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Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

Course Appetizer
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups of long-grain basmati rice rinsed and drained
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons of finely minced fresh garlic
  • 2 1/2 cups of water
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt or to taste
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Juice of 1 whole lime
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup of finely chopped cilantro

Instructions

  • Rinse the rice in a sieve with cool water until it runs clear to remove any extra starch. You can also soak it in cool water for 30 minutes and then drain well.
  • Bring 2 1/2 cups of water to a boil in a kettle.
  • In a pot over medium heat, add the olive oil, butter, garlic, and rice. Stir well to coat all the rice grains with the butter and oil. Let the rice toast for 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Add the hot water, salt, and bay leaf. Stir it up and bring it to a boil. Once it's boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 12 minutes.
  • After 12 minutes, turn off the heat and let it sit covered for 5 to 10 minutes until the rice is perfectly cooked and tender.
  • Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.
  • Transfer the rice to a bowl and add the lime juice, lemon juice, and chopped cilantro. Mix it all together and serve it up warm!

Notes

  • Did you know that cilantro stems are just as flavorful as the leaves? Chop them up finely along with the leaves to add to this rice.
  • If you usually cook jasmine rice, feel free to use that instead of basmati. Just adjust the water ratio as needed.
  • This recipe uses less water than many others because too much water can make the rice mushy. Steaming the rice at the end without any more water helps it stay fluffy and perfect. Enjoy your homemade Chipotle-inspired rice!