Mint Rice
Mint Rice with crumbled feta cheese is a refreshing and savory dish that adds a Mediterranean twist to classic rice, perfect as a side or a main dish.
You can serve it with Roasted Salmon, grilled chicken, shrimp, beef, or lamb.
Mint Rice Recipe Highlights
- FLAVOR – Mint and feta cheese are a powerful flavor combination.
- EASY – With just a few ingredients, such as rice, onion, mint, and feta cheese, you’ll create a side dish that is as fun to make as it is delicious to serve and eat.
- VERSATILE – Although originally a side dish, you can easily transform it into a quick lunch. One of my favorite ways is to top it with shrimp and serve it with a slice of lemon. Still hungry? Add a slice of warm pita for a delicious, nutritious lunch.
- LEFTOVERS – It may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but I love to snack on leftovers cold or at room temperature. The mint and feta cheese combine beautifully, and the taste is just incredibly delicious.
Ingredient Notes
Please check the recipe card below for a detailed, printable ingredient list.
OIL – Extra virgin olive oil adds flavor and serves as a nice base.
GARLIC & ONIONS – Fresh minced cloves or minced garlic. A sweet or yellow onion is a great choice for this recipe.
RICE – Jasmine or Basmati rice works well. But any long-grain rice will work.
BROTH – Chicken or Vegetable Broth are both great choices.
MINT – fresh mint is the star of this recipe and adds a unique flavor that makes this side dish so special.
FETA CHEESE – This salty and savory cheese pulls all of the other flavors together.
How To Make Mint Rice
Please check the printable recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- SAUTÉ – In a medium saucepan, sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until soft and tender. Add rice and cook for 1 minute.
- BOIL – Add chicken (or vegetable) broth and bring it to a boil.
- SIMMER – Reduce heat and simmer until the liquid completely dissolves.
- FINISH – Use a fork to fluff the rice. Add the mint and feta. Salt to taste.
More Side Dishes
Leftovers
STORE – Transfer any leftover mint rice to an airtight container. You can store it for up to 3 days in the fridge.
FREEZE – I don’t recommend freezing the Mint Rice.
Useful Kitchen Tools
- Garlic Press. Hands down, the best garlic press – and easy to clean.
- 5-quart Stainless Steel Dutch Oven – One of my favorite pots to use when I cook for just two.
- Professional Chef’s Knife. A high-quality knife is an investment, but having a well-sharpened knife in the drawer pays off.
- Cutting Board
Recipe Success Tips
Mince the fresh mint very finely. I purposely cut larger pieces when I photographed the recipe.
Once the fresh mint touches the hot rice, it will turn a few shades darker.
This recipe works well with grilled chicken and roasted salmon, and for a Middle Eastern touch, serve with grilled lamb.
More Easy and Delicious Recipes
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Mint Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice basmati
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- ½ medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 16 ounces broth chicken or vegetable
- ½ cup Feta cheese diced
- 3 tablespoons mint minced
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a medium sized Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chopped onions and minced garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes until translucent and soft.
- Add rice and cook for one minute. Add broth and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes or until all the liquids have dissolved.
- Meanwhile finely mince fresh mint and cut the Feta cheese into ¼ inch cubes.
- Remove the rice from the oven and use a fork to fluff the rice. Add minced mint and Feta cheese and combine well. – Serve and Enjoy.
Nutritional Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Cheerful Cook team members are not trained nutritionists or medical professionals. Calorie information and nutritional values are estimates. If you have nutritional concerns, we recommend using a nutritional calculator.
Maike Corbett is the founder and food blogger of Cheerful Cook, a popular recipe website featuring comfort food recipes from the US and Germany. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the AP Wire and MSN.