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Cilantro Lime Rice

May 15, 2019 | Ethnic

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Cilantro Lime Rice is the perfect side to tacos or enchiladas and is a great addition to burritos or burrito bowls. Serve this flavorful rice with your next Mexican or Southwest meal! 

Everyone loves a warm cheesy enchilada but you’ve got to have a side to go with it like this Cilantro Lime Rice! This rice is the perfect side to Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas, Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas or in Sweet Pulled Pork Salad {Cafe Rio Copycat} It’s also great with Thai food!

Cilantro Lime Rice like Chioptle's in a bowl garnished with lime wedges and cilantro leaves.

Cilantro Lime Rice

If you’ve ever dined at Chipotle, Qudoba, or Cafe Rio, I’m sure you’ve tried their yummy rice. Well, you can make your own at home and it tastes just like what you get at the restaurant. We’re not just adding lime and cilantro to white rice. The process and a few additional ingredients are what takes the rice to the next level.

Side view of Cilantro Lime Rice piled high in a bowl and garnished with lime edges and cilantro leaves.

How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice:

  1. Heat olive oil in a sauce pan. Add the rice and stir so that all the grains are coated. Cook while stirring for about 2 minutes and then add the onion. Continue to saute until the rice starts to brown. Stir in the garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
  2. Add in the chicken broth (or water and bouillon), salt, and lime zest. Bring it to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 18 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat but leave the lid on for 10 minutes.
  3. Fluff rice with a fork and then add in the lime and cilantro and mix until evenly dispersed.

Raw rice in a measuring up and lime wedges for making Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Rice.

Why Saute Rice?

Browning the rice helps to the grains to absorb the fruity flavor from the olive oil (it will have a nutty flavor if you use butter like in my Orzo Rice). It also helps the grains maintain their integrity so that you have distinct rice kernels rather than being mushed together.

Top view of Cilantro Lime Rice in a serving bowl garnished with lime wedges and a bowl of chopped cilantro to the side.

What kind of rice should I use?

Basmati or regular long-grain white rice. Basmati rice is more aromatic and a little longer. It is more expensive so if you don’t want to spend the money and already have long-grain white rice, just use that. 

What Should I Serve Cilantro Lime Rice With?

You can serve it with tacos, enchiladas, Baked Chicken Taquitos, in burritos, burrito bowls, salads… Let me know what you like to eat it with!

Looking for more Mexican Recipes? Check out these:

  • Mexican Layered Dip
  • Crock-Pot Mexican Chicken
  • 3-Ingredient Salsa Chicken Tacos
  • The BEST Homemade Salsa
  • Easiest Burrito
  • Mexican Lasagna

TOOLS USED TO MAKE CILANTRO LIME RICE:

Pot & Skillet Set– These are the skillets and pots I use. They have a heavy bottom making them sturdy and cook the food evenly. I use these multiple times a day.

Garlic Press– Fresh garlic is the best! Use a garlic press to quickly mince it.

Lemon and Lime Juicer– This makes getting all the juice out of your lemons and limes a cinch! It’s durable, requires little effort, and gets every last drop of juice out of your fruit.

Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro Lime Rice is the perfect side to tacos or enchiladas and is a great addition to burritos or burrito bowls. This perfectly cooked flavorful rice is a great addition to your next Mexican or Southwest meal! 

Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time18 mins
resting time10 mins
Total Time33 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 143kcal
Author: Garnish and Glaze

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 cup Basmati or long-grain white rice
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped, loosely packed
  • 1 lime, juice and zest

Instructions

  • Heat oil over medium-high heat in a 1.5 quart sauce pan. Add the rice and stir so that all the grains are coated. Cook while stirring for about 2 minutes and then add the onion. Continue to saute until the rice starts to brown. Stir in the garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
  • Add the chicken broth, salt, and lime zest. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low and cook 18 minutes. Take pot off element and let it sit for 10 minutes. (Do NOT remove the lid.)
  • Fluff the rice with a fork and mix in lime juice and cilantro. Mix until evenly dispersed.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Cilantro Lime Rice
Nutrition Facts
Cilantro Lime Rice
Amount Per Serving
Calories 143 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 483mg21%
Potassium 116mg3%
Carbohydrates 27g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 90IU2%
Vitamin C 9.5mg12%
Calcium 17mg2%
Iron 0.5mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Did you make this recipe?Tag @GarnishandGlaze on Instagram and use hashtag #GarnishandGlaze

 

Related topics:
Ethnic Mexican Side Dish Stove Topcinco de mayo mexican rice

Comments

  1. Fitoru keto says

    November 29, 2019 at 6:31 am

    I’m thinking of trying this tomorrow. I hope I’ll do it right though. Thanks a lot for sharing!

    Reply
  2. 2pots2cook says

    May 17, 2019 at 7:53 am

    Love the simplicity of this side dish that really could be combined nicely with almost every main. Thank you so much !

    Reply
    • Melanie says

      May 28, 2019 at 9:29 am

      It goes well with so many dishes! Enjoy! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Prabhat Mittal says

    January 31, 2015 at 12:45 am

    I tried this recipe and my spouse really loved it. Thanks a lot, keep posting amazing recipes.

    Reply
    • Melanie says

      February 5, 2015 at 9:17 pm

      So glad to hear you guys enjoyed it! I hope you find more recipes here that you like.

      Reply
  4. Paige says

    April 30, 2014 at 9:26 am

    It’s crazy how much food prices are going up! Avocados in Provo were always 10 for $10 most weeks, and now we pay $2.29 a piece for them! … Which means we don’t really buy them nearly as much anymore either!

    Reply
    • Melanie says

      April 30, 2014 at 11:40 am

      Wow! That is insane! I have never seen them for more than $1 a piece. That is a real bummer because avocados are so good! Maybe check to see they are cheaper in bulk at Costco. I get them there sometimes for 5 or 6 in a bag for like $5.

      Reply

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Hey There, I'm Melanie!

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I am a wife, mother of three little girls, and a chocolate addict. I love baking (and eating!) sweets, but I balance it out with healthy meals.

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