Cilantro-Lime rice is the perfect recipe for bright and vibrant side dish or the base of a layered dish!
It’s no secret that I love chipotle. I’m the crazy person who is able to eat at Chipotle 12 times a month for 3 months straight just to get rewarded with more Chipotle. One of the key ingredients in Chipotle is Lime-Cilantro rice. It’s a flavorful base that helps cool off tongue after adding some of the spicier ingredients. Lime cilantro rice is a great side dish or works perfectly as the base of a burrito or burrito bowl (or any other layered dish really).
I did go with a version that added a little more flavor than what I would find at Chipotle. I added a bit more spices to help bring out even more flavor of the rice. Since this is a dish I can eat without abandon, I figured I should add a bit more to the body. And making a recipe your own is always a fun experience.
Check out the Make section of MCG for more fun recipes like desserts and savory dishes.
Ingredients
There aren’t any surprising ingredients that go into lime cilantro rice. I used rice, limes, cilantro, garlic, salt, and some extra-virgin olive oil. Simple enough, right?
Process
Prepping the Ingredients
Before I started any cooking, I prepped all of the ingredients to make the dish. I like to wash the rice before cooking it. Washing the rice helps remove any impurities which, in turn, allows for the rice to cook more consistently. Washed rice removes any surprises from cooking the rice! I typically like to wash the rice until the water runs clear. But that can be a little excessive.
At this point, I also like to prep the scallions and cilantro. I either put in or leave out the stems of the cilantro depending on my mood. You can leave the stems on before chopping the cilantro, but I recommend getting rid of the ends of the thicker cilantro stalks.
Cooking the Rice
Before I started any cooking, I prepped all of the ingredients to make the dish. I like to wash the rice before cooking it. Washing the rice helps remove any impurities which, in turn, allows for the rice to cook more consistently. Washed rice removes any surprises from cooking the rice! I typically like to wash the rice until the water runs clear. But that can be a little excessive.
At this point, I also like to prep the scallions and cilantro. I either put in or leave out the stems of the cilantro depending on my mood. You can leave the stems on before chopping the cilantro, but I recommend getting rid of the ends of the thicker cilantro stalks.
Adding in the Flavor
After the rice finishes cooking, it’s time to add in the flavor! I like to add garlic powder, scallions, and lime zest first. Especially since the rice is still hot. This gives the scallions a bit of residual cooking from the heat still trapped within the rice.
I let the rice rest for a minute or so before adding the remaining ingredients. I did my best to then distribute the remaining olive oil, salt, lime juice, and cilantro throughout the rice. I may have added a handful more cilantro than the original recipe calls for… But hey! Where’s the harm in a little extra flavor?
Reflections
Yea, I’m in love with this recipe. I don’t think I cooked the rice properly when I used a rice cooker, so I like to make this over the stove. At least, until I figure out how to cook rice in the pressure cooker properly. But even with improperly cooked rice, this dish is irresistible.
The spices and other add-ins do make the recipe more flavorful than the rice that I would normally have at Chipotle. But, in the best of ways. It’s going to be hard for me to explore other rice options moving forward. Why keep exploring when I’ve found perfection?!?
Lessons
What’s wrong with my Rice?
I feel like I have to say a small prayer to the kitchen god before opening the top of the rice cooker. Hopefully it’s just right but, sometimes it is mushy or hard and chewy. And these problems all stem from water. Too much water will flood the rice and result in a mushy texture. Too little water and the rice won’t have enough moisture to suck in. This leaves the rice hard (similar to its uncooked state) but the moisture that was receives makes the rice chewy in nature.
recipe
Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice dried
- 1 ½ cup water
- 3 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil divided
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 bunch scallions finely chopped
- 2 limes juiced and zested
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ cup finely chopped cilantro
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the rice, water and 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce to simmer.
- Simmer for approximately 20 minutes, or the recommended amount on rice packaging
- Remove from heat. Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork.
- Add garlic, scallions, and lime zest. Stir to combine and let cool for a minute.
- Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil, salt (to taste), lime juice, and cilantro.
- Enjoy!!
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