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Close up of a white serving bowl full of brown rice mixed with wilted spinach and topped with Parmesan cheese.
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4.41 from 65 votes

Brown Rice with Spinach and Parmesan

 Brown rice with spinach and Parmesan cheese is an easy, healthy, one-pot side dish with just a few simple ingredients!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ¼ cups quick cook brown rice, see notes
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 8 oz. bag fresh spinach, roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
  • Add onion and sauté 5-6 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and sauté another 30 seconds.
  • Add quick cook rice, thyme, salt and pepper and stir to get the rice coated in the oils.
  • Add chicken or vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Then cover, lower the heat to medium low and cook 15-20 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked through.
  • Add chopped fresh spinach on top of the rice, then cover and let sit for 5 minutes off the heat.
  • Stir spinach into the rice and add Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning and serve hot with extra Parmesan if desired.

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Notes

Brown rice: The quick cook brown rice that I use takes 15-20 minutes to cook. If you are substituting another kind, you may need to adjust the cooking time - check the package. Regular long-grain brown rice can also be used (I've made it that way plenty of times) but it will need to simmer for 30-35 minutes so please plan accordingly.
Broth: You can use chicken or vegetable broth, whatever you have, but do try to use low-sodium so you can control the amount of salt.
Leftovers: Leftover rice, once cooled, can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcal | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 309mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g
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