Ditch the boring plain rice and try our Cilantro Lime Rice! This rice is a zesty blend of simple ingredients including fluffy white rice, fresh cilantro, garlic, and bright lime juice and zest. The best part is that it requires minimal effort to upgrade your rice!
We love this cilantro rice with homemade chicken tacos for a yummy weeknight meal. The zesty rice compliments the seasoned chicken, tortillas, avocado, and other ingredients perfectly. But it is also great with our chicken and spinach patties or any other protein and sides. So what are you waiting for? In just minutes, you can transform plain white rice into a flavor fiesta!
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About Cilantro Lime Rice
- Taste - The rice is lightly seasoned yet vibrant.
- Texture - The rice is lightly crispy and chewy.
- Effort - Making cilantro rice is simple and requires minimal effort. All you need to do is cook the rice then add the seasonings.
- Time - It takes 10 minutes to prep everything and 20 minutes to cook the rice and garlic.
Key Ingredients
- Jasmine rice - Jasmine rice is lightly aromatic with a very light texture.
- Olive oil - Olive oil is a tasty fat to cook the rice in.
- Garlic - Garlic adds to the delicious aroma of the rice.
- Limes - Lime zest and juice adds citrus and acidity.
- Cilantro - Cilantro adds a peppery brightness.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Lemon - Use lemon instead of lime for more brightness.
- Spicy - Add red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper to make the rice spicy.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
Rice
- Stovetop Instructions - Place the dry rice in a medium saucepan and rinse the rice in the sink until the water runs clear, then drain the excess water. Add the filtered water to the washed rice in the saucepan. Bring the rice to a boil uncovered, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for about 10-12 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Then remove from the heat and let sit covered for 10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork.
- Rice cooker instructions - Place rice in the electric rice cooker pot and rinse the Jasmine rice in the sink until the water runs clear, then drain the excess water. Add the filtered water to the pot and cook per the rice cooker directions. (Photo 1)
Cilantro Lime Rice
- Sauté garlic - Once the rice is done cooking, prepare the garlic. In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium-low heat, then add the minced garlic cloves. (Photo 2 and 3)
- Add rice - Once the garlic is fragrant, turn down the heat and add the rice and stir until coated in the garlic oil. (Photo 4)
- Stir in ingredients - Then stir in lime juice, lime zest, and chopped cilantro. (Photo 5, 6, and 7)
- Serve - Remove from heat and serve. (Photo 8)
Cooking Tips
- Don't use too much water when you initially cook your rice or the rice will become gummy.
- Keep an eye on the garlic when softening it in the pan to ensure it doesn't burn.
- Add a little water (1 teaspoon at a time) when reheating the rice in the microwave or on the stovetop. This will help to moisten the rice again.
Recipe FAQs
If you don't like cilantro, fresh parsley is similar in terms of flavor and texture.
Yes, you can use either basmati rice or long-grain brown rice. However, brown rice can take longer to cook than white rice, so adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Related Recipes
Did You Like This Recipe?
Love this easy cilantro rice recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below & leave a comment below. If you are looking for other flare-friendly rice recipes, check out our healthy vegetable fried rice!
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Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups jasmine rice
- 2½ cups filtered water
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 limes zested and juiced
- 1 cup cilantro finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
Instructions
Rice
- Stovetop Instructions - Place the dry rice in a medium saucepan and rinse the rice in the sink until the water runs clear, then drain the excess water. Add the filtered water to the washed rice in the saucepan. Bring the rice to a boil uncovered, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for about 10-12 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Remove from the heat and let sit covered for 10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork.
- Rice cooker instructions - Place rice in the electric rice cooker pot and rinse the Jasmine rice in the sink until the water runs clear, then drain the excess water. Add the filtered water to the pot and cook per the rice cooker directions.2 cups jasmine rice, 2½ cups filtered water
Cilantro Lime Rice
- Cook garlic - Once the rice is done cooking, prepare the garlic. In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium-low heat, then add the minced garlic cloves.2 tablespoon olive oil, 3 cloves garlic
- Combine ingredients - Once the garlic is fragrant, turn down the heat and add the rice and stir until coated in the garlic oil. Stir in lime juice, lime zest, kosher salt, and chopped cilantro. Remove from heat and serve.2 limes, ½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt, 1 cup cilantro
Notes
- Refrigerate leftover cilantro rice in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. Reheat leftover rice in a pan on the stove over low heat or in a microwave in a microwave safe container until warm. When reheating the rice in the microwave or on the stovetop, add a little water (1 teaspoon at a time) to moisten the rice again.
- Don't use a lot of water when you initially cook your rice or the rice will be gummy.
- Keep an eye on the garlic when cooking/softening it in the pan to ensure it doesn't burn.
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