Cilantro Lime Rice
Cilantro Lime Rice is a quick and easy side dish to add to your next meal. Ready in under 30 minutes and this recipe guarantees fluffy rice that is full of cilantro and lime flavors.
Easy side dishes are a must-have for busy families. We love serving this cilantro lime rice in Pulled Pork Burritos, with Smothered Burritos, Ground Beef Tacos and Skillet Mexican Street Corn.
Rice is one of the easiest things to cook. With these step by step directions, it will turn out every time and is sure to be your go-to side dish for Mexican night.
Ingredients Needed
- Lime zest and juice
- Butter
- Long Grain White Rice (I like Ben’s)
- Water
- Fresh Cilantro
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Step By Step Directions
Zest the limes and then slice and squeeze the juice. Set aside.
Melt butter in a pan that has a lid. Add the rice and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until rice starts to toast.
Add water and half of the lime juice and bring the mixture to a boil.
Cover the pan and lower to simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, not lifting the lid.
Remove from heat and lift the lid, being careful of the steam.
Add the remaining lime juice, zest and chopped cilantro.
Stir well, fluffing with a fork until well combined. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
Reheat: Place in a pan with about 1 tablespoon of water and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.
Feed a Crowd: Rice is easy to scale up or down. Keep the ratio of rice to water at 1:2. So if you would like to make 2 cups of cooked rice, use 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water.
Brown Rice: Brown rice will work with this recipe but will take about 45 minutes to cook.
If you are a fan of cilantro lime rice from Chipotle or Qdoba, you are going to love this homemade version that is quick, easy and inexpensive!
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Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 2-3 whole limes zest and 1/4 cup juice, divided
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 3 cups water
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Zest the limes and set aside. Juice the limes and set aside.
- Melt butter in a pan that has a lid. Add the rice and cook over medium heat.
- Add 2 tablespoons of lime juice, water and kosher salt. Bring to a boil. Cover and lower to simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and carefully lift the lid, it will steam.
- Add reserved lime juice, zest and chopped cilantro, fluffing with a fork to combine.
- Serve immediately.
Absolutely delicious! So easy to make, too.
Such an easy and tasty side dish that is a compliment to many meals!