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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Cilantro Lime Rice

    Published: Jul 14, 2020 · Modified: Apr 20, 2022 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 22 Comments

    379 shares
    • 282
    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free / Vegan
    Cilantro lime rice with a text title overlay.

    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.

    If you are looking for other ways to use coriander (cilantro), then why not try our Carrot and Coriander Salad or Carrot and Coriander Soup.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • Step by step
    • What to serve with Cilantro Lime Rice
    • Variations
    • Healthy swap
    • Storage
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More rice recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • A new and exciting way to enjoy rice - Rice is such a versatile side dish, but it can get a little boring. This is an easy way to make it more exciting.
    • Just 7 ingredients - Most of them you probably already have in your kitchen.
    • Low in calories - there is only 265 calorie per serving.
    • Easy to adapt - Use this is a base and then adapt it with different flavours.

    Ingredients needed

    All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.
    • Rice - 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.
    • Water - This is what the rice is cooked in.
    • Oil - We used a good quality olive oil.
    • Limes - Make sure they are juicy limes, otherwise you will need to use more.
    • Garlic - Fresh is best. Make sure it is finely crushed, almost like a puree, to ensure even distribution in the rice.
    • Coriander (cilantro) - This is the star of the rice and always use fresh.
    • Salt and pepper - Season to taste.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    Step by step

    One: Rinse the rice in cold water and then add the to a saucepan with the water and 1 tablespoon of the oil. Bring to the boil and then cover. Turn the heat down to its lowest setting and simmer for 10 minutes. Turn the heat off and let stand, still covered, for 10 minutes.

    A saucepan with uncooked rice in it.

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

    A small pink bowl containing lime juice.

    Three: Fluff up the rice with a fork 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.

    What to serve with Cilantro Lime Rice

    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.

    Variations

    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.

    heart icon

    Healthy swap

    If you wanted to make a lighter and lower carb version of this, then swap half the rice for grated cauliflower.

    Storage

    Store: 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.

    Freeze: You can keep rice in the freezer for up to 1 month.

    Defrost: Defrost in the fridge overnight.

    Reheat: 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. You can also reheat it in a pan on the stove with a tablespoon of water, stirring it as it heats.

    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. Put 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.

    What is 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.

    Is cilantro lime rice gluten free?

    Yes, as long as you make sure there is no cross contamination, then this can be gluten free.

    Is cilantro lime rice vegan?

    Yes, this is vegan.

    Can you eat raw coriander?

    Yes, there is no need to cook it as it can be eaten raw.

    heart icon

    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.
    • For some extra lime flavour, add some lime zest to the cooking water.
    • Let the rice cool a little before adding the cilantro, as you don't want the heat of the rice to cook it because it will lose some of the flavour.

    More rice recipes

    • Easy Turmeric Rice
    • The BEST Easy Spanish Rice
    • Healthy Egg Fried Rice
    • Easy Coconut Rice

    If you’ve tried this cilantro lime rice recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    A bowl of cilantro lime rice next to coriander leaves and limes

    Cilantro Lime Rice

    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 circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant in a pot.
    Vegan
    5 from 28 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 1 minute
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 21 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 265kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 240 g Basmati rice
    • 300 ml Water
    • 2 tablespoon Olive oil
    • 2 Limes - (juice and zest only)
    • 2 Garlic clove - crushed
    • 25 g Fresh coriander (cilantro) - finely chopped
    • Sea salt and black pepper

    Instructions

    • Rinse the rice in cold water and then add the to a saucepan with the water and 1 tablespoon of the oil. Bring to the boil and then cover. Turn the heat down to its lowest setting and simmer for 10 minutes. Turn the heat off and let stand, still covered, for 10 minutes.
    • Juice the limes and chop the cilantro (coriander).
    • Fluff up the rice with a fork and then add the rest of the oil, crushed garlic, salt, pepper, lime juice and cilantro.

    Notes

    • 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.
    • For some extra lime flavour, add some lime zest to the cooking water.
    • Let the rice cool a little before adding the cilantro, as you don't want the heat of the rice to cook it because it will lose some of the flavour.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 439IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Erica

      July 21, 2020 at 2:32 pm

      This looks delicious! Lime is one of my favorite flavorings so I'm all for adding this recipe to my repertoire!

      Reply
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