Cilantro Lime Rice (Printable)

Fluffy rice with fresh cilantro and bright lime flavor, perfect as a zesty side dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Rice Base

01 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, such as Basmati or Jasmine
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Flavorings

05 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
06 - Zest of 1 lime
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
08 - 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
02 - Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic, if using, and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the rinsed rice and stir to coat the grains evenly with oil.
03 - Pour the water into the saucepan and add the salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes until the rice is tender and all water is absorbed.
04 - Remove the saucepan from heat and let the rice stand, covered, for 5 minutes to allow the grains to fully set.
05 - Fluff the rice with a fork to separate the grains. Stir in the lime zest, fresh lime juice, and chopped cilantro until evenly distributed.
06 - Taste the rice and adjust the salt or lime juice to your preference. Serve warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes, which means weeknight dinners suddenly feel less chaotic.
  • The lime and cilantro make it taste restaurant-quality without requiring any fancy techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.
  • It pairs with almost everything—tacos, grilled chicken, roasted vegetables—so you'll make it again and again.
02 -
  • If you skip the rinsing step, you'll end up with rice that's sticky instead of fluffy—I learned this the hard way by assuming my rice was already clean.
  • Add the cilantro and lime at the very end, not during cooking, because heat breaks down their brightness and you lose the whole point of making this dish.
03 -
  • Toast your rice for a full minute in the oil before adding water—that nutty smell means you're building flavor from the ground up instead of just boiling plain grains.
  • Always zest your lime before juicing it because once the skin is compromised, the zest becomes harder to remove and more bitter.
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