Cilantro lime rice is packed with fresh herb and zesty flavors. Better than Chipotle’s, because it’s homemade and you get to adjust the flavors. A filling side dish to any Mexican meal (or Tex-Mex) especially in burritos.
Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe Is The BEST
- If you are bored of plain rice, try light flavored rice, try this lime cilantro rice. It’s bright, fresh and has zippy lime flavors. A side dish that you want to have with any Mexican meal. This recipe is copycat of popular Chipotle cilantro lime rice recipe, but it’s even better.
- Like I always say homemade scores better. You get to adjust the flavors and taste as per your preference and you also can make it healthy as possible.
- A rice recipe that is delicious, easy to make and you can whip it up pretty fast too. And it goes great with everything…almost! Rice is so inexpensive, if you are on budget meals, rice is what you should be putting as side dish.
If you don’t have to eat this as main course. Use this light, filling, fresh as side dish with not just Mexican inspired meal, but also with BBQ, roast chicken. And like you guessed, this rice goes perfect with burrito bowls and tacos.
Planning taco Tuesday? Upgrade you plain rice to bright, fresh rice instead of boring plain rice.
A side dish recipe that needs very few, inexpensive ingredients, less hands on work and quick on the clock. We are talking less than 30 minutes.
White long grain rice is best for the recipe. As long grain rice has less starch, once cooked they remain drier and each grain separated. Sticky rice varieties are not ideal choice for this lime cilantro rice recipe.
Long grain rice also has a distinct flavor that works great with the flavors used in the recipe.
Why Should You Make Chipotle Copycat Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe?
- Because plain rice is boring. You need an upgrade. Cilantro and lime recipe is perfect fit.
- This flavoured rice is not overpowering. The subtle flavors are fresh, light and so wonderful.
- Not just for Mexican cuisine, but you can serve this with any American and Asian recipes too. Think BBQ or roasted meat and lime cilantro rice on the side. On the sides on chicken wings – yum.
- Love taco nights? Then this rice recipe is just for you. It’s great with tacos and burrito bowls.
- With very less prep work, and very little cooking time this rice dish is ready.
- Rice cooks in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients Needed
All simple, readily available ingredients that will work under your budget.
- Long grain rice (basmati rice) – long grain rice cooks fast and the texture is better for this recipe. However you can use short grain normal rice too, cooking time may vary for short grain rice. Check this post to know how to cook rice.
- Water or chicken stock or vegetable stock – definitely recommend stock (chicken stock or vegetable stock if you want vegan option)
- Olive oil – can use vegetable cooking oil too or any other flavorless oil for the recipe.
- Butter – unsalted butter. Butter is usually added in the end to enrich the taste and texture of rice.
- Lime juice – best to use only freshly squeezed lime juice. I wouldn’t recommend bottled lime juice at all.
- Lime zest – freshly grated lime zest
- Cilantro – please adjust the amount of cilantro you want to use in the rice as per your taste preference. Many people aren’t a fan of cilantro, for those use as much as you can bare. I wouldn’t recommend any other alternatives for cilantro, as the recipe is all about cilantro.
- Pinch of salt (optional)
What Kind Of Rice Is Best To Use?
You need rice that has less starch, so you get non sticky rice once cooked. Long grain rice are the best choice. Any long grain rice like –
basmati rice,
long grain brown rice,
extra long grain white rice
Jasmine white rice
or brown rice
are the ones you should be picking.
How To Make Cilantro Lime Rice?
- Rinse the rice : Always rinse rice before you cook it. This helps removes excess starch (surface starch) and keeps it from sticking together. Rinsing gets rid of any dirt. Place rice in fine mesh strainer or a bowl and rinse it for several times. Rinse by scrubbing rice gently with finger tips.
- Saute : Another step I follow to make rice cook perfectly with separated grains. Heat up little oil (olive oil or canola oil). Saute rinsed rice in a heavy bottom sauce pan om medium heat. Keep stirring until rice begins to brown. This step will ensure rice is cooked perfectly and also every grain remains separated. Note : Sauteing rice in oil has another advantage. If you follow this step, rice will not stick (and burn) at the bottom.
- Water To Rice Ratio : We shared detailed recipe on how to steam rice a few days back which covers in detail information of everything about how to steam rice along with water to rice ratio for each type of rice. Check how to steam rice post for details. For long grain rice, use 1:2 ratio. For every 1 cup long grain rice, add 2 cups liquids. Once rice is sauted, add liquid of your choice – water or chicken stock to pack in more flavors. For vegetarian option, use vegetable stock. Scrape rice sticking to the side of pan into the liquid.
- Simmer and Cook : Simmer flame to medium low heat and bring water to boil. Pro-Tip: it’s important to cook rice in correct temperatures. If cooked on high heat, water will evaporate very quickly preventing rice from absorbing the liquids, thus you rice won’t get cooked as desired. Cook uncovered until the water level drops below the surface of the rice.
Then reduce flame to low. Now cover pan with lid (when almost 90% of water is absorbed) and simmer cook for about 12 minutes. Note : Heat should be at it’s lowest temperature. Else rice will begin to burn at the bottom. DO NOT Stir rice in between. Leave it untouched.
- Let it Rest : Once cooked remove sauce pan from heat and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes undisturbed. Do not open the lid. This helps rice to cook through. Rice absorbs moisture from steam and makes it fluffy and perfect.
- Flavor : Open lid. Add butter, lime juice, cilantro, lime zest and gently fluff it with fork or spatula. If needed add salt as per taste.
How Long Does Cilantro Lime Rice Last?
If you choose to, you can make this rice ahead and store it in fridge. Any left over rice can be refrigerated. Make sure cooked rice is cooled completely. Then store in air tight containers or air tight zip lock bags and store in fridge for about 3 days to 3 months (freezer).
To store longer -freezer rice in air tight bags for upto 3 months.
To re-heat – thaw frozen rice in fridge for couple of hours. Then transfer into microwave safe bowl and reheat in microwave for about 3 to 4 minutes. Add a splash of water before reheating if you feel rice is too dry. This will help rice stay moist even after reheating.
Tips To Make Best Cilantro Lime Rice
- Use long grain rice for best results. Wouldn’t recommend sticky rice types.
- Always rinse rice. This helps remove excess starch and rice stays separated.
- Use chicken stock (or vegetable stock) to add more flavors to rice instead of plain water.
- Sautéing rice first in oil helps brings out flavors from the rice (long grain rice are aromatic and full of flavors) plus prevents rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Begin with 1:2 ratio. It works perfectly for me all the time. In case if the ratio doesn’t work for you, reduce water level the next time you cook to 1 ¾ cup instead of 2 cups for every 1 cup long grain rice.
- For perfectly cooked rice, simmer heat to low and cook. Rice will absorb all the moisture from the steam and cook perfectly.
- Allow rice to rest once cooking is done, without opening the lid.
LOVE RICE ? DON’T MISS OTHER RICE RECIPES FROM THE BLOG –
- How To Make Steamed Rice
- Cooking Rice In Instant Pot
- Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
- Chicken Meal Prep
- Coconut Rice
- Lemon Rice
- Curd Rice
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Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
Equipment
- Sauce Pan
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain rice basmati rice
- 2 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon butter optional, highly recommended
- 3 tablespoon lime juice freshly squeezed
- Zest of one lime
- 1 cup cilantro leaves finely chopped
Instructions
- Rinse the rice : Always rinse rice before you cook it. This helps removes excess starch (surface starcand keeps it from sticking together. Rinsing gets rid of any dirt.
- Place rice in fine mesh strainer or a bowl and rinse it for several times. Rinse by scrubbing rice gently with finger tips.
- Saute : Another step I follow to make rice cook perfectly with separated grains. Heat up little oil (olive oil or canola oil). Saute rinsed rice in a heavy bottom sauce pan om medium heat. Keep stirring until rice begins to brown. This step will ensure rice is cooked perfectly and also every grain remains separated.Note : Sauteing rice in oil has another advantage. If you follow this step, rice will not stick to the bottom.
- Water To Rice Ratio : We shared detailed recipe on how to steam rice a few days back which covers in detail information of everything about how to steam rice along with water to rice ratio for each type of rice. Check how to steam rice post for details. For long grain rice, use 1:2 ratio. For every 1 cup long grain rice, add 2 cups liquids. Once rice is sauted, add liquid of your choice – water or chicken stock to pack in more flavors. For vegetarian option, use vegetable stock.
- Scrape rice sticking to the side of pan into the liquid.
- Simmer and Cook : Simmer flame to medium low heat and bring water to boil.Pro-Tip: it’s important to cook rice in correct temperatures. If cooked on high heat, water will evaporate very quickly preventing rice from absorbing the liquids, thus you rice won’t get cooked as desired.
- Cook uncovered until the water level drops below the surface of the rice. Then reduce flame to low. Now cover pan with lid (when almost 90% of water is absorbeand simmer cook for about 12 minutes.Note : Heat should be at it’s lowest temperature. Else rice will begin to burn at the bottom.
- DO NOT Stir rice in between. Leave it untouched.
- Let it Rest : Once cooked remove sauce pan from heat and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes undisturbed. Do not open the lid. This helps rice to cook through. Rice absorbs moisture from steam and makes it fluffy and perfect.
- Flavor : Open lid. Add butter, lime juice, cilantro, lime zest and gently fluff it with fork or spatula. If needed add salt as per taste.
- Serve
Video
Notes
- Use long grain rice for best results. Wouldn’t recommend sticky rice types.
- Always rinse rice. This helps remove excess starch and rice stays separated. NOTE (to rinse or not to rinse you DECIDE) – for those who disagree which rinsing rice, please remember this is how I always cook rice and this is how my mom always cooked rice for more than 40 years. Rinsing not just removes excess starch but also helps remove any dust or dirt in the rice. This isn’t ASIAN dish where you would need sticky rice, so I do recommend rinsing rice, but I would leave the decision to you. If you don’t want to rinse rice, go ahead, but note your cilantro rice would turn a but sticky and if you don’t mind sticky rice you’re good!
- Use chicken stock (or vegetable stock) to add more flavors to rice instead of plain water.
- Sautéing rice first in oil helps brings out flavors from the rice (long grain rice are aromatic and full of flavors) plus prevents rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Begin with 1:2 ratio. It works perfectly for me all the time. In case if the ratio doesn’t work for you, reduce water level the next time you cook to 1 ¾ cup instead of 2 cups for every 1 cup long grain rice.
- For perfectly cooked rice, simmer heat to low and cook. Rice will absorb all the moisture from the steam and cook perfectly.
- Allow rice to rest once cooking is done, without opening the lid.
Cindie
Delicious!!! Thank you. I love Chipotle’s and your tips on the rice is the greatest. I can’t always get to the restaurant, especially since COVID 19. Now I can get my Chipotle’s fix at home. The rice really makes it.
Jyothi Rajesh
I’m so glad to hear you loved the recipe Cindie!