Cilantro lime recipe is soft, fluffy and so easy to make at home! This side dish is a Chipotle copycat recipe that adds fresh, bright flavor to all your Mexican favorites.
In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Add the rice, chicken broth, and lime zest. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low. Stir the rice once and cover with a lid.
Cook 18 to 20 minutes, or until rice is tender. Turn off heat. Remove lid and let water evaporate.
In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, cilantro, sugar, if using. Season with salt and pepper. Pour evenly over the rice and fluff with a fork.
Notes
Cooking tips:
Use REAL lime juice. None of that bottled stuff you can buy at the grocery store. Use the juice and zest from a fresh lime for the best flavor.
Rinse the rice. Before cooking the rice, make sure to give it a good rinse under cold water. Simply place it in a mesh strainer and rinse until it runs clear. This will remove the extra starch and prevent it from becoming too sticky.
Sugar. It may sound strange, but adding in a few teaspoons of sugar really enhances the flavor. It helps balance out the tang from the citrus and gives the dish the perfect hint of sweetness. You don't have to add it, but I definitely recommend it!
Stir ONCE. That's right. There's not a lot of stirring when cooking rice on the stove. After you bring the rice to a boil, turn the heat to low and then give it ONE quick stir. Then cover the pan with the lid and let it continue to cook for about another 20 minutes.
Don't remove the lid. While the rice is simmering, make sure not to remove the lid. I know it may seem tempting to give it a quick peak, but don't! You want to keep the steam trapped so that it cooks properly and will easily loosen from the bottom of the pan.
Fluff with a fork. Just before serving, use a fork to gently mix the rice around in the pot for about a minute. This will help break up any lumps, as well as allow any extra moisture to evaporate. Make sure to be gentle as you fluff, so that the rice doesn't get mushy and holds it's shape.
Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 daysFreeze: Keep in airtight container in the freezer up to 3 months. Reheating on stove: Place leftover rice in a saucepan and add a couple of Tablespoons of chicken broth. Turn heat to low and cover with lid. Let steam for a few minutes until warm, stirring occasionally.Reheating in microwave: Place rice in a bowl and pour in a few Tablespoons of broth. Cover the bowl with a damp paper towel or small microwave-safe plate to allow it to steam, then cook until warm.