Cilantro Lime Rice
Cilantro lime rice is a flavorful white rice side dish finished with fresh lime, garlic, and cilantro. Make it on the stovetop and serve it with chicken, seafood, steak, tacos, bowls, or saucy mains.
Servings: 5
Calories: 167kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup White Rice long-grain
- 2 cups Water or low sodium chicken broth for more flavor
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil or butter
- 1/2 tsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt
- 3 cloves Garlic finely minced
- 1 Lime you need the zest and the juice
- 1/3 cup fresh cilantro finely chopped
Instructions
- Rinse the rice: Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs mostly clear. Drain well.
- Bring to a boil: Add the rice, water or broth, olive oil or butter, and salt to a saucepan. Bring to a boil.
- Cover and simmer: Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 15–18 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Prep the fresh ingredients: While the rice cooks, zest and juice the lime, mince the garlic, and chop the cilantro.
- Rest the rice: Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 5–10 minutes.
- Fluff and finish: Fluff the rice with a fork. Stir in the garlic, lime zest, lime juice, and cilantro. Taste and add more salt or lime juice, if needed.
Notes
- Drain well after rinsing: Extra water left on the rice can make the finished texture softer.
- Keep the lid closed: The trapped steam helps the rice cook evenly and finish cooking while it rests.
- Add the fresh ingredients last: Stirring in the garlic, lime, and cilantro after cooking keeps their flavors noticeable and the cilantro fresh.
- Water vs. broth: Water keeps the lime and cilantro front and center. Low-sodium chicken broth gives the rice a more savory flavor.
- Rice cooker: Add the rinsed rice, water or broth, oil or butter, and salt to your rice cooker. Cook according to the manufacturer's directions for long-grain white rice. Rest and fluff the rice, then stir in the garlic, lime zest, lime juice, and cilantro.
Nutrition
Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 240mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.4mg
