If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I love mexican + southwestern food. We have a Mexican restaurant in walking distance that we can visit whenever we’re craving Mexican, but lately, I’ve taken to trying to recreate my favorite dishes at home. The other night, TI was making Slow-Cooker Mexican Chicken for tacos (which turned out AMAZING!) + wanted to try to make Chipotle’s cilantro-lime rice to accompany it. I hopped online, found a recipe + got cookin’.
This rice is SO FLIPPIN’ GOOD + incredibly easy to make. I love dishes like that! Be warned, though – it’s super addictive. It’s a miracle that i didn’t devour the whole thing in one sitting. The fresh flavor of the cilantro pairs wonderfully with the bright citrus from the lime, while the little bit of oil adds the perfect amount of richness. Everything balances delightfully well with the slightly nutty rice (I used white basmati, which was perfect). I loved it as a side dish with our slow-cooker mexican chicken tacos, or it would be great with grilled chicken/fish or as the base for a burrito bowl – the possibilities are endless. Do yourself a favor + try this rice – you’ll be oh-so-happy that you did!
Cilantro-Lime Rice
serves 4, adapted from skinnytaste
Ingredients
1 cup extra long grain rice or basmati rice
1/2 lime, juice of
2 cups water
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro
3 tsp vegetable oilDirections
In a small heavy pot, add rice, water, 1 tsp oil + salt. Boil on high until most of the water evaporates (for me, this only took about 4-5 minutes). When the water just skims the top of the rice, reduce to low, cover, + cook about 15 minutes. Shut off flame + keep covered an additional 5 minute.
In a medium bowl, combine chopped cilantro, lime juice, rice + remaining oil + toss until completely mixed.
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I love their rice!!! This makes me so happy to have this recipe, it’s perfect for so many things. I’m coming over for dinner next time you cook mexican!
You’re more than welcome next time we’re having Mexican for dinner – the more, the merrier!
I am SUCH sucker for Chipotle rice. And I can’t wait to hear about this Mexican chicken you’ve got coming our way!
**such a sucker. Darn it, I need to proofread better.
No sweat. If I had a dollar for every time I left a comment with typos in it, or a word left out of it … I’d have a whoooole lotta dollars. =)
I am moderately obsessed with Chipotle’s rice! It’s SO good. I love the tartness the lime gives. Yay for you for recreating this at home–now I will and will try to make homemade burrito bowls
Yahoo! Recipe has been emailed to the friend, and bookmarked for ourselves!
Im definitely making this one – I love rice (too much) and this sounds great!
Love how easy this is to make! And I have leftover likms and cilantro from my ceviche making experiment :-). Can’t wait to see the recipe for your slow cooker chicken tacos!
This is very similar to the version we make–I finally tried Basmati rice awhile back, and now I’m addicted! Your rice turned out gorgeous, and I can’t wait to see your slow-cooker chicken!
thanks, ashley! and for you, tara + EA – I hope to have the slow-cooker Mexican chicken recipe up within the next week or two. =)
yumm! love adding simple things to rice like this–such a great way to make it taste awesome.
We are not fans of plain rice but love cilantro and lime, gotta try this!
Nominated you for the One Lovely Blog and Inspiring Blogger Award. Stop by and check it out.
i’m the same way, actually – plain rice? i can take it or leave it. but when you jazz it up with tasty herbs + citrus, i can’t resist it! thank you SO much for the blog awards – off to check it out!
I love copy-cat recipes, especially when they’re from chipotle! And this is the perfect side dish to almonst any meal.
Btw, I can’t wait for the slow-cooker mexican chicken post!
I don’t like Mexican food but I do love rice. Even plain rice. I’ve never tried adding stuff to it! I like lime juice, never tried cilantro, but maybe I’ll buy some and try this out! Sounds refreshing.
ooh, you’ve never tried cilantro? it’s one of those flavors that some people love, + some people despise. actually, the new york times did an article a while back on how some people are genetically pre-disposed such that cilantro tastes like soap to them. hmm, i realize i haven’t exactly done a good job selling cilantro to you, but maybe i did fill your brain with one new random fact. =) you’ll have to let me know what you think of cilantro … and this rice!
Hahaha. Well then. I’ll have to see if I can find a tiny little bit of it since I seem to be genetically pre-disposed to dislike almost everything that’s not fried, sweet, or full of carbs. Thanks for schooling me.
This rice dish definitely takes Mexican cooking to a whole new level my friend, absolutely addictive 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
mmm, i love making this rice! it is so tasty!
looks great and i am sure tastes delicious.
this is about the only thing i can eat that has cilantro in it – other dishes, i can’t do it cause i hate cilantro so much. your rice looks identical to the chipotle one..pair it up with some grilled chicken and i’ve got myself a healthy fake out!! thanks for sharing this!!
Love this recipe. I make it all the time. So simple, it’s like what’s the point of making regular rice?
agreed! isn’t it just beyond simple? and so delicious. a major win in my book!
Looks perfect! We love chipotle!
I’ve never had this rice at Chipotle but it sounds fantastic! I can think of so many dishes to serve this with.
I love cilantro lime rice! I must try this!
I have never had it at Chipotle. BUT this looks amazing and the perfect side dish!
Great side dish & would be perfect with some fish tacos! Cannot wait for the slow cooker Mexican chicken post!
I want the whole bowl of this Amy! I love chipotle but if someone would give me a bowl of the rice mixed with their guacamole, I would be a fantastically happy girl. I love this!
oh i love their rice! if I wind up making and eating the entire recipe, despite how we’ve given up everything white, I’m going to blame you. 😉
Thanks for the recipe Amy…I might just fire up this rice to pair with Mexican beef dish that I’m making tonight.
i bet it would pair wonderfully with the mexican beef! and i hope to see that recipe on your blog soon, please + thank you. =)
I recently converted from a cilantro hater to a cilantro lover. Can’t wait to try this!
I’ve never eaten at Chipotle, but there is nothing not to love about this rice. Yum!
I love this. Somedays I just want a big bowl of rice and beans and this look perfect for those days
I will have to try this rice next time I am cooking mexican. I do not care for the “usual” mexican rice and this looks fresh and tasty.
please see my note about love of mexican food in your slow cooker post. ’nuff said.
perfect addition to dinner with the slow cooker mexican chicken of yours I just pinned!!!
I just went to the Asian food shop to get me some cilantro. I threw the rest of the groceries on the floor and instantly got started on this! So I don’t love or hate cilantro. I’m just kind of indifferent. I only made two servings of this but I ate it all. So I guess that means I really liked it?
It was nice to have something different. My fingers smell funny. Cilantro is kind of weird.
bahaha! I adore you. =)
Made this last night along with cilantro lime shrimp, very tasty!
Ooh, i bet it was great with that shrimp! So happy you liked it! =)
This is the best rice EVER! Awesome combo of jasmine rice, cilantro & lime.
We’ve tried it with grilled Wild Red Snapper & it was delicious meal.
We marinated the fish with olive oil, sea salt, pepper & Lime Butter(homemade)
Fast & delicious, a must try meal.
That sounds like SUCH a fabulous meal, Dee Dee + I’m thrilled that you liked the rice – isn’t it amazing?!
so i have been searching high and low for a good chipotle rice copycat…and this recipe is spot on. love love love this so much!
Yay, some glad you love it, Melissa! It’s one of my favorite rice recipes ever! =)
Yup – I could eat this all by myself! I just wanted a little something extra so I added a dash of garlic powder but even w/out it it was lick the bowl good!
awesome, beth – so glad you liked it! it’s definitely one of my favorite rice recipes ever!
delish…now try BROWN RICE! Chipotle now serves brown rice….
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