Ready for the best cilantro lime rice you've ever had? Cilantro and lime are some of my favorite ways to upgrade your basic rice, and this recipe is a winner every time!
Recipe: $2.09 | Per Serving: $0.35 | Yield: 6
We're keeping it short and simple here today. Cilantro-lime rice is amazing. And making it at home is much better than Chipotle!
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
This recipe is incredibly simple, but packs a ton of flavor. It doesn't take much effort to upgrade your regular white or brown rice to this amazing version!
Ingredients
This recipe requires just a few simple ingredients, be sure to check the full recipe card for more details!
- White basmati rice: you can use any rice you like here (yes, even sushi rice!), but white basmati rice is my favorite. It is fluffy and plain, and pairs great with cilantro and lime.
- Butter: butter adds a subtle richness to this rice recipe, and balances the acidity from the lime juice.
- Fresh cilantro: dried cilantro / coriander just isn't going to cut it here. Go for fresh!
- Fresh lime juice: you can get away with jarred lime juice here, but the flavor is the absolute best if you can use fresh lime juice.
Dietary Modifications
More fiber: feel free to use brown rice here for more fiber. It works very well!
Dairy-free: this recipe can also be made with ghee (lactose-free), vegan butter, or, if needed, extra virgin olive oil.
Paleo: rice is not Paleo. It is, however, gluten-free, and in ½-cup servings tends to be well tolerated. Feel free to doctor up your cauliflower rice with these ingredients for a Paleo option.
Vegetarian: this recipe is vegetarian as written. Replace the butter for a vegan alternative.
Low-FODMAP: yes! This recipe is low-FODMAP and white rice typically well tolerated by those with IBS and GI issues. Be aware that larger servings of white rice (1 cup or more) can sometimes cause GI issues or constipation.
How to Make
I love how simple this recipe is! Just a touch of effort and you've got an amazing side dish for your burrito bowls! See the step-by-step instructions here, but be sure to check the recipe card for more details.
- Rinse the rice in clean water and drain.
2. Add drained rice to the rice cooker with about 1 ¾ cups water. (Or you can cook on the stovetop - see recipe card for instructions!) I like to measure rice in my rice cooker by resting my finger atop the rice, angling my fingers to 45 degrees and adding enough water to reach the first knuckle of my middle finger. This is how I learned, but the measurements above should also work! Set the rice cooker to cook rice.
3. Meanwhile, zest first, then juice a whole lime. Chop some fresh cilantro - leaves and stems - until you have about ½ cup.
4. When rice is cooked, first stir in the butter to melt, along with the salt.
5. Then add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
6. Enjoy alongside slow cooker burrito bowls, pineapple lettuce wrap fajitas, or your favorite Mexican-inspired meal.
Expert Tips
- Add the butter first so it melts into the rice and coats every grain before stirring in the other ingredients!
- Check your package instructions if using a rice other than long-grain white rice, as the cooking instructions may vary slightly.
- Zest your lime before juicing it! A juiced lime is very hard to zest!
- Cook your rice ahead and cool it to room temperature to allow it to develop resistant starch, which is great for your blood sugar and your gut microbiome!
- To reheat, add a portion (or more) of rice to a microwave-save bowl. Add 1-4 ice cubes, depending on how much rice you're re-heating. Microwave on high for about 60-90 seconds, or until the rice is fluffy and steam. The ice cube will only melt part-way, and in the process it will re-steam and re-hydrate the rice!
FAQs
Cilantro lime rice is a side dish of white, long-grain rice, combined with fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro (fresh), and a pinch of salt. Chipotle uses oil in their recipe, while this recipe uses butter!
More Recipes
Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cups uncooked basmati rice or any
- 1 ¾ cups water more if cooking on stovetop
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter
- 1 lime zest and juice
- ½ cup cilantro
- ⅛ teaspoon fine salt more to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the rice in clean water and drain.
- Rice Cooker: Add to the rice cooker with about 1 ¾ cups water. I like to measure rice in my rice cooker by resting my finger atop the rice, angling my fingers to 45 degrees and adding enough water to reach the first knuckle of my middle finger. This is how I learned, but the measurements above should also work! Set the rice cooker to cook rice. Stove top: Follow your preferred ratio, usually about 2 cups water for 1 cup of rice. Place on the stovetop over medium-high heat, covered, and the moment it starts to boil, reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat but leave covered for 10 minutes. Then fluff your rice with a wooden spoon and serve. More ways to cook rice here!
- Meanwhile, zest first, then juice a whole lime. Be sure to zest before you juice it! Chop some fresh cilantro - leaves and stems - until you have about ½ cup.
- When rice is cooked, stir in the butter to melt, along with the salt.
- Then add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
- Enjoy alongside slow cooker burrito bowls, pineapple lettuce wrap fajitas, or your favorite Mexican-inspired meal.
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