Cilantro Lime Rice

Name: Cilantro Lime Rice
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 21 min
Ingredients: 240 g basmati rice; 300 ml water; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 limes ((juice and zest only)); 2 garlic cloves (crushed); 25 g coriander (cilantro) (finely chopped); Salt and pepper

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This light and fresh Cilantro Lime Rice is the perfect side dish to any Mexican meal, but also great with grilled chicken and fish. A new and exciting way to enjoy rice, it is made with just a few ingredients and ready in under 25 minutes.

A bowl of cilantro lime rice surrounded by more cilantro and lime halves.

We are always looking for new ways to make rice a bit more exciting. Not only it this a delicious rice dish, but it's super simple to make too. Simply cook the rice, and then mix in plenty of lime juice and cilantro (coriander), a little oil and season. There are lots of ways to adapt it to add extra flavours too. It's our new favourite side dish.

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Why should you try it?
Step by step
The difference between cilantro and coriander
What rice to use
What to serve it with
What else to add
FAQs
Extra tips
More rice recipes
Recipe

Why should you try it?

A new and exciting way to enjoy rice
Just 7 ingredients
Only 265 calorie per serving
Easy to adapt with different flavours

Step by step

One: Rinse the rice in cold water and then add the to a saucepan with the water and 1 tbsp of the oil. Bring to the boil and then cover and simmer for 20 minutes until the water has evaporated.

Two: Juice the limes and chop the cilantro (coriander).

A small pink bowl containing lime juice.

Three: Fluff up the rice and then add the rest of the oil, crushed garlic, salt, pepper, lime juice and cilantro.

A saucepan containing cooked rice and finely chopped cilantro.

The difference between cilantro and coriander

There is no difference - they are the same thing. Kind of! It all depends where you are from, and the coriander/cilantro terminology can get a little confusing.

Coriander is the term used in the UK to describe the leaves of the herb. In the US, however, fresh leaves are referred to as cilantro. The seeds of the Coriandrum sativum plant (where the coriander/cilantro leaves come from), are called Coriander Seeds in the UK, and simply Coriander in the US.

You can read more UK/US food name differences here.

What rice to use

We used basmati, as that's what we had in our cupboard. However, you could use short grain white or brown if that is what you have. Just be sure to use the right rice to water ratio for the rice you are using and adjust cooking time if needed.

What to serve it with

This is such a versatile side dish and anything that you would usually serve rice with, you can serve this with. Because it is bursting with lime and cilantro, we think it goes really well with Mexican dishes. Why not try it with our Chicken Burrito Bowl, Turkey Chilli, Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken or Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas.

It also goes really well with Thai dishes like our Vegetable Thai Green Curry or Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Curry.

You could also keep it simple and just serve it with some grilled chicken, salmon or vegetables. It's an easy side to put together for a BBQ when you want to bulk out the sides without making too much effort.

Cooked white rice mixed with finely chopped cilantro.

What else to add

The great thing about this rice is that it' so easy to adapt. You could keep it classic with just the lime and cilantro, or add a little kick of spice. We like a sprinkling of red chilli flakes stirred in at the same time as the lime and cilantro. Or, you could chop up some fresh jalapeños to add on top.

If you like a little more crunch in your rice, then some chopped up spring onions (scallions) or even some shallots. Why not give it a green boost with some finely chopped spinach to add at the same time as the cilantro? I also think some chopped sun-dried tomatoes work really well.

A bowl of rice topped with chopped cilantro sat on a wooden board.

FAQs

Should I rinse rice before cooking?

White rice is best rinsed in cold water before cooking to remove its starchy coating. But the rice in a bowl and cover with cold water and then simply swirl with your hand. Repeat a few times until the water is clear. By doing this, it will prevent the rice from clumping together when cooking.

Can I store cooked rice

Rice left out at room temperature can develop harmful bacteria quite quickly, so if it has been left out for more than 2 hours, discard it.
To store cooked rice in the fridge cool it as quickly as possible and put in the fridge or freezer as soon as possible. Once cooled, put into sealable bags, squeeze out as much air as possible and store in the fridge for up to 3 days or the freezer for up to 1 month.

How do I reheat rice?

To reheat cooked rice, sprinkle with a little water and put in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until the rice has heated through. Frozen rice can be added directly to dishes like stews, casseroles, stir fry or soups when cooking.

Extra tips

You can swap the lime for lemon if you prefer it, or if that's all you have.
Not a fan of coriander? You could use parsley or basil instead.
Give the rice a kick of spice with some red chilli flakes or chopped jalapenos.
You can give the rice a green boost with some chopped spinach.
You can use a different rice to what we have used, but be sure to use the correct rice to water ratio and adjust the cooking time if needed.
Don't throw away the stems of the herbs. Chop them up as well, as they have so much flavour.

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