Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe | Happy healthy eating

This is fluffy cilantro lime rice Amplified with fried onions, garlic and then of course lots of fresh cilantro and lime juice! This is a hearty side dish that will brighten up your dinner.

Why You'll Love This Cilantro Lime Rice

This homemade garlic-cilantro lime rice is an easy way to pack more Tex-Mex vibes into your weeknight meals.

• Tex-Mex inspired. The herb cilantro-lime flavor combination is classic for Tex-Mex recipes.
• quickly It's ready in just 20 minutes!
• Great for a weeknight. Rice is a super versatile side that you can pair with a variety of main meals throughout the week.
• refreshing Cilantro and tangy lime juice make this Cilantro Lime Rice a refreshing summer recipe.

Recipe ingredients

Sweet onions and garlic add a lot of flavor to this Tex-Mex rice dish. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact amounts.

• Avocado oil – Olive, coconut and vegetable oils also work.
• onion – Use white or yellow onions.
• garlic- Fresh garlic and garlic paste are best.
• Fragrant Rice – Basmati rice is a good swap.
• Chicken broth – Feel free to use veggie stock or water.
• Lemon extract – It should be fresh zest.
• Lemon juice – Lemon juice can be used instead.
• cilantro – Avoid dry coriander as it can make the rice a bit bitter.

Can I use other types of rice?

Absolutely! Prepare it according to the package directions though. Brown rice and basmati are some of my favorites for this. Wild rice also works but has an earthy, slightly bitter flavor that can overpower the rest of the dish.

How to Make Cilantro and Lime Rice

It's just like making your favorite rice but with a rich, tangy touch at the very end. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe card.

• Cook the onion. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and fry for 3-4 minutes or until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Stir in the rice.

• boil Pour in the chicken stock. Bring it to a boil and then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook it for 5 minutes and then remove from heat.
• serve Use a fork to fluff the rice gently. Stir in lime zest, lime juice and cilantro. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips and variations

Spicy jalapeños and juicy chicken can make this side dish a staple on your dinner menu.

• Swap grains. Cook millet, quinoa or bulgur according to package directions and add cooked onion and garlic. Finally stir in the lime juice, zest and cilantro.
• Use non-stick. While stainless steel pots are great, it's easy for rice to stick and burn. Make this recipe virtually fail-proof by using a non-stick utensil.
• Add vegetables. Stir-fried mushrooms into 1/4-1/2 cup corn, peas, diced carrots, or onion-garlic mixture for a hearty bite.
• Make it spicy. Thinly slice 1/4-1/2 fresh jalapeño or serrano pepper and stir into the rice once done to add heat.
• cover up When the rice is ready, remove the rice from the heat but cover with a lid for another 5-10 minutes. Doing this helps the spices finish steaming properly to prevent rice.
• Add protein. Turn this rice into a main dish by adding leftovers Air Fryer Chicken BreastShredded turkey, or Air fryer shrimp.

What to serve with cilantro lime rice

This Cilantro Lime Rice is an easy side for your Tex-Mex dinner. Serve with me Roasted Beef Green Sauce or Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa. my Türkiye Stuffed Poblano Peppers And Grilled Ribeye Steak Also great. I love using it for me Chicken Burrito Bowl. For side dish ideas, try mine Bacon Wrapped Jalapeños or Avocado Corn Salad.

Proper storage

I do not recommend freezing because the rice will lose its texture once thawed.

• Fridge: Keep it in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Discard the rice immediately if it feels sticky.
• To reheat it: Microwave it in 15-second increments until heated through. You can heat it in a pan on medium-high heat for 7-8 minutes.

More Tex-Mex inspired recipes

printed