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    Home » Side Dishes

    Easy Cilantro Lime Brown Rice Recipe

    Published: Aug 29, 2014 · Modified: Mar 30, 2021 by Dara · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 17 Comments

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    Tuck this Easy Cilantro Lime Brown Rice into burritos or serve it as a side dish. It's a fantastic whole grain and gluten-ree recipe that you'll make over and over again. 50 calories and 4 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP
    Easy Cilantro Lime Brown Rice...Tuck this into burritos or serve it as a side dish. Fantastic flavor! 50 calories and 4 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP #glutenfree #vegan #vegetarian

    It's not often that my kids get excited over side dishes. When it's just plain rice and steamed broccoli, who can really blame them? But this...this rice! Now this is something to get excited over.

    Even though I'm usually throwing rice and water in a saucepan at top speed, desperately hoping that it will be ready so we can eat before leaving for some activity or another, I've decided that I must regularly work five extra minutes into dinnertime prep to sauté some onion, garlic and spices to pep up the rice.

    That deserves some kind of Mother of the Year award, doesn't it?

    Easy Cilantro Lime Brown Rice...Tuck this into burritos or serve it as a side dish. Fantastic flavor! | cookincanuck.com #glutenfree #vegan #vegetarian

    This is the same rice that I served underneath the Spice Rubbed Lime Salmon Recipe that I told you about earlier this week. They were meant for each other!

    I'm even okay with admitting that the other side dish was "the usual"...steamed broccoli. But my kids didn't care because both the salmon and the rice were winners in every sense. The taste, the novelty and the taste again.

    Easy Cilantro Lime Brown Rice...Tuck this into burritos or serve it as a side dish. Fantastic flavor! | cookincanuck.com #glutenfree #vegan #vegetarian

    While this works beautifully with the spiced salmon, I guarantee that I will be tucking it into enchiladas and tacos, and serving it alongside southwestern roast chicken and spiced roasted cauliflower.

    Easy Cilantro Lime Brown Rice...Tuck this into burritos or serve it as a side dish. Fantastic flavor! | cookincanuck.com #glutenfree #vegan #vegetarian

    I made this recipe in a saucepan, but next time I'm going to sauté the onions, garlic and spices in a skillet, then transfer them to a rice cooker with the brown rice and water. A perfect time-saver!

    Other recipes with lime:

    Fantastic recipes with lime | cookincanuck.com
    Grilled Chicken Tenders with Chipotle Lime Yogurt
    Jicama & Carrot Slaw with Honey-Lime Dressing

    Easy Cilantro Lime Brown Rice Recipe

    Tuck this Easy Cilantro Lime Brown Rice into burritos or serve it as a side dish. It's a fantastic whole grain and gluten-ree recipe that you'll make over and over again.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Course: Side Dishes
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 55 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 6 Servings
    Calories: 50.2kcal
    Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

    Ingredients

    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • ½ onion diced
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup brown rice
    • 2 cups water
    • juice of ½ lime
    • ¼ cup minced cilantro
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    Instructions

    • Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan set over medium heat.
    • Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, cumin and salt, and cook for 30 seconds.
    • Add the brown rice and stir to combine with the onion mixture.
    • Add the water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until all of the water is absorbed, 45 to 55 minutes.
    • Fluff the rice, mix in the lime juice and cilantro, and serve.

    Notes

    Weight Watchers Points: 4 (Freestyle SmartPoints)

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.33Cup | Calories: 50.2kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1.2g | Fat: 1.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 2.4mg | Fiber: 1g
    Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

    Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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    94Shares
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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Ram

        September 30, 2016 at 10:48 am

        Lime rice is a favorite staple here in Southern India.

        You might also like to try ...
        - Coconut Rice
        - Tamarind Rice
        - Tomato Rice
        - Mint Rice
        ... there are many more.

        For added crunch roast some peanuts lightly in a small amount of oil and add to the rice.

        Eating this accompanied by wafers of your choice should take you pretty close to heaven.

        You could top it off with rice mixed with Greek yogurt (or what we call curd here) seasoned with some spices and mixed with fruits like grape & pomegranate preferably eaten warn!

        Reply
      2. Stephanie+@+Eat.+Drink.+Love.

        September 02, 2014 at 10:11 pm

        I always order the cilantro brown rice from Chipotle and need to try this at home! So refreshing and perfect for stuffing in a burrito or as a side!

        Reply
      3. Jenny+@+The+Peachy+Pair

        September 02, 2014 at 12:30 pm

        Hubby loves rice and cilantro. Think this would be a hit!

        Reply
      4. Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life

        September 02, 2014 at 7:28 am

        I love cilantro lime rice...mainly because I am addicted to cilantro and lime. They are staples in my house! I'll have to try it with brown rice!

        Reply
      5. Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes

        September 01, 2014 at 4:24 pm

        I love simple side dishes like this that completely elevate a regular old weeknight meal.

        Reply
      6. Ali+|+Gimme+Some+Oven

        August 31, 2014 at 3:26 pm

        This sounds amazing! Love that you used brown rice. 🙂

        Reply
      7. Denise @ Creative Kitchen

        August 31, 2014 at 12:37 pm

        Hi Dara! Love cilantro and lime so this rice sounds amazing! I'm finally back to blogging, and feels great after several months of quiet (or more!). So thrilled to be back! 😉

        Reply
      8. Gwen+@SimplyHealthyFamily

        August 29, 2014 at 1:53 pm

        It's been far too long since I've made a good side of rice. This is on my to do list next week, I think I'll serve it with grilled fish! oxox

        Reply
      9. Tami

        August 29, 2014 at 2:01 pm

        Your recipe says to cook the garlic, salt & cumin for 30 mins.?!? Is that right? Do you mean 3 mins?

        Reply
        • Dara

          August 29, 2014 at 2:05 pm

          Ack! I meant 30 seconds so that the spices and garlic don't burn. Thanks for catching that. Clearly I was a little tired or distracted when typing out the recipe!

          Reply
      10. Millie l Add A Little

        August 29, 2014 at 12:16 pm

        This looks great and simple! I bet it goes well with so much!

        Reply
      11. Anna+@+Crunchy+Creamy+Sweet

        August 29, 2014 at 9:53 am

        I can only imagine how delicious this rice is! Definitely need to try it! Pinned!

        Reply
      12. Amanda

        August 29, 2014 at 8:57 am

        Putting this in a burrito would be perfect. Gonna try this next burrito night! 🙂

        Reply
      13. Feisty Eats

        August 29, 2014 at 7:25 am

        Do you have measurements for the cilantro or lime?

        Reply
        • Dara

          August 29, 2014 at 8:19 am

          Sorry about that! The recipe has been fixed now to include the cilantro and lime. That would be important for "cilantro lime rice", right? 🙂

          Reply
          • Feisty+Eats

            August 29, 2014 at 8:00 pm

            Hey it happens. Thanks. This looks great. I love cilantro and your recipes!

            Reply
      14. Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness

        August 29, 2014 at 4:24 am

        My hubs and I were just saying its been too long since we ate rice. I have been cookin' up a massive amount of quinoa lately. But with this recipe, I think it's time to visit our dear, ricey friend! Love anything cilantro lime...pinned!

        Reply

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