Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

A great cilantro lime rice recipe can dress up just about any meal, from a basic rice and chicken or rice and beans dish to a side to one part of a multi-course feast. Chef Nathaniel Lee of Beginner Food says, "We use this rice as a side dish for grilled meats. It works great for filling in burritos or the base for a burrito bowl." Or you can use it chilled under a bed of greens, with chicken or fish, in soups, or however you want. 

Once you appreciate how easy this cilantro lime rice recipe is, you'll want to make it all the time. It comes together in only a few minutes, and you don't need that many ingredients to make it downright delicious. Let's take a look at how you can make this super-simple, very fresh, and downright delicious side dish in the comfort of your own home.

The list for this cilantro lime rice recipe quite a long list, so hang on tight! You'll need one cup of long grain rice, two cups of water, four cloves of garlic, a lime, three sprigs of cilantro, and a pinch of salt.

Whew! We made it. Yeah, it really is that simple to make a rice that will have people asking, "How did you make this?" No need to reveal. What you do need to do is make the rice properly, or the whole thing is a bust. "A common mistake is to use a sauce pan that is too small," says Lee. "Rice doubles in size when it is cooked, and you still need room for water and bubbles. So that said, it is really important to be below half way up [the pot] after the water is added."

Wash your cilantro and lime and then rinse your rice well and drain it, then briefly set aside. "Rice varietal can be any long grain," says Lee, who does "not recommend making this dish with short or medium grain rice. To substitute brown rice in, you are going to need a little more water (depends on the species, but it doesn't absorb as quickly). And a real left field substitution: This does work with cauliflower rice, too."

Mince the garlic and then add your rice, water, garlic, and salt, to the sauce pan. Bring it all to a boil on high, and then immediately cover and turn the heat to the lowest setting for this cilantro lime rice recipe. Now finely chop the cilantro and slice the lime in half or quarters and set aside.

Simmer the rice for at least 20 minutes, checking it around that 20-minute mark. If it's not done, you may need to add a bit of water. Keep a close eye, as perfect rice makes this a perfectly simple, satisfying dish.

When the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and then add the cilantro and squeeze out as much lime juice as you can (pro tip: use a juicer) while the rice is still in its cooking pot. Then fluff and stir the rice a bit, and serve up this cilantro lime rice recipe.

Note that Lee says: "The rice will keep in the fridge for up to five days. Just make sure it is as airtight as possible, as rice turns very hard and dry in the fridge if you don't. To re-heat, you can microwave a serving covered for one minute. I do not recommend pan heating it, as you will likely burn the cilantro and lime flavor."