Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice is a quick and easy side dish recipe that can be ready in about 20 minutes. Fresh lime and cilantro bring bold flavors to tender cooked white rice. Making this the perfect side dish recipe for taco night. Cilantro lime rice pairs well with tacos, and enchiladas, or use as a base for your favorite burrito bowl.
If you love Chiptole's rice then you are sure to love this Instant Pot cilantro lime rice. White rice is cooked in the pressure cooker with water until fork tender and fluffy. Then toasted together with freshly squeezed lime and fresh chopped cilantro for bold flavors. Making this the perfect side dish recipe for taco night.
In this article, we will share how easy it is to make rice in the Instant Pot. We will also explain why in our option the Instant Pot is the best way to cook rice. As well as what to serve this rice with and any variations there may be for this recipe.
This easy to make rice recipe is a great beginner recipe for those that may be new to the Instant Pot. We have a great article for Instant Pot Terms you may also find useful.
How To Make
I find that the Instant pot makes perfect rice for me every time. The rice comes out fork tender in 12 minutes on low pressure. Depending on what I'm planning to use the rice for I have a trick that helps the rice from sticking together.
That would be olive oil mixed together with the water and rice. A bit of salt cooked along with the rice will enhance the flavor of the rice.
Into the inner pot of the Instant Pot add the water, rice, salt, and 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Stir these ingredients together, making sure the rice is all covered by the water. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and press the rice button.
If your IP doesn't have a rice button no problem. Just press the pressure cook button, making sure it is set to low pressure. Then adjust your cooking time to 12 minutes.
Once the cooking time is done do a quick release to release the steam from the Instant Pot. Remove the lid from the pressure cooker, give the rice a good stir to help make it fluffy.
Add the freshly squeezed juice of one whole lime into the rice. Along with the fresh chopped cilantro and the remaining olive oil. This time the olive oil will help to keep the rice fluffy as well as from sticking together. Mix all the ingredients together and serve with your favorite tacos.
Why The Instant Pot Is Best To Cook Rice In
Cooking rice in the Instant Pot not only cooks it fast but also requires less water to be used when cooing the rice. Once I discovered how easy making rice in the Instant Pot was I haven't made it any other way.
Before if I made rice it was almost always minute rice boiled on the stove. I love how easy the Instant Pot has made making rice. Twelve minutes to get fully cooked rice and I don't have to watch a pot so it doesn't boil over.
This cilantro lime rice can easily be made with minute rice or rice cooked on the stovetop. All you have to do is prepare the white rice or jasmine rice the way you normally do. Once the rice is fully cooked mix in the cilantro and lime juice.
Did I mention there is no need to rinse the rice? I have made this recipe by making sure to rinse the rice before cooking as well as not rinsing the rice. I didn't find a difference either way.
Tips
The key to getting the rice so it doesn't stick together is mixing olive oil into the water and rice. Then add a bit more when the rice is finished cooking along with the lime juice and cilantro.
Instant Pot cilantro lime rice is a perfect side dish to most Mexican inspired recipes. We love to have this easy rice recipe with tacos or fajitas. My friend Bity at Eighty Recipes has a great Ground Turkey Recipe that would be perfect to serve over this rice.
It would also be a great base for any burrito bowl recipe or as a great side to pair with enchiladas. Stir in some black or pinto beans along with fresh pico de gallo for a meatless dinner idea.
I did make this in my 6-quart Instant Pot but any size Instant Pot will work.
Variations
Not a fan of white rice? Brown rice or use our favorite royal blend rice would work great for this recipe. You could also try replacing the rice with any type of grain. I haven't tried it yet. So I'm not sure of the results, but I bet quinoa would taste amazing with cilantro and lime.
As for the lime juice for this recipe, I do feel that freshly squeezed is best. The consecrate won't bring in a fresh taste. So this will change the overall taste of the recipe. Once again fresh is better when it comes to the cilantro.
But in this case, dried will work just fine. Chicken or veggie broth would be a good substitution for the water to bring in more flavor.
We hope you enjoy this easy side dish recipe for Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice as much as we do.
My Creative Manner is answering the question "what's there to eat" with simple recipe creations ~ Jen
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Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice comes out tender and loaded with a bold fresh taste. Cook this easy side dish recipe up in minutes to enjoy on taco night.
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Water
- 2 Cups White Rice jasmine rice will work
- ¼ Cup Cilantro fresh and chopped
- ½-1 Small Juice of Lime
- ¼ Teaspoon Salt
- 2 Teaspoon Olive Oil divided
Instructions
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Into the inner pot of the Instant Pot ( I used my 6-quart) add in the water, rice, salt, and 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Stir the ingredients together and make sure the rice is covered by the water.
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Place the lid on the IP, and turn the steam release knob to sealing. Press the rice cook button. If there is no rice button on the Instant Pot press pressure cook button. Make sure it's on low pressure, and adjust the cooking time to 12 minutes.
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Once the cooking time is up do a quick release of the steam by turning the release knob to releasing. This releases the steam from the Instant Pot.
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With a spoon or a fork fluff the rice.
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Add in the juice of half of a lime, if you want more lime flavor add in a whole lime. Add in the chopped cilantro and the remaining 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Stir all the ingredients together until fully mixed.
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Serve and enjoy
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
There is no need to rinse the rice in water, but if you prefer to do so rinse until the water runs clear.
Chicken or veggie broth can be substituted for water.
I made this in my 6 quart Instant Pot.
The nutritional value may vary depending on the ingredients used.
Thank you for visiting My Creative Manner. We hope that you enjoy this and many more of our recipes. My Creative Manner is not responsible for the outcome of any of our recipes found on our website. Or that may be linked from or to other websites. The desired outcome of these recipes may not be achieved due to several factors, including ingredients, equipment, errors/typos, or the reader's individual cooking skills.
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