Lemon Rice With Wine

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 This Lemon Rice With Wine is easy to make and perfect for entertaining.  If you like rice, you will like this recipe. It is one of these beautiful dishes that you will want to make over and over again, as it can be served with so many things and in so many ways.

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Lemon Rice With Wine

I made this recipe in multiple occasions and loved every single time the versatility of it.

The lemon and the white wine, which should be on the dry side (I like Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, just to give some examples)  give the rice a very sophisticated flavor that makes the dish elegant.  

The rice can be served with roasted chicken, grilled salmon, or any kind of grilled meats. 

I personally like any kind of rice. I used basmati rice in the past, but I also love Arborio rice, as it is a short grain and really delicious. You can also use brown rice.

Just keep in mind that for each type of rice you will need to adjust the amount of liquid needed for cooking the grains. 

HOW MUCH LIQUID YOU NEED TO COOK RICE:

The ratio for cooking rice in general is roughly 2 cups of water for 1 cup of dried rice.

However, if you go with Arborio rice, for example, which behaves a little bit different when cooked, use 2 1/2 cups of liquid for 1 cup of rice.

How to make this lemon rice with wine:

Step 1:

Saute the rice in oil or butter.

In a sauce pan heat up the olive oil or the butter on medium-high heat and add the rice. Stir constantly, so the rice doesn’t stick to the pan or burn. Cook the rice for 1-2 minutes until glossy. 

Step 2:

Add the liquid. 

For a cup of rice, I used 2 cups of liquid. One cup is water, 1/2 cup is lemon juice, while the other 1/2 cup is white wine. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and stir.

I juiced the lemons using  this tool that I love. I recently received it from Zulay Kitchen .

This company sells wonderful kitchen tools that I truly liked, but I have to say that I am impressed with this lemon/lime squeezer.

It is a perfect tool in the kitchen and I found myself using it a lot.

Step 3.

Add lemon zest also, then cover the pan with a lid and cook the rice until it absorbs the liquid.

If you notice that it needs more water, add a few teaspoons, until the rice has the right consistency. It should be soft, but not mushy.

Serve it as a side dish, next to your favorite salads, meats, fish or stews. I personally made a wonderful Mexican Pork in Green Sauce that I served with this rice. 

The flavors are divine and the combination of lemon with white wine is out of this world. 

Can I add herbs to this rice and what kind?

One of the herbs I loved in this rice with lemon and wine is the tarragon. Use fresh if you have, but dried tarragon, especially in the winter, is acceptable and very good.

I use tarragon a lot in my cooking, like in this soup that comes from Transylvania, or this Acorn Squash With Chicken&Fennel. )I think it is a wonderful herb that has a lot of flavor.

Another option is cilantro.  Fresh cilantro is the best, but again, dried one is perfectly acceptable. 

Other herbs: oregano, thyme, basil, parsley, dill etc.

What kind of rice do I need for this recipe? 

You can use any type of rice you have available. Jasmine rice is good, brown rice, basmati, regular rice or even Arborio or any short grain rice.

Each type of rice will give you a slightly different result, but all will be good.

Some people might say that this is a bad advice, but if you need to put dinner on the table, you need to learn how to use your pantry ingredients.

The only thing you need to do is to adjust the cooking time for each type of rice. 

I don’t like or I cannot use wine. What do I do?

You can replace the amount of wine with water or stock, no big deal. It will definitely not be the same, but you already know that, right?

Can I freeze this lemon rice with wine for later use?

Yes, why not? You can place it in freezer containers or freezer bags and use it later. You will need to add a little bit of water when you reheat the rice, as it does end up slightly dryer than freshly cooked rice.

Can I make it in the Instant Pot?

I would love to give you the recipe for the Instant Pot, but I do not have one. I am sure it would work.

However, keep in mind that you will definitely need to adjust the amount of liquid to cook the rice. For basmati, Jasmine or white rice, the ratio is 1:1, or 1 cup rice to 1 cup liquid.

What can I serve with this rice?

Anything basically, for a short answer. 

Proteins:

Salmon or other fish

Pork

Chicken

Seafood

Vegetables as a side dish:

Mushrooms

Peas

Broccoli

Zucchini

Spinach

Also, this rice can be served with any kind of salad. 

Let’s cook it! I am sure that you will fall in love with this recipe and start making it over and over again. Enjoy!