Brown Rice with Cilantro and Lime

Make your own cilantro lime brown rice instead of going to Chipotle! With a hearty dose of lime and cilantro, fluffy brown rice gets a boost. Serve with grilled Mexican corn and a strawberry basil margarita!

My father recently asked me how I prefer to make brown rice, which reminded me of one of my favorite side dishes: Cilantro Lime Brown Rice!

It’s incredibly simple, light in texture, and great with an almost infinite amount of meals!

Here are a few of my favorites meal pairings:

Served behind a dish of grilled chicken and pineapple.
Within a packed tortilla with steak, black beans, corn, guacamole, and cheese (or in a handmade burrito bowl!)
Together with sautéed kale with garlic
In a dish with grilled Mexican corn (and copious amounts of cotija cheese)
Instead, serve with a slice of lime!

Do you love or hate cilantro?

I like the aroma of fresh cilantro. It’s pleasant and reminds me of summer barbeque (probably because the first thing I do when the weather warms up is grill corn and slather it with cheese and cilantro).

Some individuals despise cilantro to the point of obsession. In my last workplace, there was a running joke that two of the ladies I worked with had cilantro illness; they both believed cilantro tasted like soap and refused to eat anything with cilantro on it.

For the longest time, I assumed they were both exaggerating, but then I saw an article about how it is a true phenomenon! Were you aware of this?

Those who can’t stomach the taste of cilantro have sensitive olfactory-receptor genes that detect the scent of aldehyde compounds found in both cilantro and soap, and hence cilantro tastes like soap to them. That’s insane!

I’m so glad I don’t have this sensitivity because I adore cilantro.

Is brown rice healthier than white rice?

In general, the answer is yes. Yet, this is mostly due to the fact that white rice is nutrient-neutral due to the processing it undergoes.

Brown rice has less salt than white rice and also includes natural minerals such as potassium, fiber, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, and manganese.

A few tips for making cilantro lime rice

I like cooking a large batch of this rice and then dividing it into individual containers to serve as a side dish with various dinners throughout the week. Weekly meal planning is the way to go!
If you have a rice cooker, feel free to use it, but as I don’t, my instructions are prepared for the old-fashioned saucepan approach.
I also like to use a lot of lime: fresh lime juice in the water I’m cooking the rice in, lime juice and lime zest when I combine it all together. EVERY LIME. If you don’t like lime as much as I do, feel free to reduce the amount wherever you see appropriate.

Behind the scenes

Aside: Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of these food picture shoots?

Why don’t I show you, because sometimes I’m filming and I think to myself, Honestly, Bluebirdcafela.com? Really? and this was one of those instances, but to show it wasn’t utterly stupid (yeah, yes, it was, but bear with me), I took the shot next to it.

That was really worth it!

What to serve with cilantro lime brown rice

40 Aprons’ Steak Taco Bowls
The Busy Baker Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas
Grilled Corn from Mexico
Whitney Bond’s Blackened Grilled Salmon
Recipe Tin Eats Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Cilantro Lime Brown Rice (Chipotle Copycat)

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Prep Time: 5mins

Cook Time: 50mins

Total Time: 55mins

Servings: servings

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Description

Forget Chipotle – make cilantro lime brown rice at home! Fluffy brown rice gets an upgrade with a healthy dose of lime and cilantro.

Equipment

Small saucepan

Ingredients

1 cup uncooked brown rice
2cupswater
2 tablespoons butter (or vegan butter alternative)
split juice from up to two limes
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon sea salt + 2 teaspoon minced garlic 1 teaspoon garlic salt, or 1 teaspoon
1 tsp lime zest

Instructions

Bring rice, water, butter, and 1 lime juice to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cover. Let it to cook for 40 minutes, undisturbed.
1 cup brown rice, 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons butter, up to 2 limes’ juice
Keep the cover on and remove from the heat for another 10 minutes to allow it to steam.
1 lime zest, 3 cup fresh cilantro
When the rice is finishing up, coarsely cut the cilantro and zest 1 lime.
1
2 tsp garlic powder
Using a fork, fluff the final rice. Stir in the remaining lime juice, cilantro, garlic, salt, and lime zest.
1 1
Serve immediately, and if desired, with a slice of lime. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

FAQs

Is the brown rice at Chipotle cilantro lime?

Every morning, we create our cilantro-lime brown rice from scratch in each of our locations. To add delicious ingredients, we cook the whole-grain rice with bay leaves, then season it with lemon and lime juices and sprinkle it with cilantro for a slightly tangy, fresh taste.

Is cilantro lime rice or brown rice better for you?

At Chipotle, one dish of brown rice has one gram more fiber per serving than the traditional cilantro-lime white rice, but it also contains 160 milligrams less sodium.

What can I add to brown rice to make it taste better?

We like garlic powder or garlic salt, salsa, bouillon cubes, and even eggs and vegetables. Brown rice would taste fantastic with any of these alternatives. Whether you use a rice cooker or a skillet, these suggestions will make brown rice tasty.

Why does Chipotle rice have cilantro?

At each of our restaurants, we prepare our cilantro-lime white rice from scratch every morning. We steam it with bay leaves to give it a herbal taste, then season it with lime and lemon juices and mix it with cilantro for a fresh, slightly acidic flavor.

Is Chipotle brown rice healthier than white?

Brown rice is lower in salt and higher in fiber than white rice. If you pick the burrito or tacos, you may choose to forego the rice (210 calories) entirely since you’ll be receiving your grains from the shell. White rice, on the other hand, may be a healthy option if that’s what you desire.

Is Chipotle’s brown rice actually brown rice?

FAQs. Is the brown rice at Chipotle truly brown rice? Sure, Chipotle’s brown rice contains brown rice. Brown rice is a complete grain that has been little processed, retaining its fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

What is the most healthiest rice to eat?

Brown rice is significantly higher in minerals like magnesium and B vitamins than white rice, according to Nies. When it comes to calories per cup of cooked rice, brown has a little advantage over white, with 248 vs 205.

What is the healthiest rice in the world?

While it might be difficult to get, black rice is the nutritional rock star of rice varietals. 1 It has a lot of fiber and minerals that help decrease cholesterol, support good digestion, and prevent chronic illness.

What is the healthiest rice ever?

According to research, black rice has the most antioxidant activity of any kind, making it a healthy option ( 7 ). Antioxidants are chemicals that protect cells from harm produced by an excess of molecules known as free radicals, which contribute to oxidative stress.

Why do you soak brown rice before cooking?

Is it necessary to soak brown rice before cooking it? Soaking is optional, but highly recommended! Soaking grains removes part of the naturally existing phytic acid in the grain, which improves digestibility and reduces cooking time.