This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Ready for a crowd-pleaser? All you need is some fresh lime juice, cilantro, and sea salt to make that tangy rice that everyone loves in burrito bowls and burritos.

It’s amazing how a few extra ingredients can make a very ordinary food (rice) suddenly seem a lot more special (and because it’s like having Chipotle at your house!)

Not only does cilantro lime rice add another layer of flavor to all your burrito bowls, it’s also very visually pleasing: the bright green against the white rice. Set this out on the burrito bowl line at your next gathering, and watch everyone’s faces light up 🙂

Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make Cilantro Lime Rice:

• 2 c. basmati rice
  • I highly recommend using an aromatic rice such as basmati or jasmine rice for best flavor and texture. I buy my basmati rice in bulk to save money and to always have it on hand for easy meal planning.
• Hearty drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
• 4 c. filtered water
  • using filtered water is definitely a MUST when making rice in general. Using tap water will make your rice taste like, well, tap water.
• 1-2 juicy lime- (start with 1, taste, and add the second if you want more lime flavor)
  • when picking out limes, feel the limes to find one that feel fairly supple rather than hard as a rock. In my experience, the limes that are a bit supple have a lot more juice.
• a small bunch of fresh cilantro- chopped, stems and leaves
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt, or to taste-
  • adding sea salt to taste at the end of the cooking time really makes the lime-y flavor pop

Tips for Making Cilantro Lime Rice

• When chopping cilantro, use both the STEMS and LEAVES! Herbs such as cilantro and parsley are called tender herbs, which means their stems carry the same flavor as the leaves and can be eaten. This means you get more bang for your buck. Plus, plucking cilantro leaves from the stems just takes way too much time in my opinion.
• Add the chopped cilantro into the rice right before the simmer stage. I find that the extra moisture that the rice has in this stage of the cooking process helps to wilt the cilantro and meld the cilantro flavors into the rice better than if you were to add it at the end.
• Tasting before you serve is the key to dishes like this. You can really tweak the amounts of ingredients to suit your taste. Taste at the end to see if you want more lime, more salt, or more cilantro.

FAQ’s

Can I use leftover rice to make cilantro lime rice?

Yes! In fact, this is a great way to re-purpose your leftover rice so it gets eaten up. I recommend heating up your rice over the stove with a little bit of water first. Heat with the lid on so that the water helps to steam the rice and make it a little more tender again. Once the rice is heating through and steaming, add the ingredients as indicated in the recipe (cilantro, lime, salt).

Can I Make Cilantro Lime Rice in the Instant Pot?

Yep! Make the rice by itself in the Instant Pot first, like this. When the time is up, release the pressure, and add the cilantro, lime juice, and salt.

Ways to Enjoy Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro lime rice is always a hit for burrito bowls, tacos, and burritos. You could even serve it as a side dish with some black beans or red beans.

Cilantro lime rice is also a flavorful (and not to mention pretty!) pairing with fish, chicken, or shrimp. You could even enjoy this rice with a type of coconut milk curry!

How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice

First, measure out 2 cups of rice into the pot. Drizzle with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil, and stir to coat the grains of rice. Get 4 cups of filtered water boiling in either an electric kettle or on the stove in a separate pot.

Heat the rice grains in the pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally until you hear a light sizzling sound. Make sure to not brown or burn the rice grains. Add in the boiling filtered water to the rice once you hear the sizzling. You’ll probably hear a loud steaming sound once you add the water. That’s okay!

Turn the stove to high heat and stir occasionally as the rice boils.

Once the water is at the level of the rice, turn the heat down to low/simmer, and add in the chopped cilantro.

Place the lid on the pot and simmer on low for 15 minutes.

Once the 15 minutes has elapsed, turn the heat off and add in the fresh lime juice and sea salt.

Stir to incorporate the ingredients (but try to avoid mushing the rice. Fluffing with a fork or using more of a scooping motion can help avoid this).

Taste the cilantro lime rice and assess if you wish to add more lime juice, cilantro, or salt.

Serve and enjoy!

Want More Easy and Delicious Recipes?

• The Gastroparesis Diaries: Dark Before the Dawn
• Gastroparesis Diaries: Seeing a GI Specialist
• The Gastroparesis Diaries: It’s Getting Worse | Seeking Help
• The Gastroparesis Diaries: It’s Back.
• No-Cook Strawberry Compote Recipe

Shop this Post

• Basmati Rice (the brand I use)
• The Instant Pot I use

Hey! Thanks for stopping by. Give this recipe 5 stars if you try it and love it!

Wherever you find yourself today…take time to nourish yourself!

Warmly, Caroline