is such a versatile side dish that can be served with a multitude of other sides and mains.
I came across a recipe for Persian green rice recently and was so intrigued. Growing up in Sri Lanka, I had heard about yellow rice and red rice, but never green rice. So, I took to Google to find out more and saw that there was a Mexican green rice recipe, or Arroz Verde, as well.
From what I found on the web, both the Persian and Mexican versions washed and toasted the rice before cooking it. But, most of the Persian green rice recipes were made with a plethora of herbs, and most of the Mexican green rice recipes were made with a broth made of jalapeño peppers or poblano peppers, garlic, cilantro, and, sometimes, spinach.
So, I set about making my spin on green rice.
This recipe for green rice is for you if you are looking for a side dish that is:
- Tasty,
- Easy,
- Gluten-free,
- Healthy,
- Vegan,
- Colorful, and
- Made with less than 10 ingredients!
What are the ingredients needed to make this easy green rice?
You will need the following 9 ingredients:
- Rice
I used enriched long-grain white rice for this recipe. However, Basmati rice or jasmine rice could also be used. - Spinach
There is always some frozen spinach hanging out in my freezer, so I used that. There is no need to thaw out the spinach. However, if the spinach is frozen into a stubborn block, then defrost it a bit before adding it to the blender. - Jalapeño
If spicy rice isn’t too appealing, well, the heat of this green rice can be tailored to fit your preferences. Simply cut the jalapeño in half, scoop out some or all of the seeds, and add the green fleshy skin of the jalapeño into the blender. - Garlic
I used fresh garlic cloves in this recipe. But, garlic powder can be used instead as well. Garlic powder tends to be a tad more potent than fresh garlic, so use about 1/2 a teaspoon or so. - Onion powder
I used onion powder in this recipe as that was all I had on hand. However, if you have fresh onion on hand, there is another method (outlined below) that can be employed when making this recipe. - Cilantro
Dried cilantro was what I used in this recipe because that was what I had on hand. However, fresh cilantro would work just as well. - Water
I used water as the base, but vegetable stock can also be used. If vegetable stock is used, then, make sure to adjust the amount of salt accordingly. If you don’t want this to be a plant-based side dish, then chicken stock or chicken broth could be used as well. - Salt
Salt is a key ingredient that harmoniously enhances all the other flavors in this recipe. - Green peas
Green peas are completely optional in this recipe. I used frozen green peas. I thawed them a bit and then added them as a garnish to the green rice.
How to make this green rice dish?
After all the ingredients are gathered together, there are 2 ways to make this dish.
METHOD 1
The first method (also the one I use most often) consists of washing the rice well, draining it, and adding it to a medium-sized pan.
Then blend together the water (or vegetable stock), spinach, garlic, and jalapeño to use as the liquid the rice will be cooked in. You can use a blender or a food processor for blending.
Once blended, add this to the pan with the washed rice, along with the dried cilantro and onion powder, and bring this mixture to a boil.
When this mixture is boiling, cover the pan, turn the stove to a low heat/flame, and let the mixture simmer gently for about 16–19 minutes. Then, take the lid off, fluff the rice with a fork, and leave it undisturbed for about five minutes.
METHOD 2
In this method, fresh onion is used and not onion powder and you will also need some oil.
As with method 1, the rice is washed and set aside.
And, the spinach, jalapeño, and garlic are blended with either water or stock.
Then, add about a tablespoon of olive oil to a pan and add in 1 peeled and chopped fresh onion. I like to use a white onion or yellow onion as these help the rice retain its vibrant green color, while a red one seems to get it a bit murky. After the onion has sautéed for about 10 minutes, add in the washed rice and the green broth.
As with method 1, bring this mixture to a boil. Then, lower the heat and let this simmer for about 16–19 minutes. Remove the lid, fluff the rice, and let it sit undisturbed for about 5 minutes. Then enjoy!
What to serve with green rice?
This green rice dish can be served with a variety of vegetables or meats. It can also be served in tacos or burrito bowls. It can also be served with dishes such as:
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Harissa chickpeas
Marry me tofu
Curried Mango Pork Chops
How do you store leftovers?
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Can you freeze this?
Yes, this green rice recipe can be frozen. Just place it in an airtight container and place it in the freezer. My mom often freezes leftovers of this green rice recipe and then thaws it by placing it on the counter until it comes to room temperature or defrosting it in the microwave.
Thanks so much for stopping by. If you make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think of it, or tag your creation on social media with @savoryspin or #savoryspin. For more fusion, spice-filled, recipe ideas, please subscribe and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pinterest!
Ingredients
- 1 cup Enriched long-grain white rice
- 1 cup Frozen spinach
- 1 Jalapeño
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 tsp Onion powder (can also use fresh onion and use method 2 as outlined in notes)
- 2 tsp Dried cilantro
- 2 cups Water or vegetable stock
- 1/2 cup Frozen peas (OPTIONAL) (for garnish)
- Salt (add for best taste)
Instructions
METHOD 1
- First wash the rice well. Do this by adding the rice to a pan and then adding water to it, to submerge the rice. Then, move the rice around with your hand or a spoon. The water should get cloudy. Discard the water and fill the pan up with fresh water. Repeat the process until the water is clear when you move your hand through the rice and water. When water is clear, drain the water out and leave the rice in a medium-sized pan.
- Using a blender or food processor, blend together the water (or vegetable stock), spinach, garlic, and jalapeño.
- Once blended, add this liquid to the pan with the washed rice, along with the dried cilantro and onion powder and bring this mixture to a boil.
- When this mixture is boiling, cover the pan and turn the stove to a low heat/flame and let the mixture simmer gently for about 16-19 minutes. Then, take the lid off, fluff the rice with a fork and leave it undisturbed for about five minutes.
- If using the green peas to garnish, thaw them out by placing in a bowl of warm water and drain them. Then scatter them around on the rice. If desired, garnish with fresh chopped parsley or cilantro too.
- Serve warm and enjoy with your favorite meat or vegetables or in a taco or burrito bowl!
The blend of fresh herbs and rice created a vibrant, flavorful dish that was both healthy and satisfying. It was incredibly simple to make, and now it’s a new favorite in my meal rotation!
Loved this rice! It was so easy to make but packed full of flavour. Thank you!
This is such a quick and easy plant-based dinner. And I loved that touch of sweetness from the peas!