Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe (Fresh, Bright Side dish)

• Food: Cilantro Lime Rice
• Writer: Lizzie Green
• Content-Type: Food Blog

This cilantro lime rice recipe is perfect as a fresh, colorful side dish with Asian or Mexican cuisine. It’s also a terrific foundation for homemade burrito bowls!

Let me introduce you to cilantro lime rice, which is a quick and wonderful side dish to complete your summery supper.

This recipe couldn’t be simpler, and it’s ideal for quick weeknight burrito bowls — just toss in some beans, veggies, salsa, and guacamole.

Serve it atop grilled avocados or next to grilled veggie kabobs, perhaps with a little chipotle sauce or cilantro lime dressing on top. You get my drift. Let’s get to the recipe!

Cilantro Lime Rice: A Step-by-Step Guide

This cilantro lime rice recipe is incredibly easy to make. There are simply a few extra steps after the rice is cooked:

1. Cook your rice on the stove or in a rice cooker to begin (stovetop instructions are listed in the recipe below).
2. My preferred rice is long-grain white jasmine or basmati, but you may also use short-grain white or brown rice if that’s what you have on hand. Just make sure to use the right amount of water to rice ratio for the kind you chose.
3. While the rice is still hot in the oven, combine it with minced garlic, scallions, and lime zest.
4. Allow it to cool somewhat before adding olive oil, sea salt, lime juice, cilantro, and jalapeno or red pepper flakes, if desired.
5. Serve it as a side dish or a filling for your favorite burrito bowl!

Serving Suggestions for Cilantro Lime Rice

This green rice goes especially well with Asian and Mexican-inspired recipes because of its fresh, bright flavor.

Try putting it into peppers like these little peppers or these poblanos as a simple side dish with tacos or a protein of your choosing! It would also work well as a basis for any of the following bowl recipes:

• Rice Bowl with Mango, Black Beans, and Ginger
• Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowl (use this recipe instead of cauliflower rice, or use half cauliflower rice and half regular rice)
• Burrito Bowl with Portobello Mushrooms
• Make your own bowl with rice, mango salsa, guacamole, black beans, your favorite vegetables, and a drizzle of chipotle sauce or salsa!
• Make a falafel dish with hummus scoops and green tahini sauce drizzles.

Cilantro Lime Rice

This cilantro lime rice recipe is perfect as a fresh, colorful side dish with Asian or Mexican cuisine. It’s also a terrific foundation for homemade burrito bowls!

Ingredients

• 1 cup long-grain jasmine rice, rinsed well and drained
• 1½ cups water
• 3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
• 2 scallions, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon lime zest
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 1½ tablespoons lime juice
• ½ cup finely chopped cilantro
• pinch of red pepper flakes or ¼ diced jalapeño, optional

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the rice, water, and 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Bring to a boil, then lower to low heat. Cook for 20 minutes (or check the time listed on the package of your rice).
2. Uncover and fluff with a fork, then toss in the garlic, scallions, and lime zest. Allow 1 minute to cool before adding the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, lime juice, cilantro, and red pepper flakes or jalapeno, if desired. Toss everything together and season to taste.