Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

Easy Cilantro Lime Rice is a fresh and bright side dish, thanks to an infusion of fresh lime juice and zest!

It's perfect served as a side dish with Mexican or Asian food, and great to use as the base for your favorite burrito or bowl. It's similar to the popular version served at Chipotle, but we think it's even better, and it's super simple to make.

Ingredients Needed

• Rice - use long grain rice, such as American long-grain, jasmine, or basmati rice. Long-grain rice is the best choice because it has low starch and becomes light and fluffy when cooked.
• Fresh Lime and Zest - this gives the rice its signature zing! You will need 2 to 3 Tablespoons of freshly squeezed juice and a Tablespoon of zest to get the desired flavor. Be sure to zest them before you squeeze them!
• Cilantro - only fresh cilantro will do for this recipe!
• Vegetable Broth or Water - we love the added flavor that vegetable broth gives this dish, but water works too
• Garlic - this small addition adds a nice punch of flavor
• Olive Oil - or any neutral oil
• Salt - we used fine sea salt for added seasoning

How to make Cilantro Lime Rice

This recipe is simple, which makes it perfect for weeknights. Let's get cooking!

• Rinse the Rice - Place the rice in a fine mesh sieve or colander and let water run over the rice until the water runs clear. Drain the rice while you prep the rest of the recipe. Why rinse the rice? Rinsing removes excess starch that makes rice sticky and gummy. This is essential for achieving separate, fluffy grains for pilaf-type rice dishes like this one.
• Sauté - In a heavy-bottom pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat, add the minced garlic, and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the rice and salt, and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring, until lightly toasted.
• Cook - Add the broth (or water), bring to a boil, stir, place the lid on the pan, and turn the heat to a simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until all of the liquid is absorbed.
• Steam - Remove the pan from the heat and let the rice continue to steam for about 10 minutes (leave the lid on).
• Add the Flavor - Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Add the cilantro, lime juice, and lime zest. Stir to combine everything.
• Taste - Taste for flavor to see if you would prefer more lime juice or salt, and serve.

Ideas for Serving Cilantro Lime Rice:

This versatile Cilantro Lime Rice has endless serving ideas. Here are a few favorites:

• We love it with any Mexican-style main dish, such as Carnitas or Carne Asada, but it would also be great in a rice bowl dish like our Tofu Rice Bowl or with Shrimp in Chipotle Sauce.
• The rice pairs well with citrus or herb main dishes like Chili Lime Pork Tenderloin, Chimichurri Shrimp, Chimichurri Steak, or Teriyaki Chicken Skewers.
• We recently served it with Jerk Chicken (below), and it was a perfect pairing!

Variations and Substitutions:

• Use your rice cooker to pre-cook the rice and then proceed as above. This is a great idea if you would prefer brown rice.
• Want an added punch of flavor? Substitute the vegetable broth for chicken broth and add a bay leaf to the cooking process.
• Like it really zesty? Add a teaspoon of minced jalapenos.

Leftovers and Storage:

• Leftover rice can be safely stored, tightly sealed, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and then gently reheated.
• Cilantro Lime Rice also freezes well. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months, thaw out in the fridge, and gently reheat.
• If needed, add a splash of water or broth and a squeeze of lime.