Cilantro Lime Rice (Print version)

Aromatic rice with fresh cilantro and lime—ideal as a side for tacos, grilled meats, or roasted vegetables.

# What You'll Need:

→ Rice

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)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
02 - In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic if using and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add the rinsed rice and stir to coat the grains evenly with oil.
04 - Pour in the water and add the salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes until the rice is tender and water is absorbed.
05 - Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes to allow residual moisture to distribute evenly.
06 - Fluff the rice with a fork. Stir in the lime zest, lime juice, and chopped cilantro until well combined.
07 - Taste and adjust salt or lime juice as needed. Serve warm.

# Tips from the pros:

01 -
  • It transforms ordinary rice into something bright and alive without requiring exotic ingredients or technical skills.
  • The whole thing comes together in under 30 minutes, making it a weeknight MVP that actually tastes like you tried.
02 -
  • Don't skip the rinsing step or the toasting step—they're not fussy, they're foundational, and they're what separate fluffy rice from gummy rice.
  • Add the cilantro and lime at the very end, after the rice is cooked, or the heat will dull the brightness and you'll lose the whole point.
03 -
  • Zest your lime before you juice it—once it's cut and squeezed, there's no getting that zest back, and the zest is where the magic lives.
  • If you don't have fresh cilantro, don't make substitutions; instead, just double the lime zest and juice and accept that it'll taste different but still excellent.
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