This homemade Fresh Cilantro Lime Rice is bursting with flavor, as well as color. My version is a little bit different from the original, but you’ve got to trust me on this! The vibrant green sauce is packed with fresh ingredients and gets blended until smooth, before mixing it into the cooked rice. This healthy side dish can be made ahead of time and even frozen for up to 3 months.
Why You’ll Love This Green Rice Recipe
- Easy to make – You can either cook your rice fresh, or use frozen rice, which I like to always have on hand for easy recipes. Then, the cilantro lime dressing only takes about 5 minutes to blend up. As long as you have cooked rice on hand, this recipe can be on your table in under 15 minutes.
- Packed with flavor – The fresh cilantro lime sauce is packed with so much flavor and all of that flavor goes right into the rice when you add it after the rice I already cooked. You can tell just by looking at the vibrant green color of the rice that it tastes super fresh.
- Perfect for a side dish – This delicious cilantro lime rice adds a fresh pop of flavor to any dish you enjoy it with. It’s refreshing and especially perfect to eat with something spicy because it will help balance out the flavors.
Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe Tips
- Pour the sauce on while the rice is hot – I find that the sauce soaks into the rice a little bit better when the rice is warm, as opposed to pouring it over cold rice. When it is warm, it is able to soak up more of the flavors.
- Add extra herbs – Cilantro lime is a classic flavor combination, but this recipe also tastes great if you want to mix it up and add extra herbs, like basil, parsley or mint. You can combine them all together, or even use them instead of cilantro.
- Serve with beans – This flavored rice can be used in any way you want, but I especially love eating it with my homemade black beans and a side of tortilla chips and avocado.
Cilantro Lime Recipe Ingredients
- Rice – I just used white rice for this recipe but brown rice can be used instead. Quinoa, or another grain of choice, can also easily be substituted for the rice.
- Cilantro – I used a big bunch of fresh cilantro leaves. If you prefer not to use cilantro, or don’t have it on hand, you can substitute with another leafy fresh herb of choice. Basil or parsley would be great options.
- Lime – I like to use fresh lime juice for this recipe, but you can use bottled lime juice if you prefer.
- Olive Oil – Olive oil gives the sauce a nice rich taste, but any kind of oil can be used.
- Maple Syrup – I add a little bit of pure maple syrup to help balance out all the tartness from the limes. Honey can also be used.
- Dijon Mustard – This ingredient is optional, but it adds a little extra tanginess to the dressing that I really like.
- Cumin – I just add a little bit of ground cumin, but it adds such a nice smoky flavor to the sauce.
- Garlic – You can add as much, or as little, fresh garlic as you like. I usually do about 2-3 cloves because I like a strong garlic flavor.
- Salt
How To Make Fresh Cilantro Lime Rice
- Add all the cilantro lime dressing ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth, 1-2 minutes. Give the dressing a quick taste and adjust flavorings as needed.
- Add the cooked rice into a large bowl and then pour the cilantro lime dressing over. Use a large spoon to mix together until completely combined. Rice can be served immediately or stored in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- This recipe is already vegan and gluten free.
- Can the cilantro be substituted? Yes, you can substitute the cilantro for another leafy fresh herb, such as basil, parsley or mint.
- Can the lime be substituted? Yes, you can substitute with fresh lemon juice if needed.
- Can this rice be made ahead of time? Yes, this cilantro lime rice can be prepared and stored in the refrigerator for about 4 days. Re-heat in the microwave or oven.
- Is this recipe freezer friendly? Yes, allow rice to cool completely and then pack it into a freezer friendly container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw rice in the refrigerator or in the microwave.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below and I will get back to you ASAP!
Looking For More Easy Rice Recipes?
Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole with Tofu
Rice and Bean Fajita Quesadillas
Fresh Cilantro Lime Rice
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Description
This homemade Fresh Cilantro Lime Rice is bursting with flavor, as well as color. My version is a little bit different from the original, but you’ve got to trust me on this! The vibrant green sauce is packed with fresh ingredients and gets blended until smooth, before mixing it into the cooked rice. This healthy side dish can be made ahead of time and even frozen for up to 3 months.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4-5 cups cooked rice, I used two 10 ounce bags of frozen rice
Cilantro Lime Dressing
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/2 cup packed cilantro, or about one large bunch
- 2-3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure maple syrup, or honey
- 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
Instructions
- Add all the cilantro lime dressing ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth, 1-2 minutes. Give the dressing a quick taste and adjust flavorings as needed.
- Add the cooked rice into a large bowl and then pour the cilantro lime dressing over. Use a large spoon to mix together until completely combined. Rice can be served immediately or stored in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Mexican Inspired
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