Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
This Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice is like the one you get at your favorite Mexican restaurant. Serve it with some Mexican Black Beans for a complete meal, or in a burrito.
Equipment
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:
- 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
- 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!!
- Storage: Let the rice cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Stovetop 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
Rice to water ratio:
FOR ALL TYPES OF RICE (WHITE / BROWN) - For "1" cup of rice, I use "1 ¼" cups of water. For "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 Rice 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.
Pro Tips
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 your rice: Rinse the rice thoroughly, it removes excess starch and keeps it fluffy. 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. Add oil to the pot first: 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. Use fresh 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. Zest first, then juice – It’s way easier that way! Don’t skip the rest time – Letting the rice sit after pressure cooking makes it fluffier. Add cilantro last – Keeps it vibrant and fresh. 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. Add salt first: 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. Use 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: wait for 10 minutes after the instant pot is done cooking, and then release the remaining pressure manually. Use a fork to fluff the rice: Use fork or wide mouth spatula to fluff the rice without breaking it. Gently fold in the rest of the ingredients.Variations & Substitutions
Brown rice instead? Increase the cook time and water (follow Instant Pot brown rice ratios) 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. No cilantro? Try fresh parsley or basil for a different twist. Want more flavor? Stir in a little cumin or green onion. Make it spicy: Add a chopped jalapeño or a pinch of red pepper flakes.Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
Amount per Serving
Calories
202
% Daily Value*
Fat
4
g
6
%
Saturated Fat
0.3
g
2
%
Trans Fat
0.01
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
2
g
Sodium
7
mg
0
%
Potassium
71
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
38
g
13
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
0.2
g
0
%
Protein
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
138
IU
3
%
Vitamin C
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
17
mg
2
%
Iron
0.4
mg
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimer
Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
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