Coconut lime rice is a delicious and bright side dish that goes great with your weeknight dinner. This quick and easy 20-minute dish is made from scratch and is the perfect pairing for Mexican or grilled meals.
What is lime coconut rice?
This coconut rice recipe is made with long-grain white rice, coconut milk, lime juice, and cilantro. You can easily substitute or add ingredients to match your tastes or use ingredients you already have.
It’s a great rice recipe to pair with anything grilled or tex-mex and Asian-inspired meals. Not to mention it comes together in about 20 minutes!
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients for this coconut lime rice recipe:
- Jasmine rice: This long-grain rice is perfect for this side dish. Basmati rice works great too.
- Coconut milk: Canned coconut milk adds a subtle coconut flavor.
- Lime zest: Fresh lime zest is added right in before serving.
- Lime juice: Bright lime juice really kicks up the flavor of this rice.
- Cilantro: Chopped fresh cilantro gives this rice flavor and beautiful green color.
How to make coconut lime rice
Here are brief directions on how to make this coconut lime cilantro rice. For full instructions, see the recipe card below.
- Combine the rice, coconut milk, water, and salt and bring it to a simmer. Cover and cook on low until the liquid is absorbed.
- Remove the pan from the heat and then fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the lime zest, lime juice, and cilantro.
Variations of coconut cilantro rice
Coconut lime rice is very adaptable to your tastes and preferences. You can add or substitute ingredients depending on what you have in your pantry or fridge.
Try one or a mixture of any of these for a different base flavor.
Rice: This recipe uses jasmine rice, but you can use brown rice, arborio rice, or other short-grain rice. You may even feel like bumping it up a notch and using barley, farro, or quinoa for added nutritional value and to turn it into a complete meal.
Adjust the cooking time and liquid depending on which type of grain you use.
Mix-ins: Replace the cilantro with parsley, add minced garlic, diced shallots, or scallions to make it even more flavorful.
Liquid: This recipe uses a combination of coconut milk and water. You can also use chicken broth, water, or coconut water for a more mild coconut flavor.
What is the best liquid to rice ratio?
Have you ever noticed that your rice is mushy or crunchy when you take a bite? This is most likely caused by too much or too little liquid.
Here’s a breakdown of how much you need of each to make your rice come out perfectly every time.
- White rice needs a 1:2 rice to liquid ratio. So, for example, one cup of rice for every two cups of liquid.
- Brown rice needs a 1:2 rice to liquid ratio. This would be one cup of rice for every two cups of liquid.
How else can I cook coconut lime rice?
This recipe uses a small saucepan with a lid to cook the rice, but you can use other methods if they’re available.
Use an instant pot by filling the pot with the liquid and rice, cover, and set the timer. When it’s done cooking, let the steam naturally release for five minutes, then carefully release the rest of the pressure. Remove the lid, fluff the rice with a fork, and serve while it’s hot.
You can also use a rice cooker to make the rice as well.
Ways to Serve
This coconut lime rice goes well with other side dishes like roasted asparagus with lemon, refried pinto beans, red skin mashed potatoes, or roasted garlic green beans.
Some main meals that go well with this rice are grilled or Mexican dishes like grilled cilantro lime chicken sliders, ground chicken enchiladas, or chipotle chicken tacos.
FAQs
Rice will get mushy when there’s too much water or when it’s cooked too long. Make sure the liquid to rice ratio is correct, and check it at 12 minutes.
This depends on how much canned coconut milk you put in the rice. This recipe calls for a combination of coconut milk and water, so the taste is very subtle.
If your rice is crunchy, there wasn’t enough liquid in the pot, and the rice couldn’t soak up enough to become soft. This may also happen if the heat is too high or if the pan is too large, which can cause the liquid to evaporate before the rice fully cooks.
More Rice Recipes
Print
Coconut Lime Rice
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Side
- Method: Simmer
- Cuisine: American
Description
Coconut lime rice is a delicious and bright side dish that goes great with your weeknight dinner. This quick and easy 20-minute dish is made from scratch and is the perfect pairing for Mexican or grilled meals.
Ingredients
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 3/4 cup coconut milk
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 1 lime, zested
- 1 tsp. fresh lime juice
- 1 Tbsp. minced fresh cilantro
- Kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine the rice, coconut milk, water, and pinch of salt in a 2-quart saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Stir a few times at beginning to separate the rice, then cook undisturbed, partially covered at a gentle simmer until liquid is absorbed, about 12-15 minutes. At 12 minutes check the rice for doneness.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let the rice rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Then, fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the lime zest, lime juice, and cilantro. Season with more as needed. Taste the rice and add more fresh lime juice if needed.
Notes
- Rice: If you like, you can rinse the rice before cooking but it’s not necessary.
- Coconut Milk: It’s normal for the cream and liquid to separate in canned coconut milk. Shake the can before opening or blend the contents of the can until smooth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3/4 cup
- Calories: 147
- Sugar: 0.2 g
- Sodium: 318.8 mg
- Fat: 9.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: summer, tropical, easy
Recipe originally published April 2015.
Sandra Willians says
excellent recipe
★★★★★
Kim says
Pretty impressed with this recipe I found with a vague Google search. Subbed Basmati rice for Jasmine as I had it in the pantry already, followed the rest of the recipe exactly. I will probably make this again.
★★★★★
olga says
Can i say YUM? this goes with pretty much any hispanic dish,so so good!
★★★★★
Ashley says
Thank you for the delicious recipe!! I was craving this rice but thought it was impossible to make at home. So good!! ????
Katya says
That’s awesome! So glad you loved it. Thanks for the feedback 🙂
Abby says
Do you have a go to chicken recipe to serve on the side of this?
Katya says
This roasted chicken would be great https://www.littlebroken.com/2017/04/19/easy-roasted-herb-chicken/. It has slight kick from the pepper flakes and pairs well with the sweetness of the rice.
Ginny says
I just made this tonight in my rice cooker and it turned out perfectly! Thank you so much for the recipe—it’s now going to be my go to!
★★★★★
Katya says
Thanks so much Ginny! So happy it worked out in a rice cooker for you.
Linda says
Thank you! I knew if I used it it would first—be too sweet, and second—need to be cut, so I rinsed the rice that I had glopped some of the condensed stuff onto and sent the husband out for the real stuff! My daughter told me to find it in the specialty aisle with the ethnic foods, etc. and there it was. It all turned out perfectly in the end. Thank you for your reply 🙂
Katya says
So glad to hear that!
Angela W Broyles says
Just love this recipe! It is my go-to for coconut-lime rice. I add in kaffir lime leaves in the beginning- a great addition if you have some!
★★★★★
Katya says
Thanks so much Angela! I bet kaffir lime leaves add a nice flavor to the rice.
Navy J says
I had a major problem with this recipe, and that was the amount of lime used. The recipe calls for 1 lime, zested, and a teaspoon of fresh lime juice. I zested an entire lime and used the juice, and the rice came out so bitter and lime-tasting that it was inedible. Do you really use the zest of the entire lime, plus the tsp of juice?
Katya says
Hi Navy: It should not be bitter at all. The only thing I can think of that can cause that is if you zested some of the white from the lime skin then it will definitely cause bitterness. But yes, zest of one lime and teaspoon of juice should give the rice a pleasant lime-y taste without any bitterness. Sorry it didn’t quite work out for you. I hope this helps!
Karen says
Can I use regular rice? Long grain?
Katya says
Yes you can Karen!
Michelle H. says
Have you ever tried this in a rice cooker? I’m planning a party for 50 and would love to be able to do this in a cooker…thoughts? I’ve made the recipe as is and love it!!!!
★★★★★
Ginger says
Wondering if you tried or had success with the rice cooker, Michelle?
Christin says
I’m going to try this in the rice cooker tonight. I’ll add the measured amount of coconut milk and then fill with water the rest of the way to the line. I can’t imagine it won’t work that way as it should keep to liquid to rice ratio tailored to the cooker as usual.
Rose says
How did it work in the rice cooker Christin? Please post what you did. Thanks
Jeannine says
I made it in a rice cooker, I actually just used the exact same liquid amounts and it turned out perfect 🙂
★★★★★