Craving a side dish that sings with flavor and brightens any meal? This coconut lime cilantro rice is the answer. Get ready to transform ordinary rice into an extraordinary culinary experience with this surprisingly simple recipe.
Ingredients
Let's explore into what you'll need for this crazy-delicious rice! First, grab 1 1/2 cups of long-grain rice. Jasmine rice is awesome too!
Next, you're gonna want 3/4 cup of canned coconut milk – not the watery stuff, okay? We are going for richness here.
Then comes 1 1/2 cups of regular water, plus 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. A flavorful glaze, similar to one used on a holiday ham, can enhance the taste of rice dishes as well, providing a sweet and savory fusion of flavors. Now, for the "to finish" ingredients…1/4 cup of chopped cilantro – or coriander, if you are feeling fancy!
Last, get 1 or 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice. I know, I know, it doesn't seem like much, does it? But, trust me, it's all it needs. You don't want it to taste like lime-aid. Adjust to your taste, though I trust you'll want to taste it!
Instructions
Now that you've got all your ingredients ready, I'll walk you through how to actually cook this amazing rice! First, grab a medium saucepan – the one you use for mac and cheese will totally work. Put the rice, coconut milk, water, sugar, and salt in there.
Next, put the lid on and turn the heat to medium. Wait for it to simmer, then turn the heat down a bit – medium-low is the goal.
Now, you're gonna cook it for 15 to 18 minutes, or until all the liquid has been soaked up. It's important to cook the rice until all the liquid is absorbed like in baked rice dishes. Don't peek! Once it's done, take it off the heat but keep that lid on! Let it sit for about 10 minutes.
Finally, grab a fork and fluff the rice – make it nice and airy. Mix in the cilantro/coriander and lime juice. Give it a taste and add more lime if you want! It's your rice; you're the boss!
Recipe Notes
A few things I've noticed while cooking this that might help you out: this rice seriously goes with almost anything from South East Asia—think Thai curries, Vietnamese spring rolls, or even some Malaysian skewers. It's also fantastic with Caribbean, South American, and Hawaiian dishes!
Don't be shy with the lime; it really wakes up the flavors! I usually start with 1 tablespoon, but sometimes I add almost 2—taste as you go, it's all about what *you* like! If you don't have fresh cilantro, don't sweat it. You can totally skip it, and it'll still be delicious!
Keep an eye on the rice while it's cooking. Every stove is different, and you don't want it sticking to the bottom or drying out too fast. I recommend you lift the lid carefully after 15 minutes to have a look. If it's drying too fast, reduce the heat.
Short Recipe Version
Coconut Lime Cilantro Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Serving size: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rice
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1-2 tbsp lime juice
Instructions:
- Combine rice and coconut milk in a pot.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 20 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed and rice is fluffy.
- Stir in cilantro and lime juice.
Nutrition Information (per serving, approximate):
- Calories: 250
- Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Protein: 4g