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Absolutely love the rice at Chipotle? Check out my version for cilantro lime rice – it’s fluffier and tastes even better than Chipotle’s! Ready in under 30 minutes, this is a great side to beef, chicken, fish, and stews.
My take on the classic Cilantro Lime Rice is inspired by Chipotle but enhanced with my personal twist to elevate the dish. The key to enhancing the flavor and texture is toasting the rice. This additional (but quick) step infuses the rice with a delightful nuttiness and aids in separating each grain for that ideal fluffiness.
Plus, this quick and simple recipe is ready in under 30 minutes. It’s a great side dish to a variety of mains, and leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to five days—great for meal prep. Give it a try—it might just become your new favorite way to make rice!
Table of contents
Ingredients
- Rice: Long-grain rice is best for this recipe as it produces light and fluffy results. You can also use basmati, long-grain white rice, jasmine rice, etc.
- Cilantro: Use the leaves and stems of fresh cilantro.
- Lime: You need both lime zest and fresh lime juice.
- Water: You could also use a combination of water and vegetable stock or even all stock. Use 1 ¼ cup water for every cup of rice.
- Oil: Use coconut oil, EVOO, sunflower oil, avocado oil, etc.
- Salt: To season.
How to make cilantro lime rice
Rinse the rice: First, rinse the rice until the water runs almost clear. Do so in a large bowl, adding water and swishing the rice around with your hands. Then drain and repeat 3-4 times. This step is important as it eliminates excess starch and helps achieve fluffy rice. Also, wash and zest the lime.
Toast and cook the rice: Next, heat the oil in a large pan. Add the rice and stir it to coat the granules with oil. Lightly toast the raw rice for 3-4 minutes until it becomes fragrant. Then, add the water to the pan along with the salt and lime zest.
Bring to a boil and stir the rice. Cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 12 minutes – don’t be tempted to lift the lid at any point.
Let the rice rest: Once cooked, remove the rice from the heat and allow it to steam for 10 minutes. To do so, quickly place a kitchen towel between the pot and lid so it soaks up the steam and stops it from condensing on the lid and falling back down onto the rice.
Stir in the lime and cilantro: As the rice steams, finely chop the cilantro and juice the lime. Then, fluff up the rice with a fork, and mix in the cilantro and lime juice. Once mixed, serve your lime-cilantro rice while warm!
Ways to serve it
There are tons of ways to enjoy this cilantro lime rice recipe. Here are just a few of my top picks.
- As a side for Korean beef bulgogi, sesame chicken, Bang Bang shrimp, baked teriyaki salmon, or Mexcian black beans.
- In a burrito like this jackfruit burrito.
- As a base for rice bowls like this healthy veggie burrito bowl.
More favorite rice recipes
If you try this cilantro lime rice recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
The Fluffiest Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups basmati rice or other long-grain rice
- 1 lime juice & zest
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 1/2 cups water or vegetable stock (or a combination of the two)
- 1/2 Tbsp olive oil or your prefered cooking oil
- handful cilantro
Instructions
- Rinse the rice until the water runs almost clear. In a large bowl, add water and swish the rice around with your hands. Drain and repeat 3-4 times.Also, wash and zest the lime.
- Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the rice and stir it to coat the granules with oil. Lightly toast the raw rice for 3-4 minutes
- Add the water to the pan along with the salt and lime zest. Bring to a boil and stir the rice.
- Cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 12 minutes – don't lift the lid at any point.
- Remove the rice from the heat, quickly place a kitchen towel between the pot and the lid, and allow it to steam for 10 minutes.
- In the meantime, finely chop the cilantro and juice the lime.
- Fluff up the rice with a fork and mix in the cilantro and lime juice. Serve the cilantro lime rice warm and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
