Lemon Dill Rice is the perfect side dish to serve at your next Persian dinner party.
Fluffy basmati rice is scented with fragrant dill, lemon zest, fried garlic and saffron. It’s a crowd-pleasing and comforting vegetarian and vegan side dish.
Our quick & easy Persian Dill Rice recipe is best served with kebab skewers, grilled seafood, fresh salads and Middle Eastern dips!
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What Is Persian Dill Rice?
This simple Dill Rice recipe is inspired by a traditional Persian dish called Baghali Polo. The dishes are similarly prepared but Baghali Polo is made with an additional ingredient, plump fava beans, which adds texture and protein to a more grandiose pilaf.
Our quick & easy Persian rice is fragrant and fluffy. Tender basmati rice is flavoured with fresh herbs, fried garlic and exotic saffron. The dish is meat-free, a great side dish to serve at an Iranian or Middle Eastern feast when vegans or vegetarians are joining at the table.
Follow our easy step-by-step recipe instructions and you’ll enjoy dill and lemon scented rice, best served with Persian kebabs, grilled seafood and fresh salads.
Dill Rice Recipe Ingredients
This rice recipe is simple to make at home. Here’s a list of ingredients you’ll have to hunt down in your fridge and cupboards, or add to your grocery list before you get cooking.
- Basmati Rice
- Water
- Olive Oil
- Canola Oil
- Minced Garlic
- Fresh Dill
- Pinch Saffron
- Lemon Zest
Directions
- Rinse the rice a few times until the water runs clear then place it in a large pot.
- Add in the salt, olive oil and water. Place the pot over medium heat and bring it to a boil. Turn off the heat, cover with a lid and let steam for 6-8 minutes until cooked through.
- Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium heat add canola oil and minced garlic. Stir the garlic until slightly browned and fragrant, 1 minute. Add the chopped dill and stir until wilted, approximately 1 minute.
- Add garlic and dill mixture to the rice and stir until combined. Transfer rice to a serving bowl. Drizzle with saffron water and sprinkle with lemon zest before serving.
Dill Rice Recipe Cooking Tips
This healthy Dill Rice recipe is quick and easy to make at home. Here are a few tips and tricks to get you started.
- Use a nonstick skillet to fry the garlic and a Dutch Oven to prepare the rice. Ensure the pot has a lid as this is essential for the rice to achieve the desired fluffy texture.
- Make sure to take the time to rinse and strain the basmati rice before preparing the dish. This practice helps clean the rice but more importantly it removes starch from the granules, ensuring the texture is fluffy not gluey and clumped together.
- We’ve used white basmati rice in this recipe but you can use any long grain rice like jasmine.
- We’ve prepared this dish so it’s vegan and vegetarian friendly. You can add additional flavour by substituting chicken stock for the water.
- Adding a pinch of saffron to the rice elevates the dish and gives it a distinct Persian flavour. If you don’t have access to saffron, which is a very expensive ingredient, you can simply omit.
- If you’d like to elevate this Persian Dill Rice to the status of Baghali Polo dress the cooked rice with cooked fava beans.
Persian Dill Rice Health Benefits
Our homemade Persian recipe is packed full of healthy ingredients!
Olive Oil is ranked as one of the healthiest fats and is a staple in the Mediterranean diet. It contains vitamins E and K and plenty of beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants.
Nearly 50% of the people in the world get over 50% of their daily calories from rice. If eating brown rice featuring nutritious bran you’ll enjoy health benefits like cancer risk reduction and diabetes control.
It is only recently that scientists have begun to identify the components responsible for garlic’s myriad health benefits. Rich in phytochemicals and potassium, garlic helps boost your immune system, fight cancer and protect your heart.
Dill is packed with micronutrients such as Vitamin A and C, responsible for healthy vision, skin and immune function.
What To Serve with Dill Rice
We know your family and friends will love this comforting homemade Dill Rice recipe!
We suggest serving this easy Persian rice as a side dish with your favourite barbecued kebabs, grilled seafood, hearty soups or fresh salads.
If you’re hosting a Persian themed dinner party pair this fluffy rice with dishes popular in Iranian kitchens like:
- Kashke Bademjan Persian Eggplant Dip
- Grilled Joojeh Kabab Persian Saffron Chicken Kebab
- Adas Polo Persian Lentil Rice
- Kookoo Sabzi Vegetarian Persian Omelet
- Zeytoon Parvardeh Marinated Persian Olives
Storage & Reheating
If you have leftover rice after dinner let it cool to room temperature then transfer to an air sealed container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To reheat leftovers simply cook in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
You May Also Enjoy These Rice Recipes…
- Vegan Curry Leaf Rice with Cashews
- Sartu Di Riso Italian Baked Risotto
- Khao Pad Sapparod Thai Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice
- Vegetarian Gorgonzola Risotto al Radicchio
- Crispy Roast Chicken and Leek Risotto
- Vegan One Pot Indian Thakkali Tomato Biryani
- Spicy Gukbap Korean Rice & Beef Soup
- Turkish Mint Yogurt Corbasi Soup
- Romanian Soup Ciorba de Perisoare
- Spicy Pork Bibimbap Recipe
How To Make An Easy Persian Dill Rice Recipe
Persian Lemon Dill Rice
Equipment
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- Large pot
- Wooden spoon
- Skillet
Ingredients
- 3 cups Basmati Rice
- 5 cups Water
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- Kosher Salt to taste
- 2 tbsp Canola Oil
- 2 tsp Minced Garlic
- 4 cups Fresh Dill chopped
- Pinch Saffron steeped in 4 tbsp hot water
- 1 tsp Lemon Zest
Instructions
- Rinse the rice a few times until the water runs clear then place it in a large pot.
- Add in the salt, olive oil and water. Place the pot over medium heat and bring it to a boil. Turn off the heat, cover with a lid and let steam for 6-8 minutes until cooked through.
- Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium heat add canola oil and minced garlic. Stir the garlic until slightly browned and fragrant, 1 minute. Add the chopped dill and stir until wilted, approximately 1 minute.
- Add garlic and dill mixture to the rice and stir until combined. Transfer dill rice to a serving bowl. Drizzle with saffron water and sprinkle with lemon zest before serving.
Love Dill!