If you’re feeling a tad bored with your summertime eats, this green tea rice recipe is just the thing!

I’ve posted a few rice dishes lately because I love how easy and delicious they are. I mean, come on… make a batch of rice on a Sunday night and you’ve gotta week’s worth of yummy recipes to make. Rice porridge for breakfast, rice burritos for lunch, rice salad for dinner and rice pudding for dessert. Easy as 1, 2, 3. But have you ever tried cooking with tea and making a rice recipe? I didn’t think so!

Rice is the perfect post-indulgent weekend meal option to combat that bloat and get you fitting into your skinny jeans in record time.

I make my rice salads in a simple way using brown rice, Vidalia onions, dried cherries, summer fresh basil and freshly brewed green tea. It’s the best and is one of my favorite lunches.

Enjoy the summertime sunshine today, if that’s your thing. And if you’re cooped up in an office cubicle somewhere, I’m sending you hugs… simply close your eyes and imagine making and eating this dish for dinner tonight and again for lunch tomorrow…

Because it’s just that good.

Enjoy!

Green Tea Rice with Vidalia Onions & Cherries
Serves: 4
 
Prep
Cook
Total
 
Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan
Author: Amie Valpone
Recipe type: Entree

Ingredients

  • 1/4 tsp. sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup long-grain brown rice
  • 1 1/2 cups green tea brewed and chilled
  • 1 large Vidalia Onion finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup dried cherries
  • 2 cups loosely packed fresh baby spinach
  • 2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/4 tsp. fresh orange zest
  • 1 Tbsp. sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, boil green tea with salt and pepper. Stir in rice; return to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; cover and cook for 20 minutes then remove from heat and add onions, cherries and spinach. Set aside, covered, for 10 minutes.
  2. Transfer to a large mixing bowl; add remaining ingredients. Gently toss to combine.
  3. Serve at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
Green Tea Rice with Vidalia Onions & Cherries
Amount Per Serving
Calories 135 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 145mg6%
Potassium 268mg8%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 1769IU35%
Vitamin C 13mg16%
Calcium 82mg8%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

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33 comments

  1. 5 stars
    This sounds delicious and healthy as all of your recipes do. I will try it out this week when I get some dried cherries! I imagine some Macaroons would go well with this for dessert! Thanks for the giveaway!

  2. I looove green tea! I’ve never thought of using it in my cooking before. I also love cherries!! 🙂 I have a feeling I’d like this recipe.

    P.S. The Hail Merry macaroons you mentioned on FB sound so good! I don’t think I’ve ever seen that brand before.

  3. 4 stars
    Rice is my go-to snack! Love it mixed with almond butter, raisins and (optional) a touch of honey, then rolled into little balls for a delicious snack. Can’t wait to try this recipe!

    Thanks for the entry in the macaron giveaway!

  4. I am so trying this…because of the humidity, I just put my dried cherries in the freezer, so I’d like to use them up! Sounds like opportunity knocking!

  5. 3 stars
    I’m not much into vegetarian meals but that does like a good meal

    I think I will have to give it a try.

  6. This looks so delicious! I love the addition of the cherries. Yum!

    Also I love hail merry & would love to win your contest! :). Thanks amy!

  7. Looks delish, Amie! I would never have thought to cook the rice in tea–GREAT idea! What are the little red things sprinkled on top–chili pepper?

  8. Such a fun recipe! I love cherries, and for some reason I never think to put them in my dishes. This recipe is a great reminder of how creative and easy it is to make something delicious and unique.

    And thank you for the entry for the macaroons! 🙂

  9. 5 stars
    you know, I never thought of that, but now that I have, brown rice ALWAYs helps me feel less bloated!! this is such a creative recipe! green tea rice?! 🙂 YUM!

    xo.

    thanks for the entry into the hail merry macaroons giveaway!