Pesto green rice is flavored with jarred pesto and topped with fresh herbs and sliced almonds. A simple and delicious side dish recipe that can be cooked on the stove top or in the rice cooker!
I was kind of hoping this 'green rice' would end up a bit more green, but here we are, green-ish rice 😉
If you are looking for a simple rice side dish but want to take things up a notch, this recipe is perfect for you! I’m on a mission to kick our boring rice habit, and this pesto rice recipe is definitely not boring!
All it takes is a scoop of pesto, some fresh herbs and sliced almonds, and you've got yourself a super tasty side dish that goes well with Italian flavors.
The pesto infuses the rice with a ton of flavor, and no one will know how easy it was to throw together.
Looking for rice recipes? Check out this post with 7 Easy Rice Recipes!
How to make it
Like the other rice recipes in this series, you don’t need to chop or sautee anything, and you can cook it either in a rice cooker (I love the Aroma 8 Cup Rice Cooker) or in a pot.
- Rinse rice under the tap using a colander. Honestly? I skip this half the time. But for the fluffiest rice, I recommend rinsing.
- Combine all ingredients in a pot (with minimum capacity of 4 cups), or a rice cooker (I love the Aroma 8 Cup Rice Cooker)
- Cook! If you are using a rice cooker, just press the ‘white rice’ button. If you are using the stove top method, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer (covered) for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand (covered) for another 10 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
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Can I use jasmine rice in this recipe? Brown rice? Any other rice?
Pesto green rice will work well with a long grain white rice such as jasmine or basmati, but this particular recipe has only been tested with basmati. It should work as written for jasmine as well.
Brown rice *may* work, but you will need to increase the cook time as indicated on the package. Par-boiled/pre-cooked rice won’t work in this recipe.
Can I freeze it?
YES. This rice recipe freezes well. You can freeze it in meal prep containers or in freezer bags (I love these re-usable silicone freezer bags!). Some people add a little bit of water when re-heating freeze/thawed rice, as it does end up slightly dryer than fresh rice.
Can I cook this recipe in the Instant Pot?
I have not tried, but I bet it would work! I'd refer to this tutorial for Fail Proof Instant Pot Rice and remember to adjust the cooking liquid/rice ratio to 1:1.
Serve with
Pesto green rice is creamy and indulgent...and it goes well with Italian flavors! Here are some suggestions:
- Instant Pot Creamy Lemon Chicken
- a salad tossed with this Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Honey Roasted Carrots
- the Italian meatballs found in this post with Healthy Baked Turkey Meatballs 7 Ways
Recipe tips
- I recommend rinsing your rice under the tap through a collander
- I love the Aroma 8 Cup Rice Cooker, but if you have a large family, you might want to consider the Aroma 20 Cup Rice Cooker
- Looking for more rice recipes? Check out this Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf, this Coconut Rice, or this post with all 7 Easy Rice Recipes
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Pesto Green Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice rinsed
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- ¼ cup pesto
- 2 cups stock (veggie or chicken)
To serve
- fresh basil leaves
- sliced almonds
Instructions
Stove Top
- In a medium pot, combine the basmati rice and all other ingredients not marked 'to serve'.
- Cover and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer (covered) for 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let sit for another 10 minutes before adding the ingredients marked 'to serve' and stirring up.
Rice Cooker
- Combine the basmati rice and all other ingredients not marked 'to serve' in the rice cooker base.
- Cook using the 'white rice' function (or regular function if there is not a white rice option).
- Once the cook time is up, stir in the ingredients marked 'after cooking' and stirring up.
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Nutrition Information
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B says
Love love love
vivian says
Very nice rice dish that is really not much more trouble to make than plain basmati. Thanks for the great idea!
Elizabeth says
Delicious! 🙂
Thanks!
Elizabeth says
ps. I added some grated zucchini for more veg, and it worked splendidly
Denise says
So happy you enjoyed, Elizabeth! Thank you for leaving a review and including your modification!
Kerrie says
Thanks for these great recipes. I was specifically looking for a rice cooker Mexican rice recipe and can't wait to try yours. All these ideas look great and I'm going to try them all. I do have a question. Should the pesto version have some water or broth?
Thanks again!
Denise says
Oh thank you for pointing out the error! I'll update it ASAP. Hope you enjoy the rice!
Kerrie says
Thank you so much. I can't wait to try it!!