This Cilantro Lime Rice is a zesty, vivid and engaging copycat recipe to Chipotle’s well-known rice. The one distinction is that we added a lot extra taste and cooked it to fluffy perfection. This straightforward rice recipe is the right facet dish to any Mexican meals and it cooks in 20 minutes! So collect up your lime, cilantro, jalapenos and let’s make the perfect cilantro lime rice recipe!

Whereas we love this cilantro lime rice recipe, we have to point out that it was impressed by Chipotle’s well-known dish. We additionally wish to point out that this model is MUCH tastier. Sure. We imply it! 

We took all the pieces that we beloved concerning the cilantro lime rice recipe, after which boosted it some extra. Our model has a hefty quantity of vivid cilantro, an entire jalapeno diced in (which is optionally available), extra scallions. And naturally, a number of lime zest and juice.

One other superb distinction is that we DO NOT boil our rice, like EVER. Okay so this can be a bit controversial. However we, Mediterraneans prepare dinner all our rice dishes utilizing the identical approach as rice pilaf. This principally means sautéing the rice in oil (butter or ghee) earlier than including within the water and letting the rice prepare dinner on low to soak up that liquid.

This video exhibits how straightforward it’s to prepare dinner fluffy and engaging rice. Extra particulars under 🙂

Why You Must Make Cilantro Lime Rice

• It’s bursting with FLAVOR! Each chunk is a zest of aromas.
• The recipe will be completely adjusted to your style, including kind of of cilantro, jalapeno or lime–the foremost parts.
• You’ll pair it with loads of Mexican dishes! 
• The rice cooks in 20 minutes. 
• Our approach (traditional Mediterranean fashion of cooking rice) for fluffy rice will blow you away–no extra boiled tasteless rice!
• You can also make it prematurely, use it for meal prep, and even freeze it!
• Leftovers make the perfect bowls : howdy Fajita Bowl 🧡, salads, burritos, wraps and extra!

Components You’ll Want

• Rice. Use lengthy grain rice for this recipe. Jasmine rice or basmati are nice selections.
• Cilantro. You should utilize stems and leaves for this recipe. start with the stems and end off by including the leaves. 
• Lime. Each lime zest and lime juice are used right here for optimum taste.
• Jalapeno. Utterly optionally available, however oh so really useful!! Use half a jalapeno, 1 / 4 of it, use deseeded, full on seeded, nevertheless works for you!
• Garlic and Scallions. The bottom taste for the rice.
• Olive oil. We use some to sauté with after which end of the rice with much more style by including a drizzle of it on the finish.
• Seasoning. Whereas salt is sufficient right here, we add a little bit of chilli powder for an additional degree of taste.

How To Make Cilantro Lime Rice 

1. Begin by making the bottom of the dish. Sauté some chopped scallions and minced garlic in olive oil for two minutes till aromatic. This can infuse the recipe with a lot taste. 
   
2. Subsequent we add within the rice. You’ll be able to rinse the rice, soak the rice forward of time, nevertheless it’s pointless. In case you have time, I really useful rinsing solely, no want for soaking. 
3. Season the rice with salt and chilli powder. Chilli powder is an additional addition from us, and positively optionally available. We love the additional contact of taste of chilli powder. be at liberty to skip it. 
   
4. The rice will get sautéed with the scallions garlic, seasoning and olive oil for one more 2 minutes. This toasts the rice, including taste and texture. 
5. The water goes subsequent, or inventory. Undoubtedly use inventory for additional taste, and if you happen to’re out of it, water will do the job simply wonderful.
   
6. You’ll preserve the rice on excessive warmth and wait till the water has come to a boil. 
7. At that time you’ll flip the warmth to the bottom setting, place the lid in your pot and let the rice prepare dinner. 
   
8. This takes about 16-20 minutes. Uncover and also you’ll get fluffy, delicate, lengthy grain rice. It’s not mushy, not chewy, simply completely cooked and soaked with taste from the bottom of garlic and scallions, and the inventory if utilizing.
   
9. Now you’ll taste the cilantro lime rice with the cilantro lime. Add within the cilantro, lime zest and juice, olive oil, minced jalapeno, minced scallions.
10. Give {that a} combine and also you’re all set for a scrumptious rice expertise like NO OTHER!!!

Rice Cooker Cilantro Lime Rice

To make this recipe within the rice cooker, add the scallions, garlic, olive oil, rinsed rice and water/inventory into the basket of your rice cooker. Cook dinner in accordance with the machine. When prepared, add within the cilantro, lime, jalapeno and remaining elements. Toss nicely and it’s prepared. 

How you can Serve Cilantro Lime Rice

This recipe is ideal for Fajita Bowl, Salmon Bowl and any Sheet Pan Fajitas. Additionally makes a terrific facet dish with our Grilled Trout, Grilled Shrimp, Floor Hen Tacos, Air Fryer Entire Hen. Add it to this Taco Salad, Crunchwrap Supreme, and don’t overlook a dollop of Mango Pico De Gallo, Genuine Guacamole Recipe or Home made Salsa.

Suggestions for the BEST Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

1. Use lengthy grain rice for a fluffier and textured dish. jasmine rice or basmati work finest. 
2. Rinse the rice to take away any additional starch and have it tremendous fluffy when cooked. 
3. Sautee the scallions and garlic first to infuse the oil earlier than cooking. Skip this half if you happen to’re utilizing a rice cooker. 
4. likewise sauté the rice for a nuttier style and higher texture earlier than including within the liquid.
5. Inventory or water can be utilized. 
6. be sure to prepare dinner the rice at all times on the LOWEST warmth setting as soon as the liquid has to a boil.
7. When prepared, add within the flavorings instantly–cilantro, lime, jalapeno, scallions and extra olive oil.
8. Use zest and juice of the lime for optimum taste!

Variations of Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

1. Use brown rice or black wild rice for a nuttier, more healthy dish. Regulate cooking occasions and water/liquid quantity to make sure it cooks correctly. 
2. Use cauliflower to make cauliflower cilantro lime rice. Observe the steps on this Dill Cauliflower Rice to make cauliflower rice from scratch. 
3. Attempt broccoli rice for a variation too.
4. Add some black beans to the recipe. As soon as the recipe is prepared, add in some rinsed canned black beans for additional protein and to make it a hearty facet dish.

Storing Cilantro Lime Rice, Freezing and reheating

• Leftover of this dish will be saved in an air tight container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. 
• To freeze the rice, be sure it has cooled for 2 hours after cooking. Then portion the rice into ziploc luggage or sealed containers and freeze them for as much as 3 months. 
• To reheat leftover rice, you’ll be able to microwave it with a teaspoon of water. Likewise you’ll be able to add it to a submit with a tablespoon of water, set the warmth o low with the lid on and let it warmth up for 10-Quarter-hour. 
• If reheating the frozen one, you’ll be able to thaw it first within the fridge for a couple of hours and reheat as above.
• When reheating, be sure to add in a little bit of recent cilantro and a squeeze of lime to pop up the flavors much more.

Mexican Recipes To Attempt

Birria Tacos
Sheet Pan Fajitas
Strawberry Mojito
Lamb Tacos
Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe
Taco Soup
Nacho Fries
Salmon Tacos