Cilantro Lime Rice

Even better than the restaurant! Cilantro Lime Rice is a staple side dish in our home. It’s QUICK and EASY. Has a BRIGHT and FRESH flavor. Perfect with Mexican and Asian foods. Great for MEAL PREP and burrito bowls.

If you’ve ever been to a Chipotle restaurant then you know about their famous Cilantro Lime Rice. I personally love it and I haven’t met too many people that don’t. When I discovered how easy it was to prepare at home, and even how much better it tastes, we make it almost weekly.

Cilantro Lime Rice is one of the easiest side dishes to whip up. We love it along side any kind of Mexican food. It’s a great foundation for burrito bowls. And we also like to make a batch for easy weekday meal prep.

There are a few ways to prepare Cilantro Lime Rice. The easiest and most popular method is to cook rice according to package directions, then add fresh cilantro and lime juice. Okay, but not great. Our favorite method starts by toasting the rice in butter, then adding stock and lime zest. This extra step really infuses flavor into the rice and it only takes a few minutes.

Simple Ingredients For Cilantro Lime Rice:

• Butter– I use salted real butter, or substitute with extra virgin olive oil.
• White rice- I like long-grain white rice or jasmine rice for this recipe. Brown rice can be used but it needs to cook a lot longer, and it’s not as fluffy as white rice.
• Chicken stock or broth- better than bouillon roasted chicken base is my choice for most of my recipes calling for chicken stock. You can also use water.
• Lime- Use fresh limes for this recipe. You’ll need the zest and juice.
• Cilantro- Fresh cilantro is best. If you don’t like cilantro, use fresh parsley instead or omit the herbs all together.
• Seasonings- Salt and pepper to taste.

How to make Cilantro Lime Rice:

Step 1. (Optional) Rinse the rice in cold water until the water runs clear, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 2. Melt butter in a medium size pot (with fitted lid) over medium heat. Add rice and toast for 5 minutes, stirring often. The color should be slightly golden.

Step 3. Add stock, broth or water, along with lime zest. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and place the lid on. Cook for 12-15 minutes until liquid is absorbed into the rice.

Step 4. Once rice is cooked, remove from heat and let stand with lid on for 5 minutes.

Step 5. Add in fresh cilantro and lime juice and fluff with a fork. Taste for seasonings and add salt and pepper as needed.

Tips:

• Rinsing the rice- This is an optional step and not completely necessary, but like pasta, rice carries a lot of starch. Rinsing some of the starch from the rice before cooking will create a fluffier rice and prevent the risk of gumminess.
• Use tight fitted lid- Make sure the lid you use for your pot is tight fitting with no holes for steam release. The steam is what helps cook the rice evenly.
• Toast the rice in butter- As mentioned above, toasting the rice in butter before you add the liquid will elevate the flavor of the rice. It’s an easy step that only takes a few extra minutes and makes a big difference.
• Let rice rest after cooking- Allowing the rice to sit for a few minutes after the cooking time with the lid on will absorb the last bit of liquid. This will result in a fluffier rice.

What To Serve With Cilantro Lime Rice:

• Beef Enchiladas with Smoky Red Sauce
• Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
• Burrito Bowls

Other Favorite Rice Recipes:

• Buttered Rice
• Mexican Rice
• Rice Pilaf
• Spanish Rice

Rate The Recipe⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I appreciate your comments and reviews! Be sure to leave a comment or rating below for suggestions, questions, or if you make the recipe. I’d love to know how it turned out for you!

Let’s eat!🤍

Cilantro Lime Rice

Even better than the restaurant! Cilantro Lime Rice is a staple side dish in our home. It's QUICK and EASY. Has a BRIGHT and FRESH flavor. Perfect with Mexican and Asian foods. Great for MEAL PREP and burrito bowls.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Resting time 5 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 4

Calories 228 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 2 tbsp salted or unsalted butter
• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 2 cups chicken stock I use better than bouillon roasted chicken base
• 1 lime zested and juiced
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• (Optional) Rinse the rice in cold water until the water runs clear, about 2-3 minutes.
• Melt butter in a medium size pot (with fitted lid) over medium heat. Add rice and toast for 5 minutes, stirring often. The color should be slightly golden.
• Add chicken stock and lime zest. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and place the lid on. Cook for 12-15 minutes until liquid is absorbed into the rice.
• Once rice is cooked, remove from heat and let stand with lid on for 5 minutes.
• Add fresh cilantro and lime juice and fluff with a fork. Taste for seasonings and add salt and pepper as needed.

Notes

Tips:

• Rinsing the rice- This is an optional step and not completely necessary, but like pasta, rice carries a lot of starch. Rinsing some of the starch from the rice before cooking will create a fluffier rice and prevent the risk of gumminess.
• Use tight fitted lid- Make sure the lid you use for your pot is tight fitting with no holes for steam release. The steam is what helps cook the rice evenly.
• Toast the rice in butter- As mentioned above, toasting the rice in butter before you add the liquid will elevate the flavor of the rice. It’s an easy step that only takes a few extra minutes and makes a big difference.
• Let rice rest after cooking- Allowing the rice to sit for a few minutes after the cooking time with the lid on will absorb the last bit of liquid. This will result in a fluffier rice.

 

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	228
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6.4g	8%
Saturated Fat 3.8g	19%
Cholesterol 15mg	5%
Sodium 426mg	19%
Total Carbohydrate 38.3g	14%
Dietary Fiber 0.7g	2%
Total Sugars 0.6g
Protein 3.8g
Vitamin D 4mcg	20%
Calcium 24mg	2%
Iron 2mg	11%
Potassium 80mg	2%

Keyword Butter, Chicken stock, Cilantro, Limes, Long grain white rice, Salt and pepper

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