I remember the first time my lips closed around a fork filled with cilantro and lime rice.
strange? Maybe. BUT it’s true! That’s when my friend Amanda and I first tried Chipotle. I ordered the 8 pound burrito (now I’m more of a fajita bowl girl) and inside was the most amazing and tasty rice ever.
Back then only white rice was an option, for a few years brown rice with cilantro and lime has been added. I usually get brown rice when I’m there, Pat and the rest of my team get the white. So when I do it at home, I usually take out the long-grain white rice, because I will always sacrifice myself. 😉
Last week I told you about my crazy love for my rice cooker, so I’ll save you that. BUT I will say that this recipe is MUCH easier because of it.
Toast the rice, add to the pot and cook, mix with fresh cilantro and lime. Seriously, it’s as simple as that.
I start by toasting 2 cups** of long-grain white rice. Heat a 10-inch skillet over medium heat, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of unflavored light oil (extra light olive oil or safflower oil) and rice. There is no need to rinse it, although you certainly can, just drain well and pat excess water with a kitchen towel until it is almost dry. Toast, stirring occasionally to prevent burning for about 5 to 8 minutes or until slightly browned and aromatic.
**Please note that most rice cookers come with their own specific measuring cup. If you don’t have one or (like me) have lost it, measure two 3/4 cups. 3/4 cup is equivalent to the “cup” used with most rice cookers.
Then
I simply add the toasted white rice in the pot, add a teaspoon of kosher salt and fill the water to the correct waterline, for me it was line 2. Then
,
like your slow cooker, set it up and forget it. Well, for at least 20 minutes or so. Here’s the rice cooker I use and love!
Once the rice is cooked, fluffed with a fork and transferred it to a bowl and added a couple of tablespoons of finely chopped cilantro and the zest of a whole lime. Then I squeeze the juice from half of the lime and stir to combine.
Done and done. This may be better than Chipotle’s… I’m just saying.
Haileigh and I stood on the bowl and tasted the taste and
tasted the taste and tasted the taste…
Fun fact: Malloree (you know her as my youngest, pickiest diner) hates rice. RIGHT?! She’s the only person I know who doesn’t like rice. Dough? YES. Couscous? YES. Rice? That’s a big, fat NO. But I still make her try, because I am obliged and determined to change that stubborn mind of hers.
So as I always do, I put a small spoonful on his plate next to his chicken and broccoli and guess what? She said, “Okay mom, this is really good! It doesn’t taste like rice at all!” I’m a little annoyed in the last part, because it actually tastes like rice, but who am I to argue? SHE ATE HER RICE!!
Until next week, when she will deny that it happened.
My cookbook Simply Scratch: 120 Wholesome Homemade Recipes Made Easy is now available! CLICK HERE for more details and THANK YOU in advance!
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