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My Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is an easy rice dish loaded with zesty lime juice and the sharp herbal flavors of cilantro! This is a perfect side dish to serve with any of your favorite protein or vegetable combinations. Ready in under 30 minutes using simple ingredients, you will want to make this rice as a side dish for so many meals!
Jump to:
- Lime Cilantro Rice
- Cilantro Rice Recipes FAQs
- Cilantro Rice Ingredients
- What is the best rice for cilantro rice?
- How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
- Lime Cilantro Rice Recipe Tips
- What to Serve with Cilantro Rice
- Can I freeze cilantro lime rice?
- How to Reheat Cilantro Rice
- Easy Rice Side Dishes
- 📌 Pin it for later!
- Easy Cilantro Lime Rice
Lime Cilantro Rice
If you catch yourself behind me in line at Chipotle, you are going to hear me ask for extra cilantro rice in my burrito bowl. Chipotle lime rice is so good, I knew I had to come up with my own to make at home!
My cilantro rice recipe is a fantastic family-style side dish perfect for taco night, barbecues, or Tex-Mex-inspired dinners! You are not going to believe how easily my recipe for cilantro rice elevates traditional rice into something fun and festive.
Tangy lime juice pairs deliciously with fluffy rice, and creates an excellent bedding for all the savory flavors it supports. I love how this recipe takes on the flavors of whatever you serve with it! Cilantro rice pairs so well with:
- Enchiladas
- Tacos
- Beef or chicken birria
- Burritos
- Burrito bowls
- Fajitas
- Seafood, especially shrimp
- Street Corn
The list goes on! I hope you enjoy this easy lime rice recipe as much as my family and I do.
Cilantro Rice Recipes FAQs
Cilantro lime rice is an easy side dish made from steamed rice, lime juice, lime zest, fresh cilantro, and salt. It is a side dish used in many types of cuisines, including Tex-Mex, Mexican, Indian, Thai, and Chinese dishes.
Cilantro lime rice is best when left covered in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.
As it is written, my recipe for cilantro lime rice is a gluten and grain free side dish. As always, be sure to check each ingredient for proper food handling and allergy instructions.
Dried cilantro will not have the same aromatic qualities as fresh cilantro, and it can change the overall flavor of the dish. For this recipe, I suggest using fresh cilantro instead of dried.
If you don't enjoy cilantro, you can leave it out of this dish entirely and enjoy lime rice on its own. If you like, I recommend adding some parsley as a substitute for a bit of herby flavor in the rice.
Coriander and cilantro are very similar because they both come from the same plant. Generally, in the US, cilantro refers to the stem and leaf of the plant while coriander refers to the dried seeds. Internationally, the word cilantro is less recognized. For this recipe, fresh cilantro (the leaf and stem) work best.
Cilantro Rice Ingredients
- Water
- Basmati brown rice
- Kosher salt
- Lime zest and juice
- Cilantro
What is the best rice for cilantro rice?
For my cilantro lime rice, I like to use brown basmati rice because it is long-grained rice with excellent texture. I also like the way basmati rice takes on the flavors of whatever I am adding to it (in this case, fresh lime and cilantro!).
This is the type of recipe where many varietals of rice will work. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Jasmine Rice
- Long-Grained White Rice
- Whole Grain Brown Rice
- Cauliflower Rice
As a general note, I would not suggest Arborio rice (this is typically used to make risotto and is too creamy) or instant rice (it doesn't absorb as easily).
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
- Bring water to a boil in a small pot on the stove top. Reduce heat and add the rice and salt.
- Cover and simmer on low for about 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and the water has been absorbed.
- Zest half of a lime into the rice. Add lime zest, lime juice and cilantro to the rice and stir.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Lime Cilantro Rice Recipe Tips
- For extra fluffy rice, always use a fork to stir steamed rice. A wooden spoon or spatula will only make the rice sticky and clump it together.
- I like to make rice on the stove top, but feel free to make this using a rice cooker or with an Instant Pot. Simply make the rice and then stir in the cilantro, lime zest, and lime juice!
- If you are not a fan of cilantro, you can substitute fresh parsley. It won't have the same flavor profile as cilantro rice, but parsley and lime is just as delicious! I have served it this way plenty of times.
- When cooking rice, always wait for the water to evaporate in the bottom of the pan before you stir or fluff your rice. If this means additional cooking time, no worries! Just keep an eye on your rice until it is ready.
What to Serve with Cilantro Rice
My favorite way to serve cilantro lime rice is by using it as an addition to tacos, burrito bowls, enchiladas, and fajitas! This is also the perfect side dish to serve in a big platter right on the middle of the table! Here are some main course I like to serve with my cilantro rice:
Can I freeze cilantro lime rice?
It is so easy to freeze cooked cilantro lime rice. Here's what I do:
- After the cilantro lime rice has cooked, allow it to come to room temperature or refrigerate for a few hours before handling it.
- Place the rice in an airtight, sealed container or freezer bag.
- For every 1 cup of rice you are freezing, add 2 tablespoons of vegetable broth (or whichever type of broth you prefer) to the container with the rice. This will help protect the rice grains for the harshness of the freezer, and it makes reheating so much easier!
- Label and date the outside of the container or freezer bag.
Cooked rice is good in the freezer for up to 1 month.
How to Reheat Cilantro Rice
If you are reheating rice from the refrigerator, place the rice in a microwave safe bowl and reheat on high at 10 second intervals until heated through. You can also gently reheat rice on the stove top (usually on medium-low) for about 10 minutes.
To reheat rice from the freezer, allow the rice to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Since there is already liquid mixed into the rice (it will have absorbed all of the flavors while freezing) simply place the rice in a medium sauce pan and reheat over medium-low until all the liquid is re-absorbed. 10-15 minutes.
Because some of the flavors can lose their intensity while freezing, I like to revamp my rice by adding a small pad of butter, fresh squeeze of lime juice, and some fresh cilantro if I have any on hand.
Easy Rice Side Dishes
- How to Cook Rice
- How to Cook Rice in the Microwave
- Instant Pot Rice
- Beans and Rice Recipe
- Cauliflower Rice Recipe
Try more of the best side dishes. For a side that pairs deliciously with cilantro rice, try Chunky Guacamole!
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Easy Cilantro Lime Rice
Equipment
- 1 Large pot
- 1 Cutting board
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups water
- 1 cup basmati brown rice uncooked
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ lime zested
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- ½ cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a small pot on the stove top. Reduce heat and add the rice and salt.2 ¼ cups water, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 cup basmati brown rice uncooked
- Cover and simmer on low for about 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and the water has been absorbed.
- Zest half of a lime into the rice. Add lime zest, lime juice and cilantro to the rice and stir.1 teaspoon lime juice, ½ cup chopped cilantro, ½ lime zested
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- For extra fluffy rice, always use a fork to stir steamed rice. A wooden spoon or spatula will only make the rice sticky and clump it together.
- I like to make this recipe on the stove top, but feel free to make this using a rice cooker or with an Instant Pot. Simply make the rice and then stir in the cilantro, lime zest, and lime juice!
- If you are not a fan of cilantro (and it's okay if you're not) you can substitute fresh parley. It won't have the same flavor profile as cilantro rice, but parley and lime will still create a delicious herbal combination.
- When cooking rice, always wait for the water to evaporate in the bottom of the pan before you stir or fluff your rice. If this means additional cooking time, no worries! Just keep an eye on your rice until it is ready.
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Cynthia says
So simple and delicious! I am normally not a huge fan of cilantro but I was surprised at how good this was! Definitely recommend.
Em says
That is so awesome to hear, Cynthia! Thank you so much, we're glad you enjoyed it!