Green Rice

By Ann Fulton

Green RIce-Bursting with flavor and good-for-you ingredients, this colorful rice complements any basic protein and a wide variety of Latin, Asian and African dishes.
Jump to Recipe

Bursting with flavor and good-for-you ingredients, this colorful rice complements any basic protein and a variety of Latin, Asian, and African dishes. For the sake of St. Patrick’s Day, I think we should call it lucky too! 

 

Someone recently asked me how many recipes I have, and I truly had no idea. My blog stats revealed 877 published recipes and well over 1,000 when counting drafts of in-the-works recipes.

Of course, that doesn’t include the countless Word docs on which I type recipes that have received my official stamp of approval. Then if I tweak the recipe, I have one master copy that’s legible.

I used to take notes as I worked on my recipes and then type them when ready to share on my blog. After too many episodes of not being able to read my own writing or, worse yet, being unable to locate the scrap paper on which I inevitably scribbled, I knew there had to be a better way!

The Word document ensures accuracy, which I’ve always felt is of utmost importance. If readers spend the time and money on a recipe, I want them to have a good outcome.

With the high number of recipes already on the blog, it’s easy to forget about some of the early favorites that have become buried in the archives. A quick look at the early (read: bad) photos may also be reason to keep on scrolling!

Such is the case with the following gem, which was initially inspired by the flavorful cilantro lime rice dishes that so many of us enjoy. The recipe relies on a mix of broth and coconut milk to add savory and aromatic notes. Dark leafy green and herbs ramp up the nutritional profile and flavor and paint the rice a vibrant shade of green.

Green RIce-Bursting with flavor and good-for-you ingredients, this colorful rice complements any basic protein and a wide variety of Latin, Asian and African dishes.
Green RIce-Bursting with flavor and good-for-you ingredients, this colorful rice complements any basic protein and a wide variety of Latin, Asian and African dishes.

I distinctly remember the first time I prepared this rice. My boys were quite young and I had my doubts as to whether they’d take a single bite. At the time, they weren’t especially keen on cilantro and my younger son was at his height of pickiness.

As I blended the greens into the chicken stock and coconut milk-both of which are fabulous for cooking rice (vegetable broth may be used for a vegan meal)-my kids, who were sitting at the nearby kitchen island, looked at me with a rather puzzled look.

I mean really Mom, green rice?

As we ate dinner that evening, they confessed they were a bit scared about the recipe but truly sang its praises.

The recipe makes a generous amount, and happily, leftovers are equally delicious.

For those who may not favor cilantro, you could experiment with basil, parsley or a mix. (I might go a tad lighter on the herbs when substituting to avoid overpowering the rice on the first go-round.)

Those who are squarely rooted in camp cilantro could add a little extra on top. In terms of other alterations, spinach would be a good alternative to the kale and two scallions could stand in for the chives (that latter of which I’ve omitted altogether when I didn’t have fresh on hand).

Bursting with flavor and good-for-you ingredients, this colorful rice complements any basic protein and a variety of Latin, Asian and African dishes.

Everything on the above-pictured plate is leftover (and it still looks pretty good, huh?). I’m a firm believer in making more than we need on any given night, as it always comes in handy for quick meals in the following days. The photo below is green rice from my original 2012 recipe post.

Green RIce-Bursting with flavor and good-for-you ingredients, this colorful rice complements any basic protein and a wide variety of Latin, Asian and African dishes.

Speaking of leftovers… below is a quick iPhone photo of my lunch the other day-sadly I thought to take the picture just after I broke the egg yolk.

Life gets busy and so many people report struggling with quick healthy meal ideas. For me, creative use of leftovers is often the answer. For this simple but utterly satisfying lunch, I heated leftover green rice and roasted broccoli and rounded it out with a fried egg and a few pickled red onions. It covered all the bases-filling protein, nutrient-rich carbs and healthy veggies-and took mere minutes to prepare.

Green RIce-Bursting with flavor and good-for-you ingredients, this colorful rice complements any basic protein and a wide variety of Latin, Asian and African dishes.
Green Rice
Yield: 6-8 servings
This colorful rice is bursting with flavor and good-for-you ingredients. Leftovers are always welcome, as the flavor improves over time. You may also prepare the rice 2-3 hours in advance, allow it to sit at room temperature, and gently reheat when ready to eat.
Ingredients
  • ½ cup packed, fresh cilantro sprigs (about ½ ounce; ok to use stems and leaves)
  • 1 cup tightly packed kale leaves, tough stems removed (about 1½ ounces; could substitute spinach)
  • 2-3 tablespoons fresh chives (if you don’t have them, it’s fine to omit)
  • 1½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1¼ cups canned coconut milk (I use regular; could use light)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ a medium yellow onion,  minced
  • 1½ cups (270g) long grain white rice (could use brown rice; see notes)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1½-2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
Instructions
  1. Put the cilantro, kale, chives and broth in a blender and blend until the vegetables are puréed. Add the coconut milk and salt, and blend until the mixture is smooth.
  2. In a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, heat the olive oil over medium heat and saute the onion until it softens, 2-3 minutes. Add the rice and garlic and saute, stirring occasionally, until the rice begins to lightly toast, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the contents of the blender, stir well, turn the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Cover the pan, turn the heat to low, and cook for approximately 15 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Tip: Remove the lid and check the rice 3-5 minutes early. Give the mixture a good stir. If the liquid is mostly absorbed but the grains are still not done, add a little extra water or broth-start with ¼ cup or so-and continue to cook until the rice is tender. 
  3. When the rice is cooked to your liking, remove the pot from the heat and let the rice steam in the covered pot for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, stir in the lime juice to taste, fluffing with a fork, and serve.
Notes

You may use brown rice, if preferred. Start checking for doneness after 25-30 minutes and add more broth or water as needed.

More On YouTube More on Instagram
Tried this recipe?Post a picture on instagram and we will repost it! Mention @fountainavenuekitchen or tag #fountainavenuekitchen!
The Fountain Avenue Kitchen https://fountainavenuekitchen.com/

 

Leave a Reply

Make it? Rate the recipe:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

    1. Ann Post author

      Hi Kat, I haven’t made this in a rice cooker, and since a pan is needed to sauté some of the ingredients, a rice cooker might feel like more work/more to wash. That said, you could likely transfer everything to the rice cooker and cook as you would normally. If you try, feel free to report back!

      Reply
  1. jane link

    this looks yummy but I know I will not be making it for my clan! I “ruined ” them for green stuff when I sent them to school with green milk and green pears( canned pears with green food coloring) . You should have heard that out-cry!

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      That is so funny, Jane! I’d love to see the look on my sons’ faces if green milk appeared in their school lunches. You definitely get a pass on all things green given the scars that linger. 😉

      Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      Hi Miriam, I might try a combination of fresh basil and curly parsley. (Curly parsley tends to be milder than flat leaf.) You could even try using spinach which would be milder yet.

      Reply
  2. Pingback: The Fountain Avenue Kitchen – Throw Back Thursday — Green (Brown) Rice…the flavor is amazing and it’s so healthy, too!

  3. Pingback: Friday Fun! May 25, 2012

  4. Pingback: The Fountain Avenue Kitchen – Grilled Asian Tuna with Avocado Wasabi Sauce

  5. Joan Hayes@chocolate and more

    Ann, this is beautiful, and a great way to sneak a few extra veggies in, I can’t wait to try this. The ultimate challenge, my rice loving, non veggie eating middle child,. I’ll let you know how it goes! Pinned, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    1. Ann

      I love a good challenge and I can’t wait to hear how this goes on your end. My kids were looking at me like I was crazy when they first saw the green liquid. I was prepared for failure and was pleasantly surprised. Wishing you the same outcome!

      Reply
    1. Ann

      Brianne, the first time I made this, I was shocked by how much my kids loved it. It seemed a little risky: ) Hope your little guy likes it as much!

      Reply