Cilantro Lime Rice. Fresh, zesty and completely irresistible, this Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe is fast and easy and made with a handful of simple ingredients like rice, fresh lime juice, lime zest, and cilantro.
Cilantro Lime Rice
If you find me making homemade rice it needs to check two boxes- it needs to be easy, first, and second, my child needs to eat it.
Or, it needs to be THAT GOOD.
Fortunately, this super fresh, super delicious cilantro lime rice recipe checks all those boxes. It’s filled with amazing lime flavor, complementing all your favorite Mexican dishes.
Enjoy with tacos, in your favorite burrito bowl, or alongside this easy citrus chicken.
(Note- this post was updated on August 3, 2019, after several rounds of recipe checking and testing. Please see “Tips + Tricks”)
Ingredients in Cilantro Lime Rice
You only need six simple ingredients to make this cilantro lime rice recipe,
- White Rice – I usually use basmati rice, but any other long-grain white rice will work. It’s important to thoroughly wash the rice with cold water before cooking to help remove some of the starches that cause it to clump together.
- Water – Or, for more flavor, you may use vegetable broth or low-sodium chicken broth. Sometimes, I’ll add half water with half coconut milk for creamier rice.
- Salt – The total amount of salt will vary depending on how salty you like your rice recipes. However, keep in mind that this is plain white rice which starts out very bland. You will need a little salt to help the lime and cilantro flavors pop.
- Lime zest – The easiest way to get lime zest is by using a Microplane grater. The zest is like a concentrated version of lime juice adding tons of awesome lime flavor to the rice. If you prefer a more mellow lime flavor, add less (I know a few readers have mentioned that this recipe is way too limey. I love the bold lime flavor, but if that’s not for you, using less lime zest is an easy way to tame the lime flavor).
- Lime juice – FRESH lime juice. Please, not the concentrated, bottled kind.
- Cilantro – Do you have to add cilantro? No. However, if you love cilantro, then I highly recommend adding a generous sprinkle.
How to make Cilantro Lime Rice
To make this cilantro lime rice, simply:
- Wash the rice. Before cooking any rice or rice recipe you always want to wash the rice. Place the rice in a fine-mesh strainer or in a bowl and wash with clean water several times. Set aside.
- Add the water and salt to a medium saucepot over high heat. Bring to a low boil. Stir in the basmati rice, fresh lime juice, and zest from one lime. Reduce heat to low and cover with a tight-fitting lid.
- Simmer the rice for approximately 20 minutes or until water is absorbed and rice is tender (cooking times may vary depending on the size of pot and type of rice used).
- Remove from heat, uncover, and allow the pot to rest for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork. Allow rice to cool for an additional 5 minutes before adding cilantro and additional lime zest (if desired).
Utterly irresistible, if you love lime and cilantro, you will love this rice.
Tips and Tricks for preparing Cilantro Lime Rice
I have received a few emails regarding this recipe and the liquid amounts. There seemed to be some conflicting information about the total liquid amounts as I had it written. My apologies. To set things straight, my husband and I side-by-side, yet individually, made this recipe as written in the recipe card below and with the conflicting amount (yes, we made 4 total cilantro lime rice recipes at the same time).
- 1.5 cups rice + 1.75 cups total liquid (1.25 cups water + 0.5 cups lime juice)
- 1.5 cups rice + 2.75 cups total liquid (2.25 cups water + 0.5 cups lime juice)
We both preferred the rice with less total liquid added (option 1).
Was the rice cooked? YES. Was the rice crunchy? NO. Was the rice al dente? YES.
I know, I know the package and most of the internet says to use a 1 to 2 ratio, but I firmly feel that is too much water. And I refuse to list this as the amount because it has never resulted in good rice for me (so I would feel that I am lying to you).
Additional tips + tricks include,
- When you are simmering your rice be sure to turn the heat down to low. Not medium-low, but as low as it goes.
- Long-grain white rice is best. This includes Jasmine and basmati varieties.
- Use fresh lime juice and fresh lime zest. There is no good substitute.
- As soon as the water comes to a boil, add the rice. If too much time passes before you add the rice, some of the liquid will evaporate from the pot which will lead to rice without enough water.
- Make sure that the lid to your pot is tight and that it doesn’t have any holes. Any steam released is water.
Another way to cook cilantro lime rice (or any simple, plain rice recipe) is to-
- Wash the rice. Before cooking any rice or rice recipe you always want to wash the rice. Place the rice in a fine-mesh strainer or in a bowl and wash with clean water several times.
- Add the rice to a medium saucepot. Add a pinch of salt and fill with water and lime juice so that it is covered by approximately 2 inches of liquid (you will not be measuring the total liquid, but a 3:1 ratio of water to lime juice is a fair estimate). Bring to a boil.
- Once the water comes to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover.
- Check the progress of the rice every 5 minutes. If you can squish it between your fingers, it’s done. Drain any remaining liquid from the rice, transfer back to the pot, fluff, and cool for a few minutes.
More Mexican-inspired recipes,
- How to make Refried Black Beans
- Drunken Beans with Poblanos
- Mexican Street Corn Tostadas with Chipotle Black Beans
- 5 Minute Homemade Pico de Gallo
- Steak Quesadilla Recipe
- Lamb Tacos
- Michelada Recipe (with Homemade Clamato Juice)
If you try this Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.
RECIPE CARD
Easy Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups uncooked white rice - (basmati or jasmine recommended)
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt - plus more to taste
- 2 limes zested - divided
- ½ cup fresh lime juice
- 1 small bunch cilantro - chopped
Instructions
- Add rice to a fine mesh strainer and thoroughly rinse with water. Set aside.
- In a medium stockpot over high heat bring the water and salt to a low boil. Add the rice, zest of one lime, and lime juice to the pot and stir well to combine. Return to a low boil, reduce heat to low, and cover with a tight lid.
- Cook rice for approximately 20 minutes, or until water is absorbed and rice is tender. Remove from heat and allow the pot to rest for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
- Allow rice to cool for approximately 5 minutes before adding additional lime zest (if desired) and fresh chopped cilantro. Season to taste.
Video
Jessica's Notes
- 1.5 cups rice + 1.75 cups total liquid (1.25 cups water + 0.5 cups lime juice)
- 1.5 cups rice + 2.75 cups total liquid (2.25 cups water + 0.5 cups lime juice)
- When you are simmering your rice be sure to turn the heat down to low. Not medium-low, but as low as it goes.
- Long-grain white rice is best. This includes Jasmine and basmati varieties.
- Use fresh lime juice and fresh lime zest. There is no good substitute.
- As soon as the water comes to a boil, add the rice. If too much time passes before you add the rice, some of the liquid will evaporate from the pot which will lead to rice without enough water.
- Make sure that the lid to your pot is tight and that it doesn't have any holes. Any steam released is water.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
I didn’t read the bottom until just now and made the rice last night. It was super weird to me to use the same amount of water as rice (other than lime juice). But I followed the recipe as is. My rice burnt incredibly bad to my pan, wasting a lot of it. I ended up adding water twice so that the rice would cook, which it finally did and ended up pretty much like mush, thank goodness we don’t mind rice like that. In the end it was frustrating and took more time. :/ sorry, but this recipe did not work for me.
Is it okay to cook this in a rice cooker? I am not very successful in cooking rice in a regular pot, I am cursed when it comes to rice.
Hi Laura,
I have not tried this recipe in the rice cooker before, so I am not sure how to modify it for that. But I know it works well as written for a regular pot 🙂
so tasty rice recipe i loved it, so keep posting.
Your rice to End product ended up being fine, but took way longer than necessary.
Hi Marilyn, after getting your comment I tested this recipe as it was written in the recipe card and as I wrote it in the notes. I just updated the post with some more details on how to cook it.
I LOVE cilantro lime rice. One of my family’s favorites, for sure!