Low Fat Green Rice (Arroz Verde)

Elevate your side dish game with this Low Fat Green Rice (Arroz Verde), a vibrant and healthy twist on the traditional Mexican favorite. This recipe swaps white rice for fiber-rich brown rice and infuses it with the bold, fresh flavors of spinach, cilantro, green onion, and a touch of jalapeño for a hint of spice. A zesty lime-infused green sauce binds everything together, creating a light yet flavorful dish that’s vegan, low-fat, and loaded with nutrients. Perfect as a satisfying side or a stand-alone main course, this dish is cooked in just one skillet after the rice is prepared, making it as quick to clean up as it is to devour. Serve it warm, and watch it brighten any meal with its deliciously herbaceous and tangy notes.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:55 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown rice
• 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 cup spinach leaves
• 1 cup cilantro
• 1 whole jalapeño pepper
• 2 stalks green onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the brown rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.

Step 2

In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the low-sodium vegetable broth to a boil.

Step 3

Add the rinsed rice to the boiling broth, reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for about 40 minutes or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.

Step 4

While the rice is cooking, prepare the green sauce. In a blender, combine the spinach leaves, cilantro, jalapeño pepper (seeds removed for less heat if desired), green onions, garlic cloves, and lime juice. Blend until smooth.

Step 5

Once the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork and set aside.

Step 6

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

Step 7

Pour the green sauce into the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly.

Step 8

Add the cooked rice to the skillet with the green sauce. Stir well to ensure the rice is evenly coated with the sauce.

Step 9

Season with salt and black pepper to taste, and stir well.

Step 10

Serve the low-fat green rice warm as a side dish or light main course, garnished with additional cilantro if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(824.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	420.1

Total Fat 16.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 2.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.4g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1508.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 61.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 6.4g	0%
Total Sugars 5.0g
Protein 7.6g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 123.2mg	0%
Iron 3.0mg	0%
Potassium 926.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 34.5%

Protein: 7.2%

Carbs: 58.3%