Fresh Spring Over Rice Bars
A quick and easy healthy snack featuring rice combined with fresh spring ingredients like lemon zest and mint, perfect for a light, satisfying bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 to 10 bars 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (400g) cooked white or brown rice (day-old rice works best)
- 1/4 cup (85g) honey
- 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter, melted
- Zest of one medium lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup (45g) chopped almonds
- 2 tablespoons flaxseeds (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Prepare the rice: Use about 2 cups (400g) of cooked rice, ideally day-old and cold. If using freshly cooked rice, spread it out on a baking sheet to cool and dry slightly for 15 minutes.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, combine 1/4 cup (85g) honey, 3 tablespoons (42g) melted unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and the zest of one lemon. Whisk until smooth and well blended.
- Add dry ingredients: To the wet mix, add 1/3 cup (45g) chopped almonds, 2 tablespoons flaxseeds (optional), a pinch of sea salt, and 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves. Stir gently.
- Fold in the rice: Carefully fold the cooled rice into the mixture, making sure it’s evenly coated but not mashed.
- Press into pan: Line an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) pan with parchment paper. Transfer the mixture and press firmly into an even layer using the back of a spoon or clean hands.
- Chill and set: Place the pan in the fridge for at least 1 hour to firm up the bars.
- Cut into bars: Lift the parchment paper to remove the slab from the pan and cut into 8 or 10 bars with a sharp knife.
- Store properly: Keep bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze individually for up to 2 months.
Notes
Use day-old rice for best texture. Press mixture firmly into the pan and chill well to ensure bars hold together. For vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup and butter with coconut oil. If mixture is too dry, add warm honey or melted butter; if too wet, add rice flour or ground almonds.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 150170
- Sugar: 810
- Sodium: 50100
- Fat: 79
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 2022
- Fiber: 23
- Protein: 34
Keywords: rice bars, healthy snack, spring recipe, easy snack, fresh mint, lemon zest, gluten-free, vegan option