Cilantro Lime Rice- Instant Pot & Stovetop

Cilantro lime rice needs no introduction to anyone who is a fan of Mexican food. This versatile dish can be eaten just on its own or used as a base for a Burrito bowl. If you want to go down the wrap route, then, it works well in wraps as well. In this post, I will walk you through how to make this popular dish in the Instant pot and on the stove top.

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5 reasons to make this from scratch

1. This is a naturally gluten-free recipe.
2. You can easily double or triple this, especially if you are making it in the Instant Pot.
3. Leftovers can be frozen and this is such a win in terms of meal planning. Yay to more “Mexican for weekday dinners” kind of feeling here.
4. This recipe is vegan-friendly. 
5. And you can use this in so many ways. 

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Make ahead, shelf life & storage
• Recipe Notes
• FAQs
• Serving Suggestions
• Method
• Stove top method
• More Rice Recipes
• Cilantro Lime Rice

Ingredients

Oil or butter

For a richer tasting rice, you can use 1 tbsp butter. But any neutral flavored vegetable oil or light olive oil works well in this recipe.

Onions and garlic

I recommend white onions for this rice. These have a milder flavor and do not affect the color and appearance of the dish. My family prefers this to be whitish. Personally, I feel purple or red onions are a bit too strong for this dish since we want the cilantro to shine through.

Basmati rice

We love long-grained aromatic Basmati for all our Mexican dishes. The flavor and texture is just perfect for Burritos and other one pot rice dishes as well. The recipe here states the timings and cooking settings for Basmati only. Please do not substitute with other kinds of rice since the timings vary, especially if you are cooking this in the Instant Pot.

Vegetable stock

Here comes the secret ingredient to making this a flavor bomb. Vegetable stock adds so much character (for lack of a better word) to this dish. You can always use water but I recommend stock. 

Cilantro

Yes. Mexican food is incomplete without this delicate herb. You need lots of fresh cilantro for this recipe. There is no substitute for this.

Lime juice

Here is the thing. Please do not use lemon juice for this recipe. Nope. Lemon and lime have different flavors. Lemon has a hint of sweet and limes, on the other hand, are sourer and have a slight bitter aftertaste. And it has got lime in its name for a reason, y’all!

Make ahead, shelf life & storage

Planning to host a taco or Burrito party? Make this easy rice one day in advance. Allow it to cool completely and store in the fridge in an air tight container.

To serve, leave the rice out at room temperature for 30 minutes. Reheat it in the microwave and serve. To prevent the rice from drying out, place a cup of water in a microwave safe cup along with the rice box in the microwave.

Shelf life

Leftover rice can be stored in an air tight container for 3 days in the fridge.

Freezing

To freeze this rice, divide into 2 cup portions and transfer to a freezer safe container. Label and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw the rice overnight in the fridge and then reheat in the microwave before serving.

Recipe Notes

1. There are many recipes that call for using garlic in this dish. I skipped it since I wanted the cilantro and lime to shine through. If desired, you can add 1 tsp grated garlic.
2. Do not soak the rice for longer than 10 minutes. Longer soaking time means mushy rice.
3. Use only leaves and tender stems of the cilantro. Chop off 2 inches from the base of the stem and use the remaining.
4. 1 cup of uncooked Basmati rice yields 3 to 3.5 cups cooked rice. If you plan to double the recipe, you can use this as a rough guide to estimate your quantity.
5. Use limes that are fresh and juicy. While some recipes call for adding lime zest, I find that doing this gives a very slight bitter after taste to the rice, especially after reheating leftovers. So I recommend that you skip it.

FAQs

Is cilantro lime rice spicy?

No. This is a spice-free dish. So, it is also kid-friendly.

What does Chipotle put in their lime rice?

Apart from the ingredients mentioned here, Chipotle adds bay leaves and garlic. You can add 1 bay leaf for the quantity mentioned here.

Is this vegan and gluten-free?

Since this recipe uses no dairy, it is vegan. And rice is a naturally gluten-free grain. So this is gluten free as well.

How to reheat cilantro lime rice?

Microwaving is the best way to reheat leftover rice. I recommend microwaving on high in short bursts of 30 second intervals. Place a cup of water in the microwave along with the box of rice. The water will heat up and steam. This steam will prevent the rice from becoming dry and brittle while it is being reheated.

Serving Suggestions

We love this as the base for our Burrito bowls. I will be sharing the recipe for all the trimmings for a Burrito bowl soon. Stay tuned. 

Method

In the Instant Pot 

Prep work

Place rice in a colander. Wash the rice thoroughly. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Add 2.5 cups water and allow it to soak for 10 minutes. Start a kitchen timer to keep an eye on the time. While the rice soaks, chop the onions and assemble the other ingredients.

Steps 1 & 2

Insert the inner pot into the Instant Pot, plug in and press SAUTE MODE- NORMAL for 7 minutes. Add oil and wait for the display to read HOT. When it reads HOT, add the finely chopped onions and mix well. If you are adding garlic and bay leaf, please add them at this stage.

Steps 3 & 4

Add salt to taste and sauté the onions till they are soft. It is important not to let the onions brown.

Steps 5 & 6

Drain the soaked Basmati rice and add to the pot. Mix and sauté for 30 seconds. We are toasting the rice here for additional flavor. Again, please do not let the rice change color. After 30 seconds, add the 1.25 cups of vegetable stock. Stir well to combine.

Steps 7 & 8- Instant Pot Cooking Time & Mode

Press CANCEL. Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the lid. Close the Instant Pot and turn the VALVE to SEALING. Press PRESSURE COOK MODE- LOW PRESSURE and set the timer to 3 MINUTES. Allow the cooking cycle to complete. When done, wait for the pressure to release naturally. After natural pressure release, open the lid and allow the rice to sit uncovered for 3 minutes.

Steps 9 & 10

After 3 minutes, add the finely chopped cilantro leaves and lime juice. 

Step 11 & 12

Gently mix using a wooden ladle or a silicon spatula. After mixing, let it sit undisturbed for 5 minutes before serving. The rice absorbs the cilantro and lime flavors during this time.

Just look at how fluffy and beautiful those grains of rice look!

Stove top method

Heat a 5 quart Dutch oven or a similar heavy bottomed pan with oil. Add the onions and salt. Mix and sauté them till the onions are soft and translucent. Drain the soaked rice and add it to the pot. Mix well and toast the rice for 30 to 40 secs. Add the stock now and stir well to combine. 

Cook till the rice is tender and has absorbed the water fully. This takes about 10 minutes on medium heat. When done, take the pan off the heat, add the finely chopped cilantro leaves and lime juice. Mix gently, taking care not to break the rice grains. Let it sit for 10 minutes before serving. 

More Rice Recipes

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