Description
A quick and easy side dish featuring fluffy long-grain white rice with fresh lime juice and cilantro for a bright, zesty flavor. Perfect for pairing with Mexican dishes or any meal needing a lively, fresh touch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (about 190 grams)
- 2 cups water (480 ml)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 1 large lime)
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (about 10 grams)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- A pinch of black pepper
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under cold running water in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear (about 1 to 2 minutes) to remove excess starch.
- In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed rice, 2 cups water, and ½ teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce heat to low, cover tightly with a lid, and simmer for 15 minutes without lifting the lid.
- Turn off heat and let the rice steam, still covered, for another 10 minutes to finish absorbing moisture.
- While the rice cooks, finely chop cilantro, zest the lime, and squeeze the lime juice. Mince garlic if using.
- If using garlic, heat olive oil or butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 30 seconds), then remove from heat.
- Remove lid from rice and fluff gently with a fork or wooden spoon.
- Stir in sautéed garlic and oil/butter (if used), lime zest, lime juice, chopped cilantro, and black pepper. Taste and add more salt if needed.
- Let the rice rest off the heat for 2-3 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Serve warm as a zesty, fluffy side dish.
Notes
Rinsing the rice is essential to prevent stickiness. Letting the rice steam after cooking improves texture. Add lime juice and cilantro at the end to preserve fresh flavor and color. If rice is sticky, reduce water to 1¾ cups next time. For a spicy twist, add jalapeño or cayenne pepper. Brown rice can be used with adjusted water and cooking time.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (185 grams)
- Calories: 210
- Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
Keywords: cilantro lime rice, copycat recipe, zesty rice, fluffy rice, Mexican side dish, easy rice recipe, quick side dish