This Cilantro Lime Brown Rice recipe is a perfect side dish for a wide variety of Mexican-inspired meals. Plus it's simple to prepare! (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)
This Cilantro Lime Rice is a wonderful side dish for your Mexican-inspired meals.
We enjoy it with many dishes, but especially these Black Bean Spinach Enchiladas! It's so delicious when it mixes with the homemade enchilada sauce.
Plus I love how this tasty recipe comes together quick and easy with just a few simple ingredients.
Ingredients for Cilantro Lime Rice
For this recipe you will combine:
- Long grain brown rice: This recipe works with long-grain brown rice or white rice. I used white rice when I initially posted it, but now use brown basmati rice. Both are tasty depending on your preference or what you have on hand. You will simply simmer the rice in a medium saucepan on the stove top. Then fluff with a fork and stir in the other additions and flavors.
- Fresh lime juice: You will need about one lime for this recipe, but use more if desired.
- Fresh lemon juice: I find the taste is best when using both lemon and lime juice together!
- Cilantro: Use as much or as little fresh cilantro as you would like.
- Salt: I use fine grain salt for this recipe. Be sure to use enough to help bring out the flavors.
Customizing
Bolder flavor: If you like a bold citrus flavor, add even more lemon or lime juice. Or include a half teaspoon lime zest.
Garlic: Include a quarter teaspoon (or more) garlic powder, or one minced garlic clove.
Protein: Stir in cooked black beans or pinto beans for more protein and fiber before serving.
Vegetables: Add veggies to the mixture like sliced green onion, cooked sweet corn (or fire-roasted corn), tomatoes, avocado, or red bell pepper.
Make it spicy: Add jalapeno, chipotle in adobo sauce, cayenne pepper, chili powder, or red pepper flakes. Or simply top with hot sauce to taste before serving.
Serving
This rice is so versatile! Here are a few ideas of ways to enjoy it:
- In burritos and tacos
- As a base for burrito bowls (like this Vegan Burrito Bowl with Creamy Chipotle Sauce)
- In your favorite rice bowls
- Alongside enchiladas
- Or as a side dish for any other Mexican-style meals
For more inspiration, also browse all side dish recipes or cilantro recipes.
Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain brown rice* (or white)
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1/4 tsp. salt (more to taste)
Optional additions:
- 1/2 tsp. lime zest, 2 green onions, 1/4 tsp. garlic powder or 1 clove minced garlic, sweet corn, black beans
Instructions
- Rinse and cook rice according to package instructions.*
- Meanwhile, finely chop cilantro (large stems removed if desired).
- In a medium bowl, add cooked rice, chopped cilantro, lime juice, lemon juice, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Add more salt to taste if desired (the flavors taste best when sufficiently salted!) or any optional flavors/additions.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)
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Sophia
Want to give this a try but am a low sodium household. What is the percent/milligrams of sodium in this recipe? Thank you.
Kaitlin
Hi Sophia! Thanks for your question. Please see my FAQs for why I purposely omit the sodium content calculation on my site. (I always encourage people to calculate their own for a much more precise measurement.) 🙂
Susan
Super delicious!
Kaitlin
Great to hear!
Anonymous
This is my favorite part of what I order at Chipotle. Now we can enjoy at home. Thanks.
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
So great!
Anonymous
I liked this, but the flavor was very subtle.
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
I agree it's definitely a simple, subtle flavor. But please feel free to add extra lime juice, lime zest, garlic, salt, more cilantro, etc. to liven it up a bit!
Amber's Reading Room
I am trying this tonight with the spinach black bean enchiladas. So happy I found your blog. I recently became a pescatarian so this is a lot of help with recipes and finding something different and yummy.
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
So glad you're enjoying the site - thank you for the kind feedback. Hope you loved the rice and enchiladas last night!
Morgan
Do you think this would taste just as good with quinoa or wild rice?
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
I bet quinoa would work very well (but not so sure about the wild rice as it has a nuttier flavor).
Anonymous
Making this tomorrow with fiesta stuffed peppers!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Sounds like a great pairing!