This Cilantro Lime Rice is light, citrusy and refreshing! Ready in just 20 minutes, this is the kind of side that adds instant flavor and fun to a cup of simple white rice!
Stovetop, instant pot, and rice cooker instructions included.
Cilantro Lime Rice
We love a good bowl of Cilantro Lime Rice with fish-anything (especially our Chili Lime Salmon hehe) and a big glass of Passion Fruit Juice – why even go out to eat anymore?!
This Cilantro Lime Rice is:
- Healthy and light!
- Fluffy, zesty, and citrusy!
- Made with 4 simple ingredients.
- Ready in 20 minutes.
- Great way to spice up regular rice!
- Naturally gluten free, dairy free + vegan!
Cilantro Lime Rice Ingredients
Rice. We like classic long-grain rice for this recipe but you can also use brown rice. I like making it on the stovetop but I’ll add rice cooker instructions too because I know some of you guys prefer the rice cooker hehe!
Salt, for flavor.
Water, to cook the rice.
Oil, just a tiny bit for texture. I use whatever neutral vegetable oil I have in the kitchen but if you’re going for healthy-healthy, I recommend avocado oil but all oils with a neutral flavor will work.
Limes, for the citrusy lime flavor. Use fresh limes for best flavor.
Cilantro, fresh!
How to make Cilantro Lime Rice
STEP ONE: Cook the rice. In a medium pot add the rice, water, and salt over medium-high heat and allow the water to bubble up, once bubbly, reduce the heat to medium-low and cover.
Cook for 10-15 minutes without opening the lid or stirring: the water will evaporate completely, that’s when your rice is ready! Immediately add the oil and mix. Turn off the heat and cover with the lid, let sit for 5 minutes while you juice the limes and mince the cilantro.
STEP TWO: Add the lime juice and cilantro, mix and serve! Because of the fresh ingredients, flavor is best on day 1 but you can still store any leftovers in the covered or in air-tight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
Enjoy cold, at room temperature or reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop (add a squeeze of lime for more freshness, if desired).
Rice Cooker and Instant Pot
Rice cooker: Add the rice to the rice cooker with 1 and 3/4 cups (435 ml) water and cook on “white rice”, once cooked add the vegetable oil and follow step 2.
Instant pot: Add the rice to the instant pot with 1 and 1/4 cups (310 ml), seal the lid then cook on “high pressure/manual” for 3 minutes, let it naturally release for 10 minutes then remove from the instant pot, add oil and follow step 2.
Variations
Garlic Cilantro Lime Rice: Add 1 clove garlic (smashed) to the water, discard once the water evaporates or, before adding rice and water to the pot, add 1 tablespoon of oil and saute the garlic for 30 seconds then add the rice and water.
Brown rice: Add the rice with 2 cups of water (500 ml) and salt to a pot over medium-high heat, once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 45 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the oil, let sit 5 minutes then follow step 2.
For the rice cooker, keep the water and rice ratios and cook on “brown rice”. For the instant pot, cook with 1 and 1/4 cups (310 ml) water on “high pressure” for 20 minutes, let it naturally release then add oil and follow step 2.
What to eat with Cilantro Lime Rice
Our favorite pairings are this Chili Lime Salmon (light, healthy) and this Coconut Chicken (creamy, tropical).
We also love using this rice in taco bowls or any bowl, our favorite is this Baja Fish Taco Bowl.
Grilled meat, grilled fish and rotisserie chicken are all delicious with this rice will but you can also just do simple rice and beans or lentils.
Steak Tacos (Tacos de Arrachera), Deep Fried Fish Tacos (just like they make them in Baja California), enchiladas and most Mexican or Latin-American dishes will also taste amazing with this rice.
HAPPY COOKING!! I hope you'll love this Easy Cilantro Lime Recipe as much as I do!
PS: Please leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ if you make it! Your comments make my day!! You can also tag me on Instagram @itsdamnspicy 🌈💘
More rice recipes you’ll love:
Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup (190 g) long-grain white rice (rinsed, check notes for brown rice instructions)
- 1 and 1/2 cups (375 ml) water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tbsp (15 m) vegetable oil (or avocado oil, sunflower oil, canola oil)
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1/4 cup (4 g) finely-minced cilantro
Instructions
- Cook the rice. In a medium pot add the rice, water, and salt over medium-high heat and allow the water to bubble up, once bubbly, reduce the heat to medium-low and cover. Cook for 10-15 minutes without opening the lid or stirring: the water will evaporate completely, that's when your rice is ready! Immediately add the oil and mix. Turn off the heat and cover with the lid, let sit for 5 minutes. For rice cooker or instant pot instructions, check the "Notes" below.
- Add the lime juice and cilantro, mix and serve! Because of the fresh ingredients, flavor is best on day 1 but you can still store any leftovers in the covered or in air-tight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, enjoy cold, at room temperature or reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop (add a squeeze of lime for more freshness, if desired).
Notes
📷 DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?! Tag @itsdamnspicy on Instagram and hashtag it #itsdamnspicy
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