Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

Cilantro Lime Rice is a bright, zesty, and easy side dish. It’s so simple to make with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Rest Time 5

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Calories 203kcal

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.

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.