Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe is a vibrant & fragrant side dish, which can be accompanied by other main dishes that may contain vegetable, meat, or seafood.
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Cilantro Lime Rice in my realm is in the same category as the sunny yellow lemon rice, the enthralling cumin rice or the natural-looking clove rice.
I love these aromatic rice side dishes, they give character to a meal with plenty of flavors! I first encountered them in India.
Flavored rice side dishes are common in India, for example, and there are countless variations besides Pulao rice.
Side dishes such as this Cilantro Lime Rice are versatile, and you can serve them up with different main dish variations.
Ingredient Tips
- Basmati Rice — or your favorite long-grain rice.
- Onion — Any variety but I like purple or red onions for this recipe,
- Cilantro — Fresh (aka fresh Coriander leaves)
- Olive Oil — or vegetable oil.
- Brown Mustard Seeds — or dark red variety)
- Ginger + Garlic — Paste or finely chopped garlic and finely grated ginger.
- Cumin Seeds — Ground optional
- Turmeric Ground
- Salt
- Lime Juice
- Cilantro Fresh to garnish
This Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe has a grass green/yellowish color to it.
The trick is to turn fresh cilantro leaves into a paste and enrich it with other flavors, including the bright yellow turmeric powder (also known as Curcuma). The Turmeric and the lime flavors lighten up the rice!
To make the cilantro lime rice, use only super fresh cilantro leaves, either the flat cilantro variations or the fatter cilantro leaves, it doesn't matter. Both kinds have the same flavor.
Process Overview
Step 1
Cook the rice according to packet instructions, then strain and set aside.
Blend cilantro leaves, onion, and water into a smooth paste.
Step 2
Heat olive oil, pop mustard seeds (optional), and add ginger-garlic paste, cumin, and turmeric.
Stir in the cilantro paste.
Step 3
Cook for 4 minutes, season with salt, and mix in lime juice.
Combine the cooked rice with the cilantro mixture, garnish with fresh cilantro, and serve hot.
📖 Recipe
Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Ingredients
To boil the rice:
- 1 cup Basmati Rice
- 2 cups Water
For the paste:
- 1 Onion quartered
- ½ cup Cilantro Fresh aka Coriander leaves
- ¼ cup Water
To cook and assemble:
- 2 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Teaspoon Brown Mustard Seeds
- 1 Tablespoon Ginger + Garlic *see Notes
- ½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds Ground optional
- ½ Teaspoon Turmeric Ground
- pinch Salt
- Juice of one Lime fresh
- Cilantro Fresh to garnish
Instructions
- Wash your rice well and cook it for about 12 minutes, or until it's soft and cooked through. Refer to packet instructions, the rice shouldn't be overcooked and soggy. Strain the rice and keep aside once cooked.1 cup Basmati Rice, 2 cups Water
- Add the Cilantro leaves and onion quarters to the blender jar with the water and blend to a smooth paste.1 Onion, ½ cup Cilantro Fresh, ¼ cup Water
- Add to a pan the olive oil and mustard seeds. Carefully heat up and pop the mustard seeds. You need to keep the heat steady for a short time (less than a minute) so that the mustard seeds get “cooked” in that time. While doing that, the mustard seeds will pop up and emit a nutty flavor. Take from the heat to cool down a bit.2 Tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 Teaspoon Brown Mustard Seeds
- Take the pan back to the stove and keep over the lowest-heat setting and add the Ginger Garlic Paste, Cumin Seed Powder and Turmeric Seed Powder (careful because too hot and the ingredients will jump up).1 Tablespoon Ginger + Garlic, ½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds Ground, ½ Teaspoon Turmeric Ground
- Stir the whole content for a minute on this low-heat setting and then add the green cilantro paste which you prepared earlier.
- Cook the green cilantro paste on a low-heat setting for 2–3 minutes. Season with salt. Take from the heat and leave to cool.pinch Salt
- Mix in the fresh lime juice.Juice of one Lime
- Stir in the cooked rice. Carefully mix the rice in so that everything is well combined. The rice should be completely covered with the seasoning.
- Top with freshly chopped cilantro leaves.Cilantro Fresh
Notes
- Reduce the cooking time by using boiled rice.
- Use fresh ginger and garlic with a ratio of ⅓ ginger and ⅔ garlic or use Asian ginger garlic paste.
Equipment
- Blender/ Spice Grinder/ Food Processor
- Small Pot
Nutrition
Storing Leftovers
Keep your cilantro rice leftovers in an airtight container. They are good for at least 5 days, refrigerated.
Don't freeze the rice, as it will turn out soggy when you attempt to thaw it.
Serving Ideas
I, personally, think that this rice side dish goes well with both Western and Asian meals.
You can enrich a gravy base meat dish, such as my hamburger cooked in a creamy red pepper sauce, with this aromatic rice side dish.
If you like Indian food, try making this cilantro rice with North Indian or British curries such as Chicken Pathia or Chicken Balti.
Craving vegetarian meals? You will want to try my creamy vegetable korma with this flavored rice.