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    Home » Side Dishes

    Pesto Rice

    Posted: Jul 24, 2020 · Updated: Aug 14, 2020 by Tonje

    134 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Pesto rice is an easy, but tasty alternative to regular plain rice. Long grain rice is cooked with a few spoons of pesto, making it more flavorful and filling. A perfect side dish for Mediterranean dishes!

    Pesto rice in a bowl with tomatoes.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Top tips
    • Serving suggestions
    • Variations
    • Leftovers
    • You might also like these recipes..
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about it in the privacy policy.

    Pesto is such a simple way to make anything taste good. My popular pesto vinaigrette, chicken and pesto pasta or pesto baked salmon recipes are all go-to recipes perfect for quick and easy meals.

    In this recipe, we simply boil rice with pesto added to it. You can use a store bought pesto, or your favorite homemade recipe. The result is a tasty Mediterranean style rice with plenty of flavor. Although plain rice is great, it's sometimes nice to add a bit more flavor!

    Ingredients

    You will need pesto, water and rice for this recipe. I recommend using long grain rice, like Basmati or Jasmine as these are best suited for this purpose. You can also use brown rice, but you might have to adjust the amount of water.

    If you want to add even more flavor, you can add a chicken stock cube, or replace some water with chicken stock.

    Pesto and rice in a pot.

    Instructions

    Add all the ingredients to a pot. Cover with a lid, and bring it to a boil on medium high heat, then reduce it down to a simmer on very low heat.

    Leave the rice to simmer gently for about 10 minutes. The water will now have completely absorbed. Remove the rice from the heat, but leave it covered with the lid for another 3-5 minutes.

    Give the rice a stir with a spoon, then serve!

    Top tips

    Here are my top tips to succeed with this recipe:

    • Rice should be cooked on low heat covered with a lid. This will result in perfect rice every time. If you don't have a lid to fit your pot, you will have to add extra water.
    • Different types of pesto have different flavors. You should taste the rice when it's done cooking, and add more seasoning like extra pesto or salt if necessary.
    Rice with pesto in a bowl with tomatoes on the side.

    Serving suggestions

    I love to serve pesto rice as a side dish. Here are some of my favorite mains to serve it with:

    Baked Turkey Meatballs - Healthy and easy meatballs with Mediterranean flair.

    Chicken Spedini - Grilled or baked Italian chicken skewers.

    Mediterranean Baked Cod - Light and lean white fish.

    Chicken Marsala Without Wine - Chicken breasts in a creamy mushroom sauce.

    Variations

    Although the recipe is excellent as is, you can also make alternative variations of it to suit your needs. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy it:

    With spinach and feta: Add some chopped spinach to the rice, and serve it with feta cheese on top. Yum!

    Vegan: Some brands of pesto are considered vegetarian and vegan. Make sure to consult the label of the ingredients you use if you have dietary requirements.

    With veggies: You can add vegetables to the rice if you want. This will make the rice more filling, and can actually be served as a main course. Try adding Mediterranean roast vegetables, or cherry tomatoes.

    Pesto and rice.

    Leftovers

    Leftover pesto rice can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 4 days. Serve it cold, or reheat it in a microwave for a few minutes if you prefer to serve warm rice.

    You can also freeze cooked rice in a freezer safe container for up to 6 months. Thaw and reheat the rice before serving.

    The leftovers can be served as a side dish for future meals, or you can use them to make fried rice, rice wraps or other tasty dishes!

    You might also like these recipes..

    If you love alternative rice flavors, you should try any of these recipes:

    • Red beans and coconut rice.
      Red Beans and Coconut Rice
    • Spanakorizo.
      Spanakorizo - Greek Spinach Rice
    • a bowl of basmati rice with lemon and garlic.
      Lemon and Garlic Rice
    • Dill rice.
      Dill Rice

    Frequently asked questions

    What do I put pesto on?

    Pesto can be served on meat, in rice or pasta, in salads or sandwiches or on pizza. It's very versatile, and has unlimited uses!

    What rice can I use for pesto rice?

    Long grain rice such as Jasmine or Basmati rice is particularly suited for pesto rice.

    Recipe

    Pesto Rice.

    Pesto Rice

    Pesto rice is an easy, but tasty alternative to regular plain rice. Long grain rice is cooked with a few spoons of pesto, making it more flavorful and filling. A perfect side dish for Mediterranean dishes!
    5 from 2 votes
    Created by: Tonje
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Dinner, Side Dish
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 6
    Calories 198 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ cup Basmati rice (350 g)
    • 2 cups water
    • 3 tablespoon pesto

    Instructions
     

    • Add all the ingredients to a pot. Cover with a lid, and bring it to a boil on medium high heat, then reduce it down to a simmer on very low heat.
    • Leave the rice to simmer gently for about 10 minutes. The water will now have completely absorbed. Remove the rice from the heat, but leave it covered with the lid for another 3-5 minutes.
    • Give the rice a stir with a spoon, then serve!

    Notes

    Leftovers

    Leftover pesto rice can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 4 days. Serve it cold, or reheat it in a microwave for a few minutes if you prefer to serve warm rice.
    You can also freeze cooked rice in a freezer safe container for up to 6 months. Thaw and reheat the rice before serving.
    The leftovers can be served as a side dish for future meals, or you can use them to make fried rice, rice wraps or other tasty dishes!

    Top tips

    • Rice should be cooked on low heat covered with a lid. This will result in perfect rice every time. If you don’t have a lid to fit your pot, you will have to add extra water.
    • Different types of pesto have different flavors. You should taste the rice when it’s done cooking, and add more seasoning like extra pesto or salt if necessary.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 198kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 4gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 76mgPotassium: 53mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 151IUCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword egg free, gluten free, pesto, rice, soy free, vegetarian
    Tried this recipe?Mention @hintofhealthyfood or tag #hintofhealthy!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ld Indy

      February 26, 2023 at 3:32 pm

      5 stars
      Simple and just added enough flavor to perk up the plain rice.
      I will make this again.

      Reply
    2. Chris

      July 31, 2023 at 12:14 am

      5 stars
      I make tons of pesto from scratch each summer (our basil plants tell me when I have to drop everything to make it), then freeze the pesto in ice cube trays to be enjoyed each winter. Last winter I used your method of cooking the pesto right into the grains... yet also substituted half the rice with quinoa. Wow! That gave an extra nutty nutritionally-charged boost to what has become a weekly staple in this house. Infused rice (or mixed grains) are truly special when infused with pesto instead of just stirring it in after cooking. Thank you for posting this recipe.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Tonje! I make easy and healthy everyday recipes that your family will love. Browse my recipe collection to discover new favorites, and make sure to let me know what you think!

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