Cilantro Lime Rice (2-ways!)
Published 4/12/2022 • Updated 1/30/2024
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Make this cilantro lime rice for an easy and flavorful addition to any of your favorite meals!
If you like Chipotle’s cilantro lime rice, you are going to love this dish! You can make it with white rice or brown rice and it’s great for meal prep.
One thing I never skimp on when I am in line at Chipotle is their cilantro rice! Whether it is their cilantro brown rice or cilantro white rice, I am game. I am a rice girl.
Now you don’t have to leave your house to pick up a burrito bowl from Chipotle (say what?!). You can make it in the comfort of your own home. Make a batch of cilantro lime rice and serve it in this beef taco bowl or these vegetarian rice bowls!
White Rice or Brown Rice?
Do you prefer white rice or brown rice? It’s ok to like them both! We like the bite that brown rice has and we love starchy long grain white rice, it’s a classic! But what is the difference between the two?
Brown Rice: Brown rice comes in a long grain or a short grain! It is a whole grain that still has it’s nutritious germ and fibrous bran! It tends to have a little bit more of an earthy flavor.
White Rice: White rice also comes in many different shapes and sizes. The main difference between white rice and brown rice is that the white rice is stripped of its bran and germ. White rice has less fiber and is a bit easier to digest!
No matter what type of rice you choose, they both taste great with fresh cilantro and lime juice.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
Does anyone else have a hard time making perfect rice on the stove? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! The trick to perfect rice is to get your water ratio right and then don’t forget it once you’ve turned your heat down for the rice to simmer.
Making cilantro brown rice and cilantro white rice is as easy as 1-2-3 once you nail down the rice!
Begin by bringing 2 cups of water and one cup of rice to a boil. Once the rice has started to boil, turn your heat to low, cover with the lid and let the rice simmer for 35-40 minutes.
Here’s a tip –> Sometimes I make sure that my burner isn’t running hot by checking on the rice ever 15 to 20 minutes.
When the rice has absorbed all of the liquid in the pot, remove it from the heat and pour rice into a mixing bowl and fluff it with a fork. Then let the rice cool completely in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
Finally, add the garlic powder, lime juice, cilantro, and salt to the rice and mix well!
Get creative –> If you want to make this cilantro rice your own, go ahead and add in other fun spices! You can add a little heat by adding red pepper flakes or hot sauce! Or amp up the lime flavor by adding lime zest.
You could also make your cilantro lime rice a little creamy by adding a couple tablespoons of greek yogurt to your rice! The options are endless.
try it!
Cilantro Lime Shrimp Bowls
Packed with succulent shrimp, zesty cilantro lime crema, and a medley of fresh ingredients, these cilantro lime shrimp bowls are a delicious blend of flavors and textures that are sure to impress.
Cilantro Lime Rice FAQs
Can I use Minute Rice for cilantro lime rice?
If you are in a pinch and don’t have time to prepare rice on the stove, feel free to use minute rice! You will have to follow the cooking instructions on the box and then after that, just add in the rest of the ingredients from our recipe.
It’s a great option if you are out of normal rice or need to make a side dish in a hurry!
Do you use the stems of cilantro?
Yes, you can use the stems of a cilantro! Cilantro is one of the only fresh herbs where you can do that! Just be sure to chop the stems into small pieces.
Can I add cheese to cilantro lime rice?
You bet you can add cheese to this cilantro lime rice! We suggest adding a 1/4 cup of grated cotija cheese. It adds a nice salty bite!
How do you store cilantro lime rice?
Once your cilantro lime rice is completely cool, you can store it in an airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Ingredients
Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
- 2 cups uncooked long grain brown rice
- 4 cups water
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (not packed)
- ⅓ cup fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt*
Cilantro Lime White Rice
- 2 cups uncooked long grain white rice
- 4 cups water
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (not packed)
- ⅓ cup fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt*
Instructions
- Place 2 cups of rice and 4 cups of water into a medium saucepan. Then, bring to a rolling boil on the stove top over medium high heat.
- Reduce heat to low and cover for 35-40 minutes, or until water is absorbed, stirring halfway through.
- Transfer rice into a bowl and let cool in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
- Next, chop fresh cilantro and juice limes.
- Once rice has cooled, add in chopped cilantro, lime juice, garlic powder, and sea salt. Stir to combine.
- Serve warm.
Tips & Notes
- Salt: option to add more salt as needed. We actually used around a full teaspoon, but add salt to taste.
- Nutrition information: is for brown rice.
- *This recipe was updated on April 28, 2020
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Photos by: The Wooden Skillet
I too have difficulty getting the brown rice light and fluffy when cooking it. I’m always checking out recipes and came across this article where the rice is sauted in oil before cooking it and that is what I do whenever I cook my rice now. I Saute the rice in whatever oil you use; I use EVO or vegetable oil for about 3-5 minutes and then add your water and cook as usual. I hope this helps. I’m going to try your recipe, it looks delicious.
This sounds wonderful.
I’m sure you’ve found a rice cooker by now, but we have a Rival. We’ve used several brands, and the Rival has been the best for longevity.
We use all kinds or rice, but a lot of brown. It cooks perfectly in the cooker. Although I would recommend adding roughly 1/2 cup more water than is actually called for.
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Trader Joes has frozen brown rice (and jasmine) that heats in the microwave in only 3 minutes. Comes out perfect EVERYTIME and you can’t beat how quick it is! Can’t wait to try this recipe!
The flavor is almost EXACT! But each time I make it, the rice becomes too starchy… am I using the wrong rice? Too much water? Or am I not cooking it long enough; though even if I cooking it longer, the rice tends to burn at the bottom… almost like a Spanish paella!? I don’t have an electric rice cooker… I’ve been cooking it on the gas stove-top.
So, while the texture is a bit cloying and heavy, I found that if I refrigerate the left-over that’s in the pot for maybe a day or two, I then stir-fry it in a wok and it makes a pretty mean (DELICIOUS) Cilantro-Lime FRIED RICE!!!!
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Thank you for this!! This recipe is amazing 😀 I have made one batch of this, and used it for 4 meals so far, ha ha. 😀
hey the recipe looks amazing..thanks fro sharing the method step by step..i would love to try this once..
basmati rice
Zojirushi rice maker. They aren’t cheap but well worth it.
Second this! I got the 3-cup one and it is an AMAZING rice cooker! Perfect rice, even though brown rice takes like an hour and 40 minutes. The beauty of the Zojirushi is that you can pre-stage your rice to cook and be done at a specific time. If I know I want to eat at 6pm, no problem! I just set the timer til 6pm after loading in the appropriate rice and water amounts, close the lid, set the timer and it’s set!
If you want just the right amount for a 12″ burrito wrap in a Zojirushi 3-cup rice maker (and lost the Zojirushi measuring cup) use 90-100ml of brown rice and fill the brown rice line up to the .5 fill mark (middle one). I put a tad more water than that if I want a softer rice.
I use 1 small lime and 1 small lemon in my version (about the size of a racket ball). I don’t bother with the garlic and sea salt and probably do a third to half cup of chopped fresh cilantro (I just grab a handful and chop).