Side · grain

Cilantro-Lime Rice

Name: Cilantro-Lime Rice
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1.5 cup jasmine rice; 1 whole lime; 0.25 bunch cilantro; kosher salt

The workhorse grain for anything with lime in it. Uses herbs you already bought.

A plate of fluffy cilantro-lime rice with lime zest

Active5 min

Total20 min

Dishes1

Per serving$0.45

grain
vegan
gluten-free

Ingredients · 4 servings

1.5 cup	jasmine rice · pantry
1 whole	lime
0.25 bunch	cilantro grow it ↗
	kosher salt · pantry

Method

The chef moveStir the lime and cilantro in AFTER cooking, off the heat, so both stay bright green and sharp.

Cook rice as usual with a big pinch of salt.
Off the heat, fork through lime juice, zest, and chopped cilantro.

The Why · No Anecdotes

The science, not a story about my childhood.

Why stir the herbs and lime in off the heat?

Cilantro's fresh aroma and lime's brightness both live in volatile oils that heat drives off within seconds. Folded into hot rice off the burner, they perfume the grains and stay green instead of cooking to a dull, gray sludge.