Name: Zesty "Pesto" Brown Rice
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 cups baby spinach; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tbsp lemon, juiced; 1/4 cup water; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/4 cup walnuts; 2 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated; 4 1/2 cups brown rice, cooked; Sea salt, to taste; Black pepper, to taste

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Blended baby spinach, garlic, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, olive oil, and walnuts mixed with cooked brown rice. Zesty “Pesto” Brown Rice is a tasty way to switch up regular brown rice.

Who here is sick of plain brown rice?! Myself and everyone else in the world. I’m always looking for ways to spice up my brown rice and this has been my favorite way lately. Zesty “Pesto” Brown Rice offers a garlic infused, fresh yet nutty taste and it’s so yummy!

When putting together a meal, it’s important to take note of the macros of the different food options you are consuming. This side dish covers the carbohydrates and fat for your meal, however, it has very little protein. You can fix this imbalance by pairing the rice with 3-4 oz. of protein and you will have a nutritionally balanced meal.

Zesty “Pesto” Brown Rice Ingredients

Zesty "Pesto" Brown Rice Recipe Ingredients.

Nutrition Benefits of this recipe

Brown rice is a good source of fiber (promotes satiety and can help lower cholesterol), manganese, and antioxidants (flavonoids and phenols – may reduce free radical damage).
Spinach is nutrient packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, iron, calcium, and carotenoids.
Garlic, olive oil and brown rice offers anti-inflammatory properties.
Once consumed, lemon can help improve the overall alkalinity in the body.

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Zesty “Pesto” Brown Rice

Blended baby spinach, garlic, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, olive oil, and walnuts mixed with cooked brown rice.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Mediterranean

Keyword “Pesto”, Brown Rice, Side Dish

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Servings 6

Calories 250kcal

Author Andrea Marincovich, R.D. | The Realistic Dietitian

Equipment

Rice Cooker
Blender

Ingredients

2 cups baby spinach
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp lemon, juiced
¼ cup water
2 tbsp olive oil
¼ cup walnuts
2 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated
4 ½ cups brown rice, cooked
Sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Add all of the ingredients, minus the brown rice, to a blender. Blend for about 1 minute or until the mixture becomes a smooth, creamy texture.
Combine the pesto mixture with the cooked brown rice and stir until the mixture is evenly distributed.
Add 3 – 4 ounces of protein and enjoy!

Notes

Macros per serving (recipe yields 6 servings): 34g carbohydrates, 10g fat, and 6g protein

Did you try this recipe?

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