Fresh Cilantro Lime Rice
A quick and easy cilantro lime rice recipe that is fresh, bright, and satisfying, perfect as a side dish for a variety of meals.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup jasmine rice (about 185g), rinsed under cold water until clear
- 1 ¾ cups water (415 ml)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter (14g)
- 2 medium fresh limes, zested and juiced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped (loosely packed, about 15g)
- 1 small garlic clove, minced (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under cold running water in a fine mesh sieve until the water runs clear, about 5 minutes.
- In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed rice, water, and salt. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover tightly with a lid, and simmer for 15 minutes without lifting the lid.
- Turn off the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 5 minutes to absorb remaining moisture.
- While rice is resting, zest and juice the limes into a small bowl. Add chopped cilantro and minced garlic if using, and stir to combine.
- Remove the lid and fluff the rice gently with a fork. Drizzle olive oil or melted butter over the rice, then add the lime-cilantro mixture.
- Toss gently but thoroughly until combined and fragrant. Adjust salt or lime juice to taste.
Notes
Do not lift the lid while cooking to prevent steam from escaping. Rinse rice thoroughly to remove excess starch and achieve fluffy grains. Add garlic only to the lime-cilantro mix to avoid bitterness. If rice feels dry, add a splash of warm water and fluff again. Fresh lime zest is essential for bright flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About ¾ cup (150g)
- Calories: 180
- Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
Keywords: cilantro lime rice, fresh cilantro rice, easy rice recipe, Mexican side dish, jasmine rice, lime zest rice