Description
Amazing Green Rice is a vibrant and flavorful side dish featuring long-grain white rice cooked with a fresh blend of cilantro, spinach, shallot, serrano pepper, and garlic. The rice is toasted in olive oil before being simmered in broth or water, resulting in a fragrant, colorful, and perfectly cooked dish that pairs wonderfully with grilled meats, tacos, or vegetarian meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Rice Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth, or water (up to 2 1/2 cups for stickier rice)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (1 teaspoon salt if using water)
Green Herb Mixture
- 1 bunch cilantro (about 1 cup packed)
- 3–4 cups fresh spinach
- 1 shallot, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 serrano pepper, ribs and seeds removed, roughly chopped (substitute: jalapeño pepper)
- 1–2 cloves garlic
Other
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Rice Prep: Thoroughly rinse the rice in a mesh colander to remove excess starch. Shake it a few times to drain excess water or blot it dry with paper towels. This helps prevent splattering when the rice is toasted in oil.
- Make Green Herb Mixture: In a food processor, pulse together the cilantro, fresh spinach, shallot, serrano pepper, and garlic until they are very finely chopped and form a green herb paste.
- Sauté the Rice: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the rinsed and dried rice, sautéing it for 3 to 5 minutes until the grains are lightly toasted. Then add the green herb mixture and salt. Continue sautéing for another 3 to 5 minutes until fragrant and well combined.
- Cook the Rice: Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth (or water), then bring the mixture to a simmer. Cover the skillet and reduce the heat to low. Let the rice cook for about 15 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Fluff the rice with a fork to check doneness; if needed, add a little more water and cook longer to reach desired texture.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once cooked, fluff the rice again to evenly distribute the green herb mixture. Serve warm as a delicious side dish alongside chicken skewers, air-fried chicken or salmon, tacos, beans, or creamy corn.
Notes
- Rinsing the rice thoroughly removes excess starch to prevent stickiness and splattering during toasting.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, leave some serrano seeds in or substitute with a hotter pepper.
- Adjust the amount of broth or water depending on your preferred rice texture—less for fluffier, more for stickier rice.
- This green herb mixture can be customized by adding parsley or mint for a different flavor profile.
- Use vegetable broth for a vegetarian or vegan version.
- Cooking times may vary slightly depending on stove type and pan used.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: green rice, cilantro rice, spinach rice, Mexican side dish, herbed rice, vegetarian rice
