Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

The pungent flavor of cilantro and the aromatic flavor of lime combine in a way that tastes like magic. Cilantro lime rice is the perfect side dish for Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Indian foods. Burritos filled with cilantro lime rice and beans are savory and nutritious; cilantro lime rice also goes well with spicy curry and tagine. To make a perfect batch of cilatro lime rice with full flavor, use fresh ingredients.

Ingredients:

4 cups of cooked jasmine rice
1 large lime
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
1 tbsp corn oil or melted butter
1 tsp salt
optional: 1 tbsp finely minced canned jalapenos

(1) Prepare the four cups of jasmine rice according to the directions on the package rice and your rice cooker's instructions. You will need about 2 cups of dry rice and about 3 to 4 cups of water, though it varies by brand.

(2) As the rice is cooks, chop the cilantro finely and place in a small mixing bowl.

(3) Zest the entire surface of one large lime and add the zest to the chopped cilantro. Roll the zested lime on the counter to soften the pulp, cut the lime in half, and squeeze all of its juice into cilantro and lime zest mixture. You can flatten the rinds on a cutting board and use a serrated knife to scrape off even more pulp to get as much out of the lime as possible.

(4) Add the sald and oil or melted butter to the cilantro/lime mixture and blend it well.

(5) When the rice is done, immediately pour the cilantro and lime mixture over the rice, and use a spatula to coat it evenly. You can add the chopped jalapeno at this point if you like spicy rice. Serve warm and refrigerate any leftovers.