Cilantro Lime Rice
A fresh herby and citrus infused rice perfect to upgrade any main dish. This zesty Cilantro Lime Rice uses simple ingredients and is easy to make.
There’s nothing more exciting to me than making a fresh pot of rice. Flavor that rice and you’re taking that excitement up another level. So let’s make this Zesty Cilantro Lime Rice, so you can see what I mean.
Why You’ll Love This Zesty Rice
- Infused with fresh herby and tangy citrus flavors in every bite
- An easy way to upgrade any meal
- Just a handful of simple ingredients needed to enhance the flavor of your rice
- Simple to customize to your preference
- A good way to use up herbs in your fridge if they are about to go bad
- Vegan, gluten-free and nut-free!
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
- Rice: Use long grain white rice for this dish. You can use regular long grain rice, Jasmine rice or Basmati. I personally love to use Jasmine rice as the floral flavors pair really well with the herby cilantro.
- Bouillon Cube: I like to crumble a vegetable bouillon cube or add the paste to the rice to infuse it with more flavor. You can also replace the water and just use store bought vegetable broth.
- Limes: Fresh lime juice and zest helps to enhance all the flavors in the rice. If you want, you can swap one of the limes for some lemon juice.
- Cilantro: Fresh cilantro is a must and you can use a combination of both the leaves and stems as both will provide a great fresh herby flavor to the rice. Just mince it well. If you have the genes that make cilantro taste like soap, you can omit or try making my Mexican Rice instead.
- Seasonings: I included garlic and coriander to also provide just a little extra boost in flavor.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
Rinse your rice really well until the water runs clear or rinse the rice in a bowl and drain off the water at least 3 times. Allow the rice to drain off well while you gather and prepare your remaining ingredients.
Heat up a skillet over medium low heat and add the oil. Once the oil is warmed through, add in the garlic and quickly sauté for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
Add in your drained rice along with the ground coriander. Stir and toast the rice in the oil for about 5 minutes then add in the water and your bouillon cube or paste. Mix everything well to combine and then bring the pan to a boil. Lower the heat to the lowest setting, add a pinch of salt and cover the pan with a lid. Cook the rice for 12 minutes then remove the pan from heat and allow it to rest for a few minutes to fluff up.
After it sits, remove the lid and give the rice a quick fluff with a spoon. Add the minced cilantro, lime zest and fresh squeezed lime juice over top. Toss everything to combine and add additional salt to taste as desired.
Tips for the Perfect Fluffy Rice
- Use long grain white rice. You can also use other long grain varieties like Jasmine rice and Basmati rice.
- Rinse your rice well. Rinsing the rice will help to remove excess starches, which will keep the rice from clumping together as it cooks.
- Drain your rice really well. Shake as much excess water from the rice after draining. This will prevent the rice from causing the oil to splatter when you add it into the pan.
- Do not skip toasting the rice. This gives the rice more flavor. Just toast it in the garlic and coriander for 5 minutes.
- Allow your rice to rest. When the rice has finished cooking. Take it off the heat and keep the lid on for an extra 5 minutes. This will fluff it up even more to give you the best texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both provide really good flavor for the rice. When it comes to the stems, just make sure to mince them finely so they mix in better with the rice.
If you’d like to make this rice more protein rich, you can rinse and drain a can of black beans or red kidney beans and add it to the rice at the same time you add the lime juice and cilantro. Give it a good mix and now you’ve increased the protein and fiber in this dish.
Yes. Just note that the cooking time for your brown rice will be longer. You will need to cook it on the lowest heat setting for 30-45 minutes depending on the type of brown rice you use.
Skip toasting your rice and instead add your oil, rice, minced garlic, vegetable broth and salt to a rice cooker insert, making sure to adjust the amount of rice and liquid according to the recommended measures that are appropriate for your brand of rice cooker. Allow the rice to cook and then add the cilantro, lime zest and juice at the end and adjust salt to taste.
Safely Storing Your Rice
Make sure to store your rice immediately after cooling. You should not leave your rice out at room temperature longer than 2 hours as it is more prone to become a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria.
Store your cooled rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 to 5 days. You can also place this rice in the freezer where it can be stored for up to 3 months.
Reheating Your Rice
You can reheat your refrigerated rice in a sauce pan with a splash of water. If using a microwave, place your rice in a bowl with an ice cube then cover and heat up for 30-60 seconds or until warmed through. Remove the ice cube and your rice should be perfectly fluffy again.
If reheating from frozen, allow the rice to thaw and then choose one of the reheating methods mentioned above to warm your rice up.
How to Serve
This cilantro lime rice is a perfect pairing for your favorite Latin mains. I love serving this rice with:
- Chipotle Tofu
- Homemade Refried Beans
- Sheet Pan Roasted Garlic & Herb Chickpeas
- Chili Lime Tofu Skillet
- Sazon Grilled Tofu Skewers
More Grain Dishes to Try
- Tipili (Dominican Bulgar Salad)
- Vegan Asopao Dominicano
- Winter Farro and Kale Salad
- Moro de Guandules
- Mexican Rice
Cilantro Lime Rice
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
- Category: Sides
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Tex Mex
- Diet: Vegan
Description
A fresh herby and citrus infused rice perfect to upgrade any main dish. This zesty Cilantro Lime Rice uses simple ingredients and is easy to make.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp of avocado oil or olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice, I used Jasmine Rice rinsed and drained well of excess water
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 vegetable bouillon cube or 1 tsp Better Than Bouillon Paste
- 2 1/2 cups water
- Zest of 1 lime, juice of 2 limes
- 1/4 cup cilantro, minced
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Warm a sauce pan or skillet over medium low heat and then add oil to warm through and lightly coat the bottom of your pan. Sauté your minced garlic in the oil for about 30 seconds or until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add in the drained rice and coriander then sauté it for at least 5 minutes to help toast the rice.
- Pour the water with the bouillon cube or the vegetable broth over the rice and stir to combine. Bring the pan to a boil, then reduce the heat of the stovetop to the lowest heat setting.
- Sprinkle the rice with a pinch of salt and then cover the pan and cook for 12 minutes. Remove the rice from the stove top and allow the rice to rest with it’s cover on for another 5-10 minutes.
- Remove the lid and then add the chopped cilantro, lime zest and juice of 1 lime. Stir to combine and then taste the rice. Adjust with more salt or lime juice based on your preference (I ended up using 2 limes, but this can vary depending on how juicy your lime is). Then the rice is ready to serve.
Notes
Use long grain white rice. You can also use other long grain varieties like Jasmine rice and Basmati rice.
Rinse your rice well. Rinsing the rice will help to remove excess starches, which will keep the rice from clumping together as it cooks.
Drain your rice really well. Shake as much excess water from the rice after draining. This will prevent the rice from causing the oil to splatter when you add it into the pan.
Do not skip toasting the rice. This gives the rice more flavor. Just toast it in the garlic and coriander for 5 minutes.
Allow your rice to rest. When the rice has finished cooking. Take it off the heat and keep the lid on for an extra 5 minutes. This will fluff it up even more to give you the best texture.
If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog, then let me know what you thought in the comments below! And if you loved it, don’t forget to rate it too. Feel free to follow on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok for the latest nutrition tips and recipe videos.
★ Catherine
This post contains affiliate links which means I will make a small commission if you purchase from those links. I only recommend and share products that I know, trust and personally use myself!
I can’t wait to cook this rice for our daughter! What is your favorite bouillon cube and your favorite bouillon base? Thank you so much for all of your fresh take on Latin faves!
I’m so happy to hear that Emma! Really hope you and your daughter enjoy this one. As for favorite bouillon cubes those would be from the brand Edward & Sons (I like their vegan chicken version). Or I will use the vegetable bouillon base from the brand Better Than Bouillon (this one has a lot of good flavor to this dish). 🙂