How To Make Cilantro Lime Rice (Coriander Rice)

Learn how to make cilantro lime rice – perfect for Asian, Tex-Mex/Mexican, and Middle Eastern dishes like burritos, rice bowls, and more! This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and ready to become your new favorite rice dish in under 30 minutes!

I have massive respect for anyone who loves and eats their rice plain all the time. I’ve posted how-tos for How To Cook Brown Rice Perfectly Every Time and Fluffy Perfect Jasmine Rice (Stove-top method). However, I’m still definitely a flavor-craver – which is why this cilantro lime rice is one of my favorite additions to Mexican, Tex Mex, Middle Eastern, and even Asian dishes!

I’m already completely obsessed with cilantro and lemon/lime combination they’re an important part of one of my all-time favorite childhood Middle-Eastern/Lebanese dishes – Lebanese Spicy Potatoes Batata Harra. 

Plus, there are several ways to customize this coriander rice to your liking. Make a low-carb cilantro lime rice cauliflower if preferred, or cilantro lime brown rice – check out my recipe notes for more guidance! For those who aren’t cilantro fans (in case you might think it tastes soapy), I’ve also included a few herb swaps below!

Best of all, learning how to make cilantro lime rice (coriander rice) is super simple and can be prepared in under 30 minutes, then leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to five days – yay. So, let’s get right to the cilantro lime rice recipe!

The Ingredients & Variations

What’s Needed

• Rice: long grain rice is best for this recipe (I use basmati rice). It’ll produce really light and fluffy results. You can use basmati, long-grain white rice, jasmine rice, etc. You can also use brown rice, but the cooking method will differ slightly (increased cooking time).
• Cilantro (coriander in the UK): use the leaves and stems of the cilantro. For cilantro haters, you could try swapping out the cilantro with parsley, basil, dill, mint, etc. (or even a combination of a few).
• Lime: you can swap this with lemon if needed. Even better, use lime with just a splash of extra lemon juice to round out the flavor and add depth to the flavor.
• Water: you could also use a combination of water and vegetable stock or even all stock.
• Oil: you can use coconut oil, EVOO, sunflower oil, avocado oil, etc.
• Salt: to season. You may want to reduce the amount of salt if you decide to use stock for cooking this cilantro lime rice. 

Top Tip: For extra flavor, add a bay leaf (or 2) to the pan while the rice cooks (remove it before serving).

Variations

• For garlic cilantro rice: add the garlic to the pan and the raw rice when toasting it (3-4 minutes) before adding the water and continuing with the recipe.
• For chili cilantro rice: you can stir a little chili sauce into the rice when fluffing it. Optionally, top with more dried chili flakes for extra heat.
• You can also add a little vegetable stock/broth in place of some of the cooking water for a little extra flavor.
• Feel free to increase the amount of lime juice used if you prefer the extra acidity.
• Feel free to add a bit of salted butter just before serving; mix it well to melt and coat the rice grains. It’s decadent and adds extra flavor!

How To Make Cilantro Lime Rice

Step 1: Rinse the rice

Rinse the rice until the water runs almost clear. I like to do this in a large bowl, adding water, swishing the rice around with my hands, then I drain and repeat 3-4 times.

Don’t omit this step as it eliminates excess starch and is important for achieving fluffy rice perfection rather than gummy yuck-ness.

Step 2: Toast The Rice

First, heat the oil (or some butter) in a large pan. Add the rice, and stir it to coat the granules with oil.

To add extra flavor to the cooked rice, you can lightly toast the raw rice for a few minutes (3-4) until it becomes lightly fragrant.

Step 3: Cook The Rice

Add the water (or stock/combo of both) to the pan with the salt and lime zest.

Bring the water to a boil, stir and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot with a lid. Cook for 12 minutes – don’t be tempted to lift the lid at any point.

Then, remove the rice from the heat and allow it to steam for 10 minutes, placing a kitchen towel (quickly) between the pot and lid.

This will soak up the steam and stop it from condensing on the lid and falling back down onto the rice.

If, when you uncover the rice, there is still a little excess water in the pan, then quickly replace the lid and allow it to steam for a couple of extra minutes. If you test a couple of rice grains and they’re still slightly hard, then place the rice (with the lid on) back over low heat for a further 5 minutes – add a tablespoon or so of water if the rice is dry.

Step 4: Mix & Serve the cilantro lime rice

As the rice steams, finely chop the coriander and juice the lime. Then fluff up the rice with a fork, and mix in the cilantro and lime juice.

Once mixed, optionally garnish with some chopped spring onion, chili flakes, jalapeno (fresh or pickled), etc. Then serve your lime-cilantro rice while warm!

Storing Instructions

Fridge: leftover cilantro-lime rice can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days in an airtight container.

Freezer: store the lime-cilantro rice in an airtight container (box or bag) for up to three months.

To reheat: you can reheat the rice in the microwave (around 2 minutes) or on the stovetop. Add a spoonful or two of water to help it steam as it cooks.

Make sure to transfer the rice to the fridge/freezer within two hours of it being cooked to avoid bacteria growth.

How To Serve

There are tons of ways to enjoy this cilantro lime rice recipe. Here are just a few of my top picks; 

• Within a burrito – like this Jackfruit Burrito.
• As part of a Tex-Mex rice bowl – served with other Tex-Mex/Mexican side dishes like guacamole, cooked beans, corn, etc. like this veggie burrito bowl.
• Alternatively, with a Middle-Eastern twist with falafels and hummus. 
• As part of a cold rice salad – such as with this High-Protein Grilled Salmon Avocado Salad Bowl.
• Alongside (or within) tacos – like these Rainbow Vegan Tacos or Meat-free Organic Tacos: 4-ways.
• Serve with chili – like this Vegan Chilli con Carne.
• With proteins – like grilled chicken, marinated tofu, or this Lemon & Dill Oven Baked Salmon.

Recipe Notes

• Basmati is my favorite rice to use for this Mexican cilantro rice dish. It’s more aromatic, so it increases the overall flavor even more.
• You can cook the rice in an instant pot or rice cooker too – though I don’t own one so can’t supply times and water to rice ratio. It’s best to check your machine’s booklet or instructions. 
• To adapt this cilantro and lime rice recipe to cilantro lime brown rice, use this method for cooking brown rice with the additional ingredients and steps mentioned here. 
• For cilantro lime rice cauliflower version: place the cauliflower in a food processor (or use a grater) to get your cauliflower ‘rice.’ Add it to a large skillet with oil and some garlic. Then, heat over medium heat, stirring often. Add in the lime zest after 1-2 minutes. When it’s almost ready, stir in the cilantro and lime, taste, and season with salt & pepper. Since cauliflower rice lacks flavor, I tend to add a little salted butter before serving. 

Related Recipes

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• How To Cook Brown Rice Perfectly Every Time
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• Easy Coconut Rice Recipe
• Vermicelli Rice
• Persian Fluffy Basmati Dill Rice
• Easy Vegetable Rice Pilaf (Yellow Turmeric Rice | Vegan)
• Thai Coconut Sweet Sticky Rice
• How to Make Sushi Rice

If you try this cilantro lime rice recipe, then let me know your thoughts and questions in the comments. I’d also really appreciate a recipe rating and would love to see your recreations – just tag @AlphaFoodie.