Greek Lemon-Rice Pilaf with Dill and Pine Nuts
Fluffy rice cooked in a lemony broth with toasted pine nuts and fresh dill for a bright, aromatic side dish. This Greek recipe (mediterranean), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs long grain white rice, olive oil, pine nuts for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1/3 cup pine nuts
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup pine nuts and toast, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant. Remove pine nuts and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same pan, add 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 finely chopped medium onion. Sauté over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until translucent and soft.
- Step 3: Add 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice to the onions, stirring for 2 minutes until rice is lightly toasted.
- Step 4: Pour in 3 cups vegetable broth, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Step 5: Remove from heat and fluff rice with a fork. Stir in 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp lemon zest, 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill, and the toasted pine nuts.
- Step 6: Cover and let stand for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.









