Cilantro Rice

Bright and flavorful cilantro rice with jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, and green onions. It is the perfect side to pair with your favorite summer foods.

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Cilantro Rice

Fresh cilantro rice recipe makes such a wonderful side dish for chicken, shrimp, or just about anything that requires a flavorful rice dish. It also serves great as a base for taco bowl, spring roll bowl, or burrito bowls topped with our creamy shredded chicken.

It comes together pretty easily on the stovetop in one pot. So you can make a double-batch of this cilantro rice to enjoy all week long.

What is Cilantro Rice Made Of?

You’ll need the following ingredients to make the cilantro rice recipe:

• Jalapeño: Jalapeño is going to add flavor and little heat to the rice. I recommend using fresh jalapeño and not canned.
• Garlic: For best flavor, use fresh minced garlic.
• Rice: Long-grain white rice, such as basmati or jasmine. It’s more aromatic than plain white rice.
• Chicken broth: For more flavor, use chicken broth for cooking the rice. Homemade or store-bought.
• Cilantro: Use a combination of fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems.
• Green onions: Use the green parts of the green onion for this recipe. White parts are great for cooking.
• Lime zest: Fresh lime zest is going to infuse the rice with a mild lime flavor.

You’ll also need a few pantry staples such as olive oil or avocado oil and kosher salt.

How to Make Cilantro Rice

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add jalapeño pepper and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.

Add the rice (no need to rinse it!) and stir to coat with olive oil. Cook, stirring frequently until the rice has started to brown, about 3-4 minutes.

Add chicken broth and salt. Bring to a simmer, then cover and lower the heat to low to maintain a very low simmer. Cook undisturbed for 15-20 minutes or until all of the broth is absorbed and rice is tender.

Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork. Stir in cilantro, green onions, and lime zest.

What Do You Eat with Cilantro Rice?

Cilantro rice is a versatile side dish for many Mexican and Asian-inspired entrées. Here are some favorites:

• Grilled Chicken Tacos
• Asian Chicken Meatballs
• Easy Spicy Shrimp Tacos
• Coconut Milk Chicken
• Sesame Chicken Wings
• Chicken Fajita Lettuce Wraps
• Ground Chicken Enchiladas

More Rice Side Dishes to Try

Love rice side dishes? Here are a few favorites to try:

• Cauliflower Rice Pilaf
• Mexican White Rice
• Pineapple Rice
• Cilantro Lime Coconut Rice

Leftover cilantro? Snip off the bottom of the cilantro stems and store in a jar filled with water. Cover loosely with a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 weeks, changing the water every several days.

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