Quick and Easy Pesto Broccoli Rice

Pesto Broccoli Rice makes a full of flavor low carb side dish that is super versatile. Quick and easy to pull together, pesto broccoli rice pairs perfectly with some grilled chicken or salmon, thrown into an omelet, or even sprinkled on a pizza for added pizazz.

We love serving this broccoli rice with pesto with these Lemon and Oregano Chicken Skewers straight from the BBQ. It makes the perfect light and fresh accompaniment.

What Is Riced Broccoli?

In a nutshell, it is broccoli that has been chopped or processed in a blender until it resembles rice.

There are a number of ways to prepare it.

Get a detailed explanation here of how to do it by hand, in a food processor, or with a blender.

Storage tips are covered as well so you make the best of your broccoli rice creation.

The biggest thing I can recommend is having a good food processor to get consistent-sized pieces of broccoli.

Do Broccoli And Pesto Go Together?

Absolutely.

Not only do broccoli and pesto make the perfect combination in terms of flavor, but they also combine to make a gorgeous green side and they pack a punch in terms of nutrition as well.

Win-win.

Ingredients and Assembly

The best thing about this simple side is that you are going to need only a handful of pantry and fridge staples.

You will need:

• broccoli rice (get step-by-step instructions here): this is also becoming available to buy pre-made at stores in the cold section of the vegetable aisles and also in the freezer section of most well-stocked grocery stores. It is a little more expensive to buy pre-riced broccoli rice, but it can save on time if you are in a hurry;
• pesto: I always have some homemade pesto on hand from whatever greens I happen to have growing in the garden, but store-bought pesto is always an option as well if you prefer not to make your own;
• parmesan cheese: I always recommend grating your own to avoid the powderiness of pre-grated cheese, but you do what works for you;
• olive oil: or other preferred oil of choice;
• lemon wedges for serving.

To bring it together you are simply going to sauté the riced broccoli in a large skillet over medium heat, add the pesto sauce followed by the parmesan and salt and pepper.

Only add as much pesto as you think the dish needs.

This will be a personal preference.

Homemade Pesto

I love making homemade pesto and tend to use up whatever we have too much of in the garden.

For this version, I used my kale and walnut pesto and it paired perfectly.

A fresh basil pesto would work wonderfully with this broccoli pesto also.

Here are a couple more varieties for you to check out:

• Quick Kale and Walnut Pesto
• Oregano Pesto
• Fragrant Fennel Fronds Pesto
• 4 Ingredient Homemade Mint Pesto

Use what you have on hand, some store-bought versions can be delicious as well, just be sure to check the ingredients to make sure there aren't any unnecessary nasties.

Choosing The Right Broccoli

Choosing the right broccoli is going to make this simple side dish transform into something phenomenal.

Look for:

• Florets that are a nice deep green and are quite tight, you do not want yellow or brown flecks in there;
• Nice firm stalks, nothing droopy or limp;
• It should feel heavy for its size;
• The cut ends of the stalks should be fresh-looking.

What To Do With Leftover Pesto Broccoli Rice

Pesto Broccoli Rice makes a perfect little low-carb/full-flavor side dish for jazzing up some chicken or even in a veggie bowl.

But using up any leftovers can be just as easy.

Why not try:

• throwing a big dollop into the base of a pan, top with whisked eggs and milk and you have a delicious omelet for breakfast;
• stuff it into a wrap alongside some chicken and veg and you have a great little veggie-packed lunch wrap;
• throw a spoonful into your next batch of savory muffins or scones to amp up the flavor and color.

If you have any other ideas for using up leftover pesto broccoli rice be sure to leave them in the comments and I will pop them into the notes for everyone to share.

Happy Eating.

xx

Recipe

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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