Make this Cilantro Lime Rice by toasting long grain rice in garlic, simmering in lime zest and chicken broth, and stirring in fresh cilantro and lime juice. Not only is this an easy and delicious side dish, but it is the perfect compliment to fajitas or burritos.
Why this recipe is so great:
- Similar to Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice. Well, sort of. I customized this recipe to my liking and took a few extra steps to add flavor, like toasting the rice, but close enough!
- Great for meal planning. This recipe actually makes a fair amount, so it can easily be used throughout the week in burritos, salads, or as a side with dinner.
- Mix it up. Just like cilantro and lime are a fantastic pair, you could follow the same process with basil and lemon and serve alongside some salmon patties or pork tenderloin.
Ingredients needed:
Exact quantities are listed in the recipe card below, but here is a summary.
- Olive oil and butter
- Uncooked long grain white rice
- Garlic
- Chicken broth
- Salt
- Fresh lime
- Fresh cilantro
How to make Cilantro Lime Rice:
Detailed step by step instructions are listed in the recipe card below, but here is a summary.
- Toast rice: Giving the rice a nice golden brown color prior to cooking in liquid adds a tremendous amount of flavor. Simply cook rice in butter and oil and add the garlic when it's just about done.
- Cook in liquid: Add the chicken broth, salt, and lime zest to the toasted rice, cover, and cook until all of the liquid has absorbed.
- Serve: Just prior to serving, add in fresh cilantro and lime juice. Taste, add additional salt if needed, and serve.
toast rice in oil and butter cook in chicken broth and lime zest trim and chop cilantro mix in cilantro and lime juice
Recipe tips for perfect results:
- Substitutions: To make this recipe vegetarian, use water instead of chicken broth. To make it vegan, also replace the small amount of butter with additional oil. Replace the cilantro and lime with basil and lemon for a completely different taste.
- Storage: Keep any leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for 3-5 days, even with the added cilantro.
Serve this recipe with:
- Steak Fajitas
- Instant Pot Shredded Beef
- Barbacoa Quesadillas made using the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Charro Pinto Beans
- Easy Ground Beef Enchiladas
- Or you could try my friend Courtney's Baked Chicken Fajitas
If you’ve made this or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out. I love hearing from my readers!
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Cilantro Lime Rice
Make this Cilantro Lime Rice by toasting long grain rice in garlic, simmering in lime zest and chicken broth, and stirring in fresh cilantro and lime juice. Not only is this an easy and delicious side dish, but it is the perfect compliment to fajitas or burritos.
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Hover to scale: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 ½ cups basmati rice (or other long-grain white rice)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 ¼ cups chicken broth (can substitute with water or use a combination of chicken broth and water)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large lime (You will zest the entire lime first and then use the juice)
- 1 cup fresh cilantro (Plan on using an entire bunch. Lightly packed, roughly chopped, use only leaves and tender stems and discard main thick stems.)
Instructions
- Toast rice: Heat the olive oil and butter in a medium sized saucepan over medium high heat. Add the uncooked rice and stir to coat. Cook, mostly undisturbed and stirring only occasionally to prevent burning, until the rice is golden brown and starts to smell wonderful. Add the garlic, stir, and allow to cook for about a minute.
- Add liquid: Add chicken broth (or water, if using), salt, and lime zest to the rice. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, then cover and lower the heat to low to maintain a very low simmer.
- Simmer: Cook, undisturbed, for about 15 minutes or until all of the liquid has been absorbed. At this point you can check texture of the rice and stir to ensure all of the liquid has been absorbed. When done, remove from heat and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a large spoon.
- Serve: Just prior to serving, add lime juice and cilantro to the rice and toss to combine. Start with half the lime, stir, taste and add additional salt or more lime juice based on your preference.
Notes
- Substitutions: To make this recipe vegetarian, use water instead of chicken broth. To make it vegan, also replace the small amount of butter with additional oil. Replace the cilantro and lime with basil and lemon for a completely different taste.
- Storage: Keep any leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for 3-5 days, even with the added cilantro.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 548mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 184IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg
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Noel
Made this. Was fab! Cheers