This Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice is like the one you get at your favorite Mexican restaurant. This restaurant style Cilantro Lime rice is easy to make, and full of fresh flavors from cilantro and lime!! Serve it with some Mexican Black Beans for a complete meal, or in a burrito. This recipe is vegan, gluten-free.
Easy is what I look for when it comes to making a restaurant style dish. Easy to make and with just handful of ingredients you can make excellent quality dish right in the comfort of your home.
This Cilantro Lime Rice is my family's favorite dish. We love Mexican food, and this Cilantro Lime rice is just like the one you get at Chipotle's, Mexican restaurant.
When I made this dish first time, I couldn't believe how easy it was. With just handful of ingredients, you can make the same restaurant quality rice at home. This is my go to recipe, to make Cilantro Lime rice, so flavorful, and is much loved by all.
Today, I am sharing my recipe for this restaurant style Cilantro Lime Rice. I have been making this dish for many years now and I must say this recipe has never disappointed me. The taste and the flavors are just like the one you get at a Mexican restaurant.
Ever since, I started making this Cilantro Lime Rice at home, it's in huge demand in my family. I use my Instant Pot to make rice, and it never disappoints me. Perfectly cooked rice, fluffy, each grain is separate, just the way we like our rice.
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Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice - Recipe Video
INGREDIENTS FOR CILANTRO LIME RICE
LONG GRAIN RICE - I prefer long grain white rice for this recipe. Its perfect, each grain comes out moist and fluffy. You can find long grain white rice in most grocery stores or order it on Amazon
You can use long grain white rice, Basmati rice, Jasmine rice, or even Brown Basmati rice for this recipe. Please refer to the recipe card, for cooking instructions on different variety of rice.
CILANTRO - Fresh cilantro or coriander, adds a nice flavor and aroma to this dish. I use both, cilantro leaves and tender stems, in this dish.
LIME - Adds a touch of zing to this dish. I use some lime zest, as well as some freshly squeezed lime juice, for flavorsome rice.
OIL - I use canola oil, but any neutral cooking oil would work in this recipe.
WATER / BROTH - You can use water or broth, both would do just fine. If using broth, use low sodium broth as it helps control the sodium intake.
Pic Shown: Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
HOW TO MAKE CILANTRO LIME RICE
This is a very quick and easy recipe to make restaurant style Cilantro Lime Rice at home. It takes under 20 minutes to make this Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice from scratch.
PREP FOR CILANTRO LIME RICE
You will need FINE MESH SIEVE, ZESTER (GRATER)
Using a fine mesh sieve, rinse the rice under cold running water for couple of minutes or until the water runs clear. Drain the rice well.
Zest the lime using Zester (Grater). Keep it aside.
Chop fresh cilantro, and juice half the lime, around 1 ½ tablespoon. Keep it aside.
INSTANT POT CILANTRO LIME RICE
You will need INSTANT POT
Add oil, rinsed, and drained rice, water or broth, and salt to taste. Mix gently. Close lid, vent sealed.
Note: If using broth, use low sodium broth as it helps control the sodium intake.
Turn ON Instant Pot to MANUAL / PRESSURE COOK mode (high) for 6 minutes. Let pressure release naturally, around 10 minutes.
Note: Turn OFF "keep warm" mode.
Open the Instant Pot lid, using a fork, fluff the rice.
Add lime zest, lime juice, cilantro. Gently mix the rice.
Cilantro Lime Rice is ready to be served. Enjoy!!
Pic Shown: Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
STOVE TOP CILANTRO LIME RICE
Follow the recipe as discussed earlier. In a pot, add oil, rice, water or broth, and salt to taste. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and cook for 10-15 minutes or until rice is cooked. Rest of the recipe is same as Instant Pot
PRO TIPS FOR PERFECT CILANTRO LIME RICE
Some of the things I think really helps me achieve non-sticky, flavorful restaurant style Cilantro Lime Rice are:
USE LONG GRAIN RICE - The grains have a firm, dry texture, and are best for side dishes, pilafs, fried rice. Produces distinct firm grains that stay fluffy and separate even after cooking. You can use white or brown rice for this dish. Recipe uses white long grain rice. You can find it in most grocery stores or order it on Amazon
RINSE RICE - rinse the rice thoroughly. Use a fine mesh strainer, rinse the rice under cold running water for couple of minutes or until the water runs clear. Drain the rice well.
OIL - add oil to the inner pot, before adding other ingredients. Oil helps prevent sticking of the rice to the bottom of the pot.
Use neutral cooking oil, so that it does not overpower the flavor of the cilantro and lime in this dish.
CILANTRO - Use fresh cilantro or coriander in this dish. Cilantro adds a nice fresh flavor to this dish. It changes color, and turns dark, when added to the warm rice.
If you prefer cilantro retains it's nice vibrant color, you can wait for the rice to come to a room temperature, and then add the cilantro.
LIME - Use fresh lime juice and lime zest. It adds a nice fresh flavor and a bit tang to the dish. Use only the green, outer portion of the lime. Lime zest can be overpowering if added too much. ½ - 1 teaspoon of lime zest is good for this recipe.
Lime juice adds freshness to this dish, juice from half the lime or to your taste.
SALT - I prefer to season the rice at the time of cooking. It helps bring out the flavor in the dish. If using broth to make this dish, skip the salt, as broth contains sodium.
BROTH - You can use water or broth, both would do just fine. Broth adds an additional layer of flavor to the rice. You can easily find broth in stores or order it on Amazon
Turn OFF the "Keep warm" setting to prevent rice from being overcooked, and dry.
Let pressure release naturally, around 10 minutes, and then release the remaining pressure manually.
Use a fork to fluff the rice, without breaking it. Gently fold in the rest of the ingredients.
Pic Shown: Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
FAQ ABOUT CILANTRO LIME RICE
RICE TO WATER RATIO
FOR ALL TYPES OF RICE (WHITE / BROWN) - For "1" cup of rice, I use "1 ¼" cups of water. Far "2" cups of rice, I use "2 ¼" cups of water. For "3" cups of rice, I use "3 ¼" cups of water, and so on.
INSTANT POT COOKING TIME
FOR WHITE RICE - Manual / Pressure cook (high), for 6 minutes. Followed by 10 minutes of natural pressure release.
FOR BROWN RICE - Manual / Pressure cook (high), for 22 minutes. Followed by 10 minutes of natural pressure release.
HOW TO MAKE CILANTRO LIME RICE WITH LEFTOVER RICE
Making Cilantro Lime rice using leftover rice is a great way of using day old rice. I normally make extra rice and next day I turn it into cilantro lime rice. Super quick and great for lunch boxes. My kids absolutely love cilantro lime rice.
In a pan, heat oil, add leftover rice, 1-2 tablespoon of water, and saute for 1-2 minutes.
Reduce the heat, cover and let the rice warm through.
Turn off the heat. Add lime zest, lime juice, and fresh cilantro. Gently mix the rice.
Enjoy cilantro lime rice as a side dish, or make a burrito!!
CAN CILANTRO LIME RICE BE FROZEN
I do not prefer to freeze the rice. It does not taste the same.
HOW TO REHEAT CILANTRO LIME RICE
You can reheat the rice in Instant pot, Stove top or in a microwave.
FOR INSTANT POT REHEATING - make sure you have enough quantity of rice to reheat.
Add rice in the inner pot, for a cup of rice add around 2-3 tablespoons of water, mix and set it to Manual /Pressure cook mode (high) for "ZERO" minutes.
Let pressure release naturally, around 5 minutes, open the lid and serve.
FOR STOVE TOP REHEATING - On a medium heat, in a skillet, add rice, couple of tablespoon of water, mix and cover for 3-5 minutes. Mix and serve.
FOR MICROWAVE REHEATING - In a microwave safe bowl, add rice, couple of tablespoon of water, cover the bowl with some lid or plate, so that moisture will be trapped inside and steam the rice.
HOW LONG DOES CILANTRO LIME RICE STAY GOOD
Cilantro Lime rice stays good for 1-2 days in the refrigerator. Store it a airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat and serve.
Pic Shown: Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
More Rice Recipes
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup Long grain white rice, rinsed and drained
- ½ cup lightly packed, fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Lime zest
- 1 ½ tablespoon Freshly squeezed lime juice, (around half lime)
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- 1 ¼ cup water or Broth
- ¼ teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
Instructions
PREP FOR CILANTRO LIME RICE
- You will need FINE MESH SIEVE, ZESTER (GRATER)
- Using a fine mesh sieve, rinse the rice under cold running water for couple of minutes or until the water runs clear. Drain the rice well.
- Zest the lime using Zester (Grater). Keep it aside.
- Chop fresh cilantro, and juice from half the lime, around 1 ½ tablespoon. Keep it aside.
INSTANT POT CILANTRO LIME RICE
- You will need INSTANT POT
- Add oil, rinsed, and drained rice, water or broth, and salt to taste. Mix gently. Close lid, vent sealed.
- Turn ON Instant Pot to MANUAL / PRESSURE COOK mode (high) for 6 minutes. Let pressure release naturally, around 10 minutes.Note: Turn OFF “keep warm” mode.
- Open the Instant Pot lid, using a fork, fluff the rice.
- Add lime zest, lime juice, cilantro. Gently mix the rice.
- Cilantro Lime Rice is ready to be served. Enjoy!!
STOVE TOP CILANTRO LIME RICE
- Follow the recipe as discussed earlier. In a pot, add oil, rice, water or broth, and salt to taste. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and cook for 10-15 minutes or until rice is cooked. Rest of the recipe is same as Instant Pot
Video
Notes
- PRO TIP FOR PERFECT INSTANT POT CILANTRO LIME RICE
- FAQ ABOUT INSTANT POT CILANTRO LIME RICE
Disclaimer
Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
KEYWORD
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