Don't write off brown rice as boring! If you've only ever used it as a vehicle on which to serve saucy curries and the like, brown rice recipes such as this one will show you how to transform bland into bold.
Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen
Cooking rice is different from cooking pasta. If you're looking for a truly neutral flavor, then sure, you can definitely cook your rice with water until it's tender and call it a day. But unlike pasta, which depends on sauce or added seasoning after it's boiled for flavor, there are lots of opportunities to add interest to rice throughout the entire cooking process, as we demonstrate here.
If you're following a gluten-free diet, be sure to use gluten-free stock for this recipe.
Ingredients
-
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
-
1 shallot, finely chopped
-
1 1/2 cups short-grain brown rice
-
3 cups vegetable stock
-
Kosher salt
-
Freshly ground black pepper
-
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
-
1 tablespoon minced garlic
-
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
-
1/2 teaspoon red chile flakes
-
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
-
Zest of 1 lemon
Directions
-
Diana Chistruga
Gather the ingredients.
-
Diana Chistruga
In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Add the shallot and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally until softened, about 5 minutes.
-
Diana Chistruga
Add the rice and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes.
-
Diana Chistruga
Add the stock, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil.
-
Diana Chistruga
Cover and simmer over low heat until the broth is absorbed and the rice is tender, about 45 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
-
Diana Chistruga
In a skillet, heat the oil, garlic, thyme, and chile flakes over moderately low heat. Cook until garlic is just beginning to brown, about 3 minutes.
-
Diana Chistruga
Remove from heat and add lemon juice and zest. Season with salt and pepper. Toss with cooked rice and serve.
![A large bowl of lemon brown rice with garlic and thyme, served with grilled vegetables](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/93NvmDVJvSxWoddfpZ9MDh9-uGo=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/FAW-recipes-lemon-brown-rice-garlic-and-thyme-hero-01-100e4687050e49a99d7dcf6b693d0062.jpg)
Diana Chistruga