Cilantro Lime Rice or Mexican Rice is vegan and gluten free, best and easy to make rice recipe for rice bowls, burritos, etc., and is prepared in less than 20 minutes with basic ingredients from your kitchen.
This dish can also be served alone as a main course or as side with ENCHILADA STYLE BURRITOS, chicken, shrimp, pork, beef or steak, fajitas, tacos, etc. Cilantro Lime rice may also be used in rice bowls or burrito bowls and then piled up with usual fixings such as sour cream, salsa, pico de gallo, avocado, etc. We love to eat it alone or with black beans to make it a high protein meal.
I first had cilantro lime rice at Chipotle with vegetarian rice bowl and totally fell in love with it. Then, I tried replicating it at home and now it has become one of the frequent rice dishes that I make. It is simple, no fuss recipe and requires just basic ingredients like cilantro (coriander leaves), lime (or lemon juice), and rice.
Tips to make best Cilantro Lime Rice or Coriander Lemon Rice or Chipotle Style Rice at home
- I love to toss and sauté my rice in oil for 3 to 5 minutes till it gets a nutty aroma on low flame. I do it for all Mexican rice recipes. This enhances the taste and makes it copycat Chipotle style. You can also check my recipe for BLACK BEANS RICE.
- Add lemon zest along with water that you use to cook rice. This gives that lime flavor to your rice.
- Use fresh lime juice and not the bottled one.
- If you are a non-vegan you can also cook the rice in chicken or beef stock for additional flavor.
- Do not overcook the rice as it will make your dish mushy.
- You can also add bay leaf while cooking the rice for fragrance similar to pilaf.
- Flavored long grain rice like Jasmine rice, Basmati works the best. But if you use the right amount of water and cook as mentioned in the package, then any rice that you use on a daily basis can be used to prepare this rice recipe.
If you love Mexican food recipes, then you should definitely check out some of my favorites here.
All Mexican recipes are most popular ones on my blog.
- Enchilada Style Burritos
- Black beans rice
- Mexican Street corn – Elote
- Guacamole
- Churros
- Tortillas Homemade
- Peach Salsa
Ingredients for Cilantro Lime Rice or Chipotle Rice or Mexican Rice
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil or Butter
- 1 cup Long grain rice like basmati or jasmine
- 1 ½ cup Water or broth
- Salt, to taste (approx ¾ to 1 tsp)
- ½ teaspoon Lime zest
- 2 tablespoon Fresh Lime juice
- ½ cup Cilantro or Coriander leaves chopped
Steps to prepare Cilantro Lime Rice or Copycat Chipotle Rice or Mexican rice
Add olive oil in a pan along with rice and toss so that the rice is coated well. Sauté this on medium flame for 3 to 5 minutes till you get a nice nutty aroma. Be careful not to burn it. This is what makes your dish flavorful and different from other recipes. I prepare all my Mexican rice recipes the same way.
Add water or broth, salt to taste, lime zest, and bring it to boil. Cover with lid and cook on medium to medium-low flame for about 10 to 12 minutes. Then, switch off the flame
Keep this covered for another 5 to 8 minutes.
To the cooked rice, add fresh lime juice, cilantro, and toss till combined. For some reason, if you missed adding zest while cooking rice, you can add it at this point too.
Serve it with burritos, tacos, steak, chicken, black beans, or salsa, and enjoy!
Can I use coriander or cilantro stem in rice recipes?
Definitely yes. If you are coriander or cilantro lover like us please add cilantro stems while preparing recipes. Do not discard cilantro stems, as this will only give additional flavor to your dish.
Can I store leftover rice?
Yes. This can be stored in refrigerator for 2 to 3 days or freeze in Ziploc bags for up to 2 months. But, I would not recommend the freezing option as this dish tastes the best when made and served fresh with lime juice and cilantro. It hardly takes 20 minutes to prepare this dish!!!
Can I use brown rice instead of white rice in recipe?
Yes. You can use brown rice basmati or long grain rice to make cilantro lime rice. Brown rice is rich in fiber and antioxidants, and hence beneficial for your health. The taste and time to cook brown rice is different from white rice, rest of the recipe remains the same.
Instant Pot Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
Follow the same ingredients and amount given below.
Add rice and olive oil and toss till rice is coated in oil. Now add water, salt to taste, lime zest and stir again. Lock the lid and cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.
When cooking time is complete, allow the natural release of pressure for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes do a quick pressure release and fluff rice with a fork.
Toss rice with cilantro and lime juice in a separate bowl. Serve and enjoy.
If you are using brown rice instead of white rice, you will have to cook for 23 minutes, natural release.
Printable Recipe on How to make Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice or Mexican Rice
CILANTRO LIME RICE | MEXICAN RICE | CHIPOTLE RICE RECIPE
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 cup Long grain rice like basmati or jasmine
- 1 ½ cup Water
- Salt, to taste (approx ¾ to 1 tsp)
- ½ teaspoon Lime zest
- 2 tablespoon Lime juice
- ½ cup Cilantro or Coriander leaves chopped
Instructions
Step I
- Add olive oil in a pan along with rice and toss so that the rice is coated well in oil. Sauté this on medium flame for 3 to 5 minutes, i.e., till you get a nice nutty aroma or light golden in color. Be careful not to burn the rice.
- Add water, salt to taste, lime zest, and bring it to a boil. Cover with lid and cook on medium to medium-low flame for about 10 to 12 minutes. Switch off the flame.
- Keep this covered for another 5 to 8 minutes.
Step II
- To the cooked rice, add lime juice, cilantro, and toss till combined. If you missed adding lime zest while cooking the rice, you can add them at this point too.
- Cilantro Lime Rice is ready. Serve it with burritos, tacos, chicken, or black beans, and enjoy!
If you like this Mexican Rice or Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
Don't miss to check out other delicious and popular Mexican recipes for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
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Tara
My family's favorite cuisine is Mexican food so this side dish is perfect to round out a delicious dinner! It was so tasty and paired nicely with our burritos!