Dill Rice

If plain rice feels a little boring, add fresh dill; it is an easy way to boost the flavor without complicating things. This dill rice recipe combines fluffy white rice with fragrant dill, sweet sautéed onions, garlic, and a little ginger.

It is simple enough for a weeknight dinner but makes a lovely change from serving plain rice alongside your favorite main dish. Fresh dill has a distinctive citrus-like flavor. Stirred through warm rice, it adds a fresh, herbal aroma that pairs especially well with fish, chicken, and Mediterranean-inspired meals.

Sautéed onions add sweetness, while garlic and ginger add a little more depth. One thing I like about cooking rice this way is that you don’t need a long list of spices or complicated techniques. A handful of fresh herbs and a few everyday ingredients are enough to turn a basic side dish into something worth looking forward to.

What Is Dill Rice?

Dill rice is a simple rice dish made by combining cooked rice with fresh or dried dill. Depending on the recipe, it may also include onions, garlic, butter, olive oil, lemon juice, or other herbs.

Dill appears in several cuisines, including Greek, Turkish, and Persian cooking. In Iranian cuisine, shevid polo refers to dill rice, while baghali polo is a well-known variation made with dill and fava beans.

This recipe takes a more straightforward approach. Cook the rice first, then toss it in a frying pan with sautéed aromatics and fresh dill. It is an easy way to add herbs to everyday white rice without preparing a separate, elaborate dish.

Why You Will Love This Dill Rice Recipe

It uses a handful of simple ingredients, white rice, fresh dill, onion, garlic, and ginger, making it an easy side dish. Dill adds a fragrant, citrus flavor. It is a useful weeknight side; most of the work involves cooking the rice and sautéing the remaining ingredients.

Ingredients

Fresh Dill Herb, White Rice, Onions, Garlic, Ginger, and Salt.

White rice forms the base of this dish; you can use any long-grain type of rice, such as long white grain rice or basmati rice. Fresh dill herbs add that herbaceous flavor. Onions, garlic, and Ginger are caramelized to offer crunch, and a sprinkle of salt adds seasoning.

Instructions

Cook the white rice in a rice cooker or on the stovetop. If cooking in a pot, wash the uncooked rice under running water until the water runs clear. Combine the rice and water in the pot using a 1:1.5 ratio (for every cup of rice, add 1.5 cups of water). After the rice is cooked, let it rest for five to ten minutes.

Peel and slice the onion. Chop the ginger and garlic, and wash the dill under cold running water. Add cooking oil to a frying pan, then add the onions and ginger. Sauté for 3 to 5 minutes on medium-high heat.

Thereafter, add the cooked rice and sauté for 3 minutes. Add the dill herb and mix for another minute or two. Turn off the heat and serve with your main meal.

How to Store the Dill Rice?

Allow the rice to reach room temperature. This should take less than 20 minutes on the countertop; thereafter, place in a glass airtight container, or, if it is the pot, store in the fridge for 2 days.

How to Serve Dill Rice?

You can serve this dish with a poached salmon or Grilled fish. Nowadays, many foodies enjoy Mediterranean rice bowls and consider adding roasted chickpeas, feta cheese, and a sprinkle of balsamic vinegar on top of the dill rice for a bit of tanginess.