Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
A bright and flavorful Cilantro Lime Rice recipe perfect as a side dish to many meals. Made with fragrant Basmati rice, fresh lime juice and zest, and chopped cilantro, it’s easy to prepare using either the stovetop or Instant Pot methods. This recipe yields fluffy, zesty rice with a hint of herbaceous freshness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes (stovetop) or 8 minutes (Instant Pot) plus pressure release time
- Total Time: 40 minutes including resting and prep
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop and Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Rice and Cooking Liquid
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil (stovetop) or 2 teaspoons avocado oil (Instant Pot)
- 1 1/4 cups uncooked Basmati rice, rinsed
- 2 cups chicken, vegetable broth, or water (stovetop)
- 1 1/4 cups chicken, vegetable broth, or water (Instant Pot)
- 1 teaspoon salt
Flavorings
- Zest of one organic lime
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 3/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves and stems
Instructions
- Prepare the rice: For stovetop, heat the avocado oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the rinsed rice and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally to toast the rice slightly. For Instant Pot, add rinsed rice, avocado oil, broth or water, and salt directly into the Instant Pot.
- Cook the rice: On the stovetop, add broth (or water) and salt to the saucepan and stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook for 13 minutes until liquid is absorbed. For Instant Pot, set to manual pressure cook for 8 minutes, then allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes before manually releasing remaining pressure.
- Rest the rice: On the stovetop, after cooking, remove from heat and let the pot sit covered for 10 minutes to finish steaming. For Instant Pot, the rice rests during natural pressure release.
- Add flavorings: Stir in lime zest, fresh lime juice, and chopped cilantro into the cooked rice. Fold gently to combine all the flavors evenly.
- Serve or store: Serve immediately, or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This rice pairs wonderfully with Mexican dishes, grilled meats, and vegan entrees.
Notes
- Rinsing the Basmati rice before cooking removes excess starch and helps achieve fluffy rice.
- Use fresh lime juice and zest for the best citrus flavor.
- Adjust salt to taste depending on if your broth is salted.
- This recipe can be made vegan by substituting broth with vegetable broth or water.
- Leftover rice can be reheated with a splash of water to retain moisture.
Keywords: cilantro lime rice, Basmati rice, Mexican side dish, Instant Pot rice, stovetop rice, cilantro rice, lime rice
Find it online: https://reemcook.com/cilantro-lime-rice-recipe/
