Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinnnaaaahhhh!!!

This one is simple and simply wonderful. If you've ever eaten at Chipotle, they add some rice flavored with lime and cilantro into every burrito. It also makes a great side dish.

Cilantro-Lime Rice

2 cups uncooked rice
3 1/4 cups water or chicken stock

1 small lime
1 bunch fresh cilantro

Cook the rice in the water or stock however you normally do. For this recipe I like the rice a little drier, so the amount of liquid is less than what you're probably used to using.

When the rice is almost done, zest the lime (see notes below), and then cut and juice it too. You want a couple good tablespoons of juice.

Pull the leaves off of the cilantro stems and then mince the leaves until you have three or four tablespoons worth.

Put the rice into a bowl and fluff it, then sprinkle the lime juice, lime zest and cilantro. Toss until it's well combined.

Notes:

I use a microplane like this one to zest citrus, and let me tell you, it makes the task easy. I heartily recommend this kitchen tool.

Before slicing the lime for juicing, roll it around on the counter firmly between the surface and your hand. Try to smash it flat (but don't). This crushes the little juicy pulpy bits inside before you cut it open and you'll get more juice easier that way. I've also heard that microwaving the fruit for 10 seconds first helps, but I've never done that.

Posted by Ted at March 6, 2005 09:24 AM | TrackBack