Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

This copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is easier than many people think it is. Everyone wonders if they add any secret ingredients but according to Chipotle employees it really is just rice cooked with a few bay leaves and a little bit of rice bran oil and then mixed with cilantro, citrous juice and salt. It really is that simple!! And I'm going to guide you through every step of it!

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Ingredients and Substitutes:

Rice:

You can use white or brown rice. I use long grain white rice here. I even made this with Basmati rice and it tasted so good too.

Bayleaf:

Bay leaves add a nice aroma to the rice. You don't need to add a lot. Just one leaf is sufficient for the given amount here. If you don't have bay leaves, don't worry you can make the rice without bay leaves too.

Rice Bran Oil:

Chipotle's website says that they use Rice bran oil as their primary cooking oil. They say "Its high smoke point - the temperature at which the oil starts, well, smoking - makes it suitable for high-temperature cooking like grilling, while its mild taste makes it versatile"

I've tried this recipe with both rice bran oil and avocado oil and I didn't notice much of a difference. So I think it's safe to say you can use a neutral of your liking for this recipe.

Citrous juice

Chipotle uses a mix of lemon and lime juice. Lemon juice has a more sweet fruity flavor than lime and is more refreshing. But lime has more bold citrus flavor to it. It makes sense why they use a mix of both.

Cilantro

For the freshness and flavor. A must for Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice of course.

Salt

Salt is a must. Otherwise, the rice would taste bland. You can adjust the amount of salt for your preference.

Cilantro Lime Rice with Leftover Rice

You can make excellent Cilantro Lime Rice with leftover rice. Use this same recipe with 2.5 cups of leftover white or yellow rice. Make sure to heat them properly until they are nice and soft. I usually microwave with a little bit of water. And then mix with a tiny bit of oil. Then mix in cilantro, citrous juice, and salt.

Cooking rice on the stovetop

Chioptle uses giant rice cookers to cook their rice. I usually use my Aroma 1.2 qt rice cooker with uncoated inner pot (highly recommend this rice cooker btw) to make my rice. But you can defenety make rice cooker on the stove as well.

To cook perfect long-grain rice on the stove, start by rinsing 1 cup of rice under cold water to remove excess starch. Drain water. Add rice and add 1 1/2 cups of water into a medium saucepan. Add the bay leaves and 1/2 tsp oil. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 15–18 minutes until the water is absorbed. Remove from heat, keep the lid on, and let it rest for 5–10 minutes to steam. Remove the bay leaves. Fluff the rice with a fork.

Cilantro Lime Rice serving ideas

1. Chipotle Rice Bowl - Use cilantro lime rice as the base and layer it with grilled chicken or steak, black beans, sautéed fajita veggies, corn salsa, shredded cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo or salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. Top with a squeeze of lime and a drizzle of hot sauce for extra flavor.
2. Chipotle Burrito - Add cilantro lime rice to your burrito along with your choice of protein (chicken, steak, carnitas, or barbacoa), black or pinto beans, sautéed peppers and onions, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. Wrap everything in a large flour tortilla for a hearty meal.
3. As a side for meat - This works great as a side for grilled chicken, Steak, or even some store-bought rotisserie chicken.
4. As a side for Salmon or other fish - Grilled/ Baked or air-fried salmon with Cilantro lime rice, and steamed veggies are one of my go-to meals. Also goes well with air-fried Tilapia, air fried pompano too.