Cilantro Lime Rice (Printable Version)

Aromatic, fluffy rice infused with fresh cilantro and zesty lime juice—perfect as a side for Mexican and Asian-inspired dishes.

# What You Need:

→ Rice

01 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, such as Basmati or Jasmine
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Flavorings

05 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
06 - Zest of 1 lime
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
08 - 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
02 - In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic if using and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add the rinsed rice and stir to coat the grains with oil.
04 - Pour in the water and add the salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes until the rice is tender and water is absorbed.
05 - Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes.
06 - Fluff the rice with a fork. Stir in the lime zest, lime juice, and chopped cilantro.
07 - Taste and adjust salt or lime juice as needed. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes and tastes like you've been fussing in the kitchen for hours.
  • The lime and cilantro combination wakes up any meal without needing heavy sauces or extra proteins.
  • One pot, minimal cleanup, and it pairs with everything from tacos to stir-fries to roasted vegetables.
02 -
  • Don't skip the rinsing step—I learned this the hard way when I made cilantro lime rice once without rinsing and ended up with a starchy, gummy mess that no amount of lime juice could fix.
  • Add the cilantro and lime juice after cooking, not before, because heat breaks down cilantro's fresh appeal and cooking destroys the delicate lime fragrance you're working so hard to capture.
03 -
  • If you don't have a zester, a fine grater works for lime zest, but use the smallest holes and don't press hard or you'll get bitter white pith.
  • Cold leftover rice reheats beautifully if you add a tablespoon of water per cup of rice and cover it loosely while microwaving, stirring halfway through.
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