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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.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Resting time 5 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
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