Pesto Rice

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This delicious pesto rice is a fast weeknight side dish that the whole family will love! Made on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot, this tasty rice dish is great for meal prep.

Prep Time2

Cook Time25

Toasting {optional}10

Total Time37

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Fusion

Keyword: rice with pesto

Servings:

Author: Sarah Cook

Equipment

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup long grain rice {jasmine or basmati}
2 tbsp olive oil {see note if not toasting the rice}
2 cups chicken stock {vegetable stock works too}
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup pesto

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Rinse rice in a sieve under cool water until the water runs clear.
1 1/4 cup long grain rice
In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan heat olive oil over medium heat.
2 tbsp olive oil
Add rice and stir to combine with the olive oil.
Stir occasionally until the rice is lightly browned and toasted (~5-10 minutes).
Add the stock and salt and bring the rice to a boil for 1 minute.
2 cups chicken stock, 1/2 tsp sea salt
Stir, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pan with a lid and set a timer for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, remove the pan from the heat, and allow it to sit for 10 minutes, fully covered.
Add the pesto and fluff the rice with a fork.
1/4 cup pesto

Notes

If you choose to not toast the rice, reduce the olive oil to 1 tbsp. Add it with the rice, salt, and stock.
If you're pressed for time and use minute/instant rice, skip the toasting step.
Store cooked rice in the fridge in an air-tight container for 2-3 days.

Instant Pot Instructions

Set the Instant Pot to sauté. Allow it to get hot and add the oil.
Add the rice and stir to combine with olive oil. Cook on sauté until rice is toasted (~9 minutes).
Press “off/keep warm” to turn the Instant Pot off.
Add chicken stock and salt. Use chicken stock to deglaze the insert if anything stuck to it.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the vent to sealing. Press Manual>High>6 minutes.
Allow for a 5-minute natural release and then do a quick release.
When the vent has dropped, carefully open the lid, add the pesto, and fluff the rice to combine.

Nutrition