This Cilantro Lime Rice is the fresh, vibrant, and perfect side dish for all summer recipes.

Cilantro lime rice is the best side dish to most Asian and Mexican dishes. It is super easy to prepare and irresistible, and we never make enough to satisfy our cravings.

cilantro lime rice

Great side dish to your barbequed chicken or cilantro lime chicken and your homemade carnitas tacos with tomatillo salsa, or burritos, this cilantro lime rice is fresh and bright with an uplifting lime flavor to make you fall in love with it.

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In this Article

Why you will love this recipe

Easy to prepare – I used my rice cooker, and the only thing that I had to do was prepare the lime zest and juice and chop the cilantro.

Go-to side dish – as it takes little time to prepare.

Perfect for meal prep – Make a large batch, refrigerate it, and enjoy it for lunch anytime.

Cilantro lime rice in rice cooker

As you know, I love gadgets, and a rice cooker has made its way into my kitchen. It is nothing fancy at all, and it only has two settings: cook and keep warm.

But what I love the most when I prepare Asian-inspired meals is that I like to have my rice prepared slightly earlier and keep it warm until it is ready to serve.

Yes, this recipe can also be prepared on the stove top, and it is pretty delicious, too; I prefer the rice cooker for time-saving purposes.

Once ready to put the finishing touches to your dinner and prepared to serve your rice, fluff it with a fork, place it in a bowl, and add olive oil, lemon juice, zest, and chopped cilantro.

Ingredients needed to make this cilantro lime rice recipe

Water – to cook the rice

Jasmati or Basmati rice – rinse before cooking so you remove the extra starch that is coating the white rice grains

Unsalted butter or Olive oil – if using butter, I always use unsalted butter in my cooking or baking to control the amount of sodium. Salted butter not only adds too much salt to your dish, but it changes the flavor. The butter takes everything to the next level. A light olive oil is lovely, too. I leave this choice to you.

Fresh limes – use the zest and generous tablespoons of lime juice squeezed. Taste as you go along and add as you wish. It truly makes the rice stand out.

Cilantro – nothing gets wasted here. Use the cilantro leaves as well as the cilantro stems. The stems are rich in flavor as they contain most of the oils, which adds so much flavor to your dish. It works magic when combined with lime.

Salt – do not over-salt it.

cilantro lime rice ingredients

Equipment Needed

Please follow the link to access the product of your preference.

Rice maker or cooking pan large enough to hold the rice and water.

Zester

Mixing and serving bowl

Chef’s knife

Step-by-step on how to make this delicious cilantro rice recipe

In the recipe card below, I am sharing this recipe, which is made in two ways: stovetop and rice cooker.

Either way, the results are the same. The rice cooker will keep your rice warmer without over cooking it.

Start with the rice

Rinse your rice and place it either in your rice cooker or cooking pan. Add the water and cook your rice for 20 minutes or until tender if stove top method is used.

Prepare your lime and cilantro rice

Zest the lemons and squeeze the limes

Chop the cilantro, leaves and stems.

Assembling your rice

Fluff with a fork. Add your fresh lime juice, olive oil, lime zest, and a pinch of salt. Mix well and serve immediately.

Pro Tips

  • When using a rice cooker, please rinse the rice before cooking to remove excess starch from the outside of the grains. You want your rice to be fluffy.
  • Although tempered to add cilantro during cooking, I do not recommend it. The flavor will dissipate, and the color will become dark and unappealing.
  • Fluff the rice and place it in a bowl before serving. Turn the bowl over your plate for a beautiful presentation.
limes, rice in a green dish

Variations and Substitutions

  • As this basmati rice can be enjoyed with roasted vegetables, you can modify it according to what you will serve alongside.
  • Jasmine rice is endlessly used for your Asian-inspired meal.
  • White long-grain rice is more suited for all other cooking, such as Mexican or Spanish, as it cooks fluffier and less sticky than your shorter rice.
  • Brown rice makes it a bit more nuttier. Do, however, increase the amount of water as it is more absorbent.
  • Adding a pinch of chile flakes to the rice toward the end of cooking adds a great flavor to your rice.
  • Replace the water with vegetable broth, which gives it a rich flavor too. Do not salt until the last minute, as broth tends to be saltier.

What to serve with Cilantro Lime Rice

This rice is the perfect way to enhance any weeknight dinner. Swap your plain rice with Cilantro Lime Rice and serve with this delicious Rock Cod Fish in Ginger Soy Sauce Marinade, or Yellowfin Tuna with Spicy Mango Salsa.

cilantro lime rice in a green serving ceramic dish

Storing and Reheating Your Cilantro Lime Rice

This recipe is best on the day that it is made. However, leftovers will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.

You can enjoy it again cold or at room temperature. If you wish to have it warm, place it in a skillet, add a couple of tablespoons of water, and warm up, stirring occasionally so as not to burn it.

Of course, it can also be reheated in the microwave, but since I do not have one, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make cilantro lime rice with lemon instead of lime?

Yes, it is refreshing and amazingly delicious, too.

Can you substitute parsley for cilantro rice?

If you are not a fan of cilantro, parsley will work well. However, do add a couple of more pinches of salt.

Why is my lime rice bitter?

Adding the lime or lemon juice while cooking will turn bitter. To rectify the bitterness, add some sugar to balance it. The lime juice always goes on at the last minute.

rice in a green dish with red chopsticks

If you enjoy this quick recipe of lime cilantro rice, you may want to try:

Warm Potatoes with Cilantro and Lime

Roasted Cauliflower with Lime Dressing

Asparagus Soup with Caramelized Leeks

Roasted Parmesan Asparagus – A Simple and Delicious Recipe

Cilantro Lime Chicken

Cilantro Lime Rice

5 from 5 votes
cilantro lime rice
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Teana Allen
Delicious Cilantro Lime Rice recipe that's easy to make and bursting with fresh flavors. Perfect side dish for any meal.
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Ingredients 

  • 2 cups water
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, or Olive Oil
  • 1 cup Jasmati rice, or long grain rice
  • 1 teaspoon lime, zest
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped, leaves and stems
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Rinse the rice under cold water and add into a large enough pot to hold the rice and water.
  • Bring water to a boil, and stir in a pinch of salt, butter, and rice into the water. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
  • Stir the lime zest, lime juice, and cilantro into the cooked rice just before serving.

RICE COOKER INSTRUCTIONS

  • Place 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water in your rice cooker and proceed to cook the rice according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Once ready to start eating, add the lime zest and juice, butter to the rice and stir well.

Nutrition

Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 63mg | Vitamin A: 225IU | Vitamin C: 1.4mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Cooking Canva provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.

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