Transform your ordinary rice into a vibrant and flavorful side dish with this cilantro lime rice recipe. Perfect for pairing with Mexican dishes, grilled meats, or even as a base for a hearty bowl, this recipe brings a zesty twist to your meal.
If you don't typically have fresh cilantro or freshly squeezed lime juice at home, you might need to make a trip to the supermarket. Fresh cilantro adds a unique, aromatic flavor that dried herbs can't replicate, and freshly squeezed lime juice provides a bright, tangy taste that bottled lime juice often lacks.
Ingredients for Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Rice: The base of the dish, providing a neutral canvas for the flavors.
Water: Essential for cooking the rice to the perfect texture.
Olive oil: Adds a subtle richness and helps prevent the rice from sticking.
Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
Cilantro: Brings a fresh, herbaceous note to the rice.
Lime juice: Adds a bright, tangy flavor that complements the cilantro.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
To enhance the flavor of your cilantro lime rice, toast the rice in the olive oil for a few minutes before adding the water. This will give the rice a slightly nutty flavor and add depth to the dish.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
long grain white rice - Substitute with brown rice: Brown rice is a whole grain and provides more fiber and nutrients compared to white rice.
water - Substitute with vegetable broth: Vegetable broth adds more flavor to the rice compared to plain water.
olive oil - Substitute with coconut oil: Coconut oil adds a subtle, unique flavor that complements the lime and cilantro.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce adds a savory umami flavor and can enhance the overall taste of the dish.
cilantro - Substitute with parsley: Parsley has a similar texture and can provide a fresh, slightly peppery flavor as an alternative to cilantro.
freshly squeezed lime juice - Substitute with lemon juice: Lemon juice offers a similar acidic and citrusy flavor that can brighten up the dish.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store or Freeze This Dish
Allow the cilantro lime rice to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make the rice soggy.
Transfer the cooled rice into an airtight container. This helps maintain its freshness and prevents it from absorbing any unwanted odors from the fridge.
Store the container in the refrigerator. The rice will stay fresh for up to 4-5 days.
For longer storage, portion the rice into freezer-safe bags or containers. Flatten the bags to remove excess air and to save space in the freezer.
Label the bags or containers with the date. This ensures you use the oldest rice first and helps you keep track of how long it has been stored.
When ready to use, thaw the frozen cilantro lime rice in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing process helps maintain the texture of the rice.
Reheat the rice in the microwave or on the stovetop. For the microwave, sprinkle a few drops of water over the rice and cover it with a damp paper towel to retain moisture. Heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until warmed through.
On the stovetop, add a splash of water or vegetable broth to a pan and heat the rice over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until it’s hot and steamy.
If the rice seems dry after reheating, stir in a bit more freshly squeezed lime juice and some extra chopped cilantro to revive its vibrant flavors.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Microwave method:
- Place the leftover cilantro lime rice in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Add a splash of water or vegetable broth to keep the rice moist.
- Cover the bowl with a microwave-safe lid or a damp paper towel.
- Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even heating.
- Fluff with a fork and serve warm.
Stovetop method:
- Transfer the rice to a non-stick skillet or saucepan.
- Add a few tablespoons of water or vegetable broth to prevent sticking.
- Cover the skillet and heat over medium-low heat.
- Stir occasionally until the rice is heated through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork and serve warm.
Oven method:
- Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Spread the cilantro lime rice evenly in an oven-safe dish.
- Sprinkle a bit of water or vegetable broth over the rice.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to retain moisture.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is heated through.
- Fluff with a fork and serve warm.
Steamer method:
- Place the rice in a heatproof bowl that fits inside your steamer basket.
- Add a small amount of water to the bowl to keep the rice moist.
- Fill the steamer pot with water and bring it to a boil.
- Place the bowl of rice in the steamer basket and cover with a lid.
- Steam for about 5-10 minutes, or until the rice is heated through.
- Fluff with a fork and serve warm.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Saucepan: A medium-sized saucepan is essential for cooking the rice evenly and ensuring it absorbs the water properly.
Lid: A tight-fitting lid is necessary to cover the saucepan and trap steam, allowing the rice to cook thoroughly.
Measuring cup: A measuring cup is used to accurately measure the rice and water, ensuring the correct ratio for perfect rice.
Measuring spoons: Measuring spoons are needed to measure the olive oil, salt, and lime juice precisely.
Colander: A colander or fine-mesh strainer is used to rinse the rice under cold water, removing excess starch.
Wooden spoon: A wooden spoon is ideal for stirring the rice, olive oil, and salt together without scratching the saucepan.
Fork: A fork is used to fluff the rice after it has cooked, ensuring it remains light and fluffy.
Cutting board: A cutting board provides a stable surface for chopping the cilantro.
Chef's knife: A sharp chef's knife is essential for finely chopping the cilantro.
Citrus juicer: A citrus juicer helps extract the maximum amount of juice from the lime efficiently.
How to Save Time on Making This Recipe
Rinse efficiently: Use a fine-mesh strainer to rinse the rice quickly and thoroughly.
Boil water faster: Use an electric kettle to boil the water before adding it to the saucepan.
Prep ingredients ahead: Chop the cilantro and squeeze the lime juice while the rice cooks.
Use a timer: Set a timer for the rice cooking time to avoid overcooking and ensure perfect texture.
Fluff with ease: Use a fork to fluff the rice right after it rests to prevent clumping.
Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup Long grain white rice
- 2 cups Water
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoon Lime juice freshly squeezed
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
- In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add rice, olive oil, and salt. Stir well.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until rice is tender and water is absorbed.
- Remove from heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork. Stir in chopped cilantro and lime juice.
- Serve warm.
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