Cilantro Lime Rice
Fluffy rice tossed with lime and a fistful of cilantro — the burrito-bowl backbone, homemade.
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Join HomecookedIngredients
- 300 g Rice
- 2 Lime
- 4 tbsp Cilantro
- 1 tbsp Neutral oil
- 1 tsp Salt
Method
- Rinse the rice in a sieve under cold water until the water runs clear.
- Cook the rinsed rice with the salt and plenty of water in a covered pot over low heat until tender, about 14 minutes.
- Rest the rice off the heat, still covered, for 5 minutes so it finishes steaming.
- While the rice cooks, roughly chop the cilantro leaves.
- Zest and juice the limes.
- Fluff the rested rice with the oil, lime zest and juice, and cilantro, then serve it under or beside your protein.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
About Cilantro Lime Rice
Cilantro lime rice is the backbone of Mexican rice bowls and burritos — a simple steamed white rice transformed by bright citrus and a fistful of cilantro. Rinsing the rice before cooking removes surface starch that would make the grains clump together, so each one stays separate and fluffy. A covered pot over low heat for fourteen minutes, then a five-minute rest off the heat, allows the rice to absorb liquid gently and steam through to the center without any graininess. The resting step is non-negotiable; it lets the fibers finish hydrating and gives you something to fluff with your fork, not mash.
The seasoning is whispered, not shouted: lime zest brings a whisper of aroma, lime juice adds bright acidity that doesn't make the rice taste like citrus but makes every bite feel fresher and more alive, and cilantro adds herbaceous earthiness that anchors the whole grain. The ratio of cilantro to rice matters — you want it generous enough to see flecks of green in every forkful. This rice is humble enough to sit under a protein and sauce, but interesting enough to eat on its own with a squeeze of lime and a grain of salt. It keeps well refrigerated and actually improves the next day as the flavors deepen and marry.
Cilantro Lime Rice: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Cilantro Lime Rice?
One serving of Cilantro Lime Rice has about 351 calories, with 8g of protein, 64g of carbs, 8g of fat and 1g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.
Is Cilantro Lime Rice gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Cilantro Lime Rice has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Cilantro Lime Rice take to make?
About 25 minutes start to finish, but only around 7 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
How many servings does Cilantro Lime Rice make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.