Aug
26
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Over the years, I have come to really appreciate the fresh flavor of cilantro. One rice bowl at Chipotle, and I just had to start making cilantro rice at home. It’s actually very quick and easy to make at home, with just a few key ingredients. I like to use it for making rice bowls, but honestly I could just eat the rice as a meal.
Cilantro Rice
Ingredients:
1 Cup Basmati Rice
1 TBSP butter or olive oil
2 TBSP onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Cups water
1 tsp salt
handful of fresh cilantro, finely chopped (about 1/2 Cup)
2 TBSP lime juice
Directions:
- Rinse the rice in water until the water turns clear. Using a mesh strainer, drain the water from the rice and set aside.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the onion and turn up the heat to medium. Sauté the onion for a few minutes until it starts to get tender. Now toss in the garlic and cook for another minute until aromatic.
- Add the rice to the saucepan and stir around with the onion/garlic sauté. Let it cook in the mixture for a few minutes.
- Now pour in the water and stir. Raise the heat to bring it to a boil and stir in the salt.
- Then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes.
- After cooking for 15 minutes, mix in the lime juice and cilantro. Replace the cover and cook for another 5 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and serve. Makes about 4 servings.
Additional Notes:
- For rice bowls, you can top the rice with any variety of ingredients: Mexican-flavored chicken, beans, corn, shredded cheese, sliced black olives, avocado, tomatoes, etc. Leftover Corn and Black Bean salad is an easy way to add a lot of flavor. And don’t forget guacamole as an option, too.
- In the picture above, I served it with chicken taquitos. For taquitos, I simply roll Mexican-flavored chicken in corn tortillas and cook in a lightly greased skillet. (For ease of rolling, dip corn tortillas in hot oil (or spray with oil) before rolling and heat on a dry skillet for about 10 seconds on each side.)
Notable Links:
- For more recipes using rice check out The W.H.O.L.E. Gang’s Friday Foodie Fix – Rice.
- For more gluten-free meal ideas, check out “What Can I Eat That’s Gluten-Free?” at The Gluten-Free Homemaker.
27 Comments
August 26th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
I like all your serving ideas. One of my kids grew some herbs last year, including cilantro, and then decided he really didn’t like it. So I don’t use it much, but fresh herbs are always a great addition. Thanks for sharing this as part of the blog carnival.
August 26th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Yes, that’s their rice. Oh I miss that. I really can’t eat rice, maybe a spoonful. I think that the butter makes this rice dish but that’s off limits to me too. I’m just going to enjoy your virtual rice now. Thank you.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
I’m sure I’ve said this before but I LOVE your additional notes. I always learn something that I can use in my own cooking. Thanks for a great recipe – cilantro is a great herb, cooked or fresh, and paired with garlic & lime you have an incredible flavor profile.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:16 am
I love the rice at Chipotle and yours looks identical. How about the rice at Bonefish – it is the sweetest rice I have ever tasted. I love your blog and I just included a link to it in my lastest article about kids with celiac disease.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:31 am
Are you talking about the jasmine rice at Bonefish? I haven’t tried to make it, but it would be worth the time and effort. It’s very good – goes great with a grilled fish and mango salsa. I’ll let you know if I get around to that. It may take, a few more trips to Bonefish for tasting.
Thanks for your kind words and linking to CeliacFamily.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Great idea to add cilantro and lime juice to the rice. I’ll have to try this one. Thanks for sharing.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:52 pm
[...] Monday – Fajitas I’ll be cutting up onions along with those peppers my mother-in-law brought me to make some fajitas. I’ll marinate some steak strips and serve with corn tortillas and Cilantro Rice. [...]
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:31 pm
[...] as a pico de gallo. Consider adding it to tacos, salads, or fajitas. Or, as I did here, on top of Cilantro Rice, slow-cooked Mexican Chicken, and shredded [...]
September 11th, 2009 at 9:51 am
I absolutely love Chipotle! I will have to try making that…I moved and I have not found any chipoltles around anywhere sadly.
- Jessika : Celiac Speaks – Symptoms, Recipes, Restaurants and Daily Life
October 25th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
[...] Cilantro Rice [...]
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:48 am
[...] Thursday – Taquitos Mexican chicken rolled in corn tortillas. Serving with leftover Avocado Salsa and Cilantro Rice. [...]
January 10th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
[...] – Rice Bowls I’ll be using slow-cooked Mexican chicken to top Cilantro Rice, black beans, and green chiles. I’ll garnish with shredded cheese and [...]
March 6th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
[...] I have a new way to use up my leftover Mexican chicken. In the past I’ve used the chicken for rice bowls, salad, taquitos, quesadillas, nachos, and tacos. Now I can add soup to my list, too! I kept the [...]
March 13th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Every time I see this I swear I can smell it. Thank you for sharing it on Friday Foodie Fix.
September 20th, 2010 at 12:13 am
[...] Monday – Chicken Taquitos Using slow-cooked shredded Mexican chicken to roll up in corn tortillas to make taquitos. Serving with Cilantro Rice. [...]
December 13th, 2010 at 10:05 am
[...] Cilantro Rice [...]
January 16th, 2012 at 11:02 am
[...] Monday - Chicken Taquitos made with shredded chicken served with Cilantro Lime Rice [...]
February 2nd, 2012 at 1:58 pm
[...] Friday – Salsa Verde Enchiladas, using leftover chicken from Wednesday, served with Rice [...]
May 21st, 2012 at 11:15 am
[...] Tuesday – Steak Fajitas with Cilantro Lime Rice [...]
October 8th, 2012 at 12:57 am
[...] Tuesday - Chicken Taquitos, Guacamole, Cilantro Lime Rice [...]
October 15th, 2012 at 7:02 am
[...] and veggie sticks. Monday: Tacos made with Ground Turkey Fajita Hash (from the freezer) and Cilantro Lime Rice with Cilantro Cashew Salad . Tuesday: Easy Pork Chops with a mixed green salad topped with [...]
October 15th, 2012 at 7:17 am
[...] lessons/Boy Scout practice Tacos made with Ground Turkey Fajita Hash (from the freezer) and Cilantro Lime Rice with Cilantro Cashew Salad Tuesday: CC practice/Piano lessons Easy Pork Chops with a mixed [...]
January 21st, 2013 at 10:14 am
[...] Cilantro Lime Shrimp using Basil and Lemon instead. It was delicious. I may need to try that with Cilantro Lime Rice, [...]
March 4th, 2013 at 12:26 pm
[...] Tuesday – Chicken Tacos, Cilantro Rice [...]
April 29th, 2013 at 1:17 am
[...] Cilantro Rice [...]
May 6th, 2013 at 8:08 am
[...] Lime Tilapia, with Heather’s Cilantro Rice (use the rest of the can of coconut milk as part of the water when making the rice making it [...]
May 6th, 2013 at 8:11 am
[...] Lime Tilapia, with Heather’s Cilantro Rice (use the rest of the can of coconut milk as part of the water when making the rice making it [...]