We’ve all had Chipotle’s cilantro lime rice before. It’s the perfect side dish to grilled meats, veggies, and stews. Loaded and wrapped up in a giant burrito or topped with all your favorite meat, veggies, and toppings. But can I be honest? I’ve always found homemade cilantro lime rice to taste slightly better than Chipotle’s, mainly because I control the amount of fresh lime zest, lime juice, and cilantro that I add. Okay; you got me! It’s all about the garlic! Just kidddding.
Ingredients you’ll need:
Butter: I like to use a knob of butter to sauté the rice before letting it simmer to oomph it up! It’s elevated in the sense that it becomes a pilaf when you saute the rice in butter (or oil) before simmering.Rice: Make sure to rinse the rice under cold running water for several minutes to remove any excess starch. It’s crucial to do this because excess starch will cause the rice grains to stick together. Garlic: I use my garlic press to press the garlic cloves. We’ll add them in once the rice is sauteed.Seasonings: You’ll certainly need a big pinch of salt. I also like to add in a hint of chicken bouillon here. This helps give the rice a wonderful depth of flavor. We’re not using enough to where the rice is cooked in chicken broth. We’re using just a hint so that it enhances the flavor without overpowering the delicate taste of fresh cilantro. You can also use vegetable bouillon here if you want to keep the recipe vegetarian-friendly. Lime Zest + Juice: Fresh lime zest and juice are the backbone of this recipe! I use my fine zester to remove the zest before juicing the limes on my favorite citrus juicer.Cilantro: You’ll want to use all the fresh cilantro for this recipe! I like to store my cilantro unwashed in the fridge. When you’re ready to use, wash and dry on a piece of paper towel. You don’t try to chop the cilantro before wiping it dry; it’s a hot mess!
It’s so easy to make Chipotle’s cilantro lime rice at home
Serving suggestions for cilantro lime rice
There are so many ways to serve this cilantro lime rice.
Use it as the base in Chicken Tinga bowlsPerfect to serve alongside ropa vieja with my Cuban-inspired black beansSteak fajitas or chicken fajitas in a burrito bowl would be divineIt would work well as a side for Shrimp Enchiladas in Poblano Cream SauceYummy as a side for Mexican Shrimp SaladI love making chicken carnitas bowlsIf you’re looking for other burrito bowl toppings, here’s how you make pico de Gallo, homemade salsa, the best green sauce, salsa verde, homemade flour tortilla, and pickled onions!
vegetarians: swap the chicken bouillon for vegetable bouillon. You can also use a veggie/chicken bouillon paste concentrate instead.
