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This easy Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is a fragrant, flavorful side dish that’s ready in a flash. Made with only a few pantry staples, this homemade version is even better than Chipotle’s cilantro lime rice!
Cilantro lime rice is a super easy recipe that’s delicious served alongside tacos, enchiladas, and more. You can also use it to make homemade burrito bowls or rice bowls! All you need are 6 simple ingredients and about 25 minutes for rice that is garlicky, citrusy, and bursting with fresh cilantro flavor.
This is an especially useful meal prep recipe as cilantro lime rice lasts for about 5 days in the fridge. It’s also a lovely way to dress up plain white rice, so it’s super flavorful, making it more interesting to eat as leftovers a few days in a row. For more rice recipes, try my rice pilaf, Mexican rice, or Instant Pot brown rice.
Ingredients
These main ingredients make the fluffiest cilantro lime rice! For the full ingredients list, check out the recipe card.
Oil — you’ll use olive oil to cook the garlic and lightly coat the rice.
Garlic — minced garlic builds flavor in the rice from the very beginning. I do recommend using a fresh garlic clove here, but you can substitute it by adding 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder after the rice has been coated in oil.
Rice — for fluffy rice, use a long-grain rice like jasmine rice or basmati rice, which are both wonderfully aromatic and naturally cook up nice and fluffy.
Lime — you need lime juice and lime zest, so using fresh fresh limes is essential!
Cilantro — chop up fresh cilantro for the dish’s signature herbal element. If you don’t like cilantro, you can replace it with parsley, Mexican oregano, or chives.
Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Equipment
- Medium pot with tight-fitting lid
- Fine mesh strainer
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (jasmine or basmati), rinsed and drained well
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Instructions
- In a medium pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and rice and cook, stirring frequently, for about 2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant and the rice is coated in oil.
- Add 1½ cups (480mL) of water and the salt. Bring to a boil, then cover with a tight-fitting lid and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 15 minutes (or for the time recommended on the package). Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
- Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Add the lime juice, zest, and chopped cilantro. Continue to fluff and stir the rice until well combined. Season with more salt to taste and serve.
Notes
- Use the right type of rice. Long-grain white rice is the best option for the fluffiest cilantro lime rice. Avoid short-grain rice varieties (like Abrorrio or sushi rice, for example), which are starchier and tend to be sticky versus fluffy when cooked (even if rinsed).
- Adjust the cooking time if needed. Generally, your standard Jasmine rice will take about 15 minutes to cook. Be sure to check the cook time and amount of water required on the package of rice that you use and adjust this recipe accordingly. Some varieties will need more or less time.
- Don’t remove the lid. While the rice cooks, resist the urge to take a peek. Doing so will cause the steam from the pot to escape. You can check it when you have reached or are nearing the end of the cooking time and need to make sure the rice is almost done. Then, leave the lid on until after the cooked rice has rested for 5 minutes. Steam is essential to the final cooking stage of the rice so that the grains are tender and not hard or crunchy in the center.
Nutrition
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How To Make Cilantro Lime Rice
1. Cook the minced garlic and rinsed rice in a medium pot over medium heat, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes.
2. Add water and salt to the pot. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook the rice for 15 minutes or as directed on the rice package. Keeping the lid on, remove the pot from the heat and let it sit. Do not remove the lid at all during this time.
3. Remove the lid after 5 minutes have passed, and fluff the rice with a fork.
4. Stir in the fresh lime juice, lime zest, and chopped cilantro with the fork until well combined.
For the Fluffiest Rice, Rinse It First
It’s important to rinse the rice well with cool water (until the water runs clear) to get rid of excess starch on the rice grains. This starch can cause rice to become sticky instead of fluffy during cooking. It’s also very important to drain the rice well through a fine mesh sieve. Let it sit for a couple of minutes after rinsing, shaking it around in the strainer a few times to release as much water as possible. It won’t be dry, but if too much excess water remains after rinsing, the rice will be soggy or fall apart from being overly hydrated.
Variations
- Use a different oil: You can use vegetable oil or coconut oil (which will add a slight sweetness) in place of the olive oil.
- Use brown rice: You can use an equal amount of brown rice, but you may need more water. Also, keep in mind that brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice. Check the package instructions for exact liquid measurements and recommended cooking time.
- Add coconut! Replace part of the water with coconut milk and stir in toasted coconut for a riff on my coconut rice recipe!
- Swap the water for stock or broth: You can make this rice with chicken broth or vegetable stock instead of water for a very savory rice.
- Add scallion or green onion: I love to add scallions to this recipe for an extra punch of flavor. Chop up two scallions and cook the whites with the garlic, then thinly slice the greens and fold them in with the cilantro.
How To Serve
A delicious way to use this flavorful rice is to make homemade burrito bowls with Instant Pot black beans, guacamole, and shredded cheese, topped with slow cooker carnitas, cilantro lime chicken, or carne asada.
Or serve it alongside Mexican dishes like:
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
- Use the right type of rice. Long-grain white rice is the best option for the fluffiest cilantro lime rice. Avoid short-grain rice varieties (like Abrorrio or sushi rice, for example), which are starchier and tend to be sticky versus fluffy when cooked (even if rinsed).
- Adjust the cooking time if needed. Generally, your standard Jasmine rice will take about 15 minutes to cook. Be sure to check the cook time and amount of water required on the package of rice that you use and adjust this recipe accordingly. Some varieties will need more or less time.
- Don’t remove the lid. While the rice cooks, resist the urge to take a peek. Doing so will cause the steam from the pot to escape. You can check it when you have reached or are nearing the end of the cooking time and need to make sure the rice is almost done. Then, leave the lid on until after the cooked rice has rested for 5 minutes. Steam is essential to the final cooking stage of the rice so that the grains are tender and not hard or crunchy in the center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can! Cilantro stems have lots of flavor and are soft and pliable. Just finely chop them and toss them in.
Once completely cooled, store cilantro lime rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer storage, transfer it to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and reheat it in the microwave.
Yes, you can make this cilantro rice recipe ahead of time, so it’s a great meal prep option. Once the rice is cooked and still hot, spread it out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet to cool it down quickly without sticking together. Then, transfer it to a storage container and store it in the fridge or freezer as directed above.
If you’ve tried this cilantro lime rice recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
