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Craving cilantro lime rice? This easy recipe delivers copycat Cafe Rio cilantro lime rice in just 30 minutes!
What You’ll Love About This Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe:
- Simple Recipe: Our recipe has minimal ingredients and simple steps. The recipe comes together in thirty-five minutes and makes the best rice!
- Budget Friendly: No need to spend money at Cafe Rio when you can make our copycat version yourself!
- Great Base: This flavorful rice is perfect as a base for a variety of Mexican recipes, including burrito bowls, salads, and tacos.
Ingredients:
- Long-grain rice – While any long-grain rice works, try basmati; it has a delicate aroma and flavor that pairs beautifully with citrus and cilantro.
- Water – To infuse the rice with flavor, you can replace some of the water with chicken broth or lime juice.
- Lime juice – To infuse the rice with more lime flavor, add a teaspoon of lime zest.
- Salted butter – Don’t skip the butter; it adds a lovely richness to the rice.
- Salt & pepper – These seasonings are essential to the flavor of the beans. Please don’t leave them out.
- Cilantro – This adds a nice bright flavor to the beans.
How To Make Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Rice:
***This is just a teaser! To see the complete ingredient list and step-by-step instructions, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Combine rice and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 20 minutes.
- Let the rice stand for 5 minutes. Add butter and fluff the rice with a fork.
- Add lime juice, fresh cilantro, salt, and pepper and stir.
- Serve immediately.
Top Tips & Tricks:
- Rinse is key: Rinsing rice removes excess starch, preventing mushiness and allowing for separate, fluffy grains. Rinse well under cold water until the water runs clear.
- Low and slow: To ensure even cooking and fluffy rice, use low heat and a tightly fitting lid and resist the urge to peek or stir excessively.
- Let it steam: After removing from heat, let the rice sit undisturbed for 5-10 minutes with the lid on. This allows the steam to finish cooking the grains and creates a fluffier texture.
- Fluff gently: Once steamed, use a fork to fluff the rice gently without breaking the grains. Avoid over-mixing.
Make It A Meal:
One of our favorite things about this easy side dish is when we serve it alongside our other Cafe Rio copycat recipes:
Serving & Storage:
SERVE: The cooked rice is best when served immediately after making it.
STORE: Store the leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
FREEZE: You can freeze this rice after making it. After the rice has cooled completely, place it in an airtight container and keep it in the freezer for up to six months.
REHEAT: Place the rice in a pan on the stovetop, add 2 tablespoons of water for every cup of rice, and warm until the water evaporates and the rice is heated.
Recipe FAQs:
Do you use cilantro stems?
Yes, the stems are edible. You can chop them up and add them in if you like. We typically use the cilantro leaves and some stems when we cook with cilantro.
How much water do I need for 1 cup of rice?
You will want to use two cups of water for every cup of rice. Our recipe calls for two cups of rice, so you will need four cups of water.
Do you boil the water before adding rice?
Nope! This recipe for cooking rice is so easy: You combine the rice and water and then bring it to a boil before simmering for twenty minutes.
More From The Cozy Fork:
Cafe Rio Copycat Cilantro Lime Rice
Equipment
- Large saucepan
- Liquid measuring cup
- measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board
- Chef’s knife
Ingredients
- 2 cups of white long-grain rice, rinsed and drained
- 4 cups of water
- 4 Tablespoons of salted butter
- 2 limes juiced
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
MAKE THE RICE:
- In a large saucepan, add rice and water.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let it stand, covered, for an additional 5 minutes to allow the rice to absorb the remaining water.
- After the resting period, add the butter and fluff the rice with a fork until melted.
- Add the lime juice and cilantro, stirring thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
SERVE & STORE:
- Serve immediately.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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