All Recipes – Serves 4

This is a copycat recipe for Chipotle’s cilantro lime rice. A long-grain white rice that has been married to the fresh and zesty flavors of lime. It can be served as a side dish with salmon, tequila lime chicken, or a taco bowl. 

In this recipe, the rice is prepared on a stove top, because not everyone has a rice cooker. For a long time, I avoided things like rice cookers, food processors, blenders, etc. It was mostly because I hate appliance clutter on countertops, and my condo had limited cabinet space. That was until I got creative and made a home for appliances on my outside balcony closet.

I was inspired to use this creative space by my mom’s friends and neighbors. My mom moved to Hawaii in the late 1970s. I  noticed how rice cookers were a staple of the kitchens of her Chinese, Japanese, Pilipino and Hawaiian friends. Embracing the rice cooker as a tool, and realizing you can store kitchen essentials on your porch or lanai was life changing.

If you are going to be a home cook, I advocate creating space and getting the right tools. It will make cooking more enjoyable. Topping the list of a good tool you will use for years is a rice cooker. It’s perfect for making Cilantro and Lime Rice.

Ingredients

• 1 C White rice
• 2 C Chicken Stock
• 1 t Kosher salt
• ½ C Finely chopped cilantro
• 1 T Unsalted butter
• 1 Fresh lime zest and juice

Directions

• Rinse rice several times with cold water until the water runs clear. 
• Drain well in a fine-mesh sieve. 
• Transfer rice to a medium pot (This is where you want to use that rice cooker). Add salt and 
• 1 1/4 cups chicken stock, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, 18–21 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Let stand, covered and undisturbed, 10 minutes. Use a fork to fluff, then gently fold in cilantro, butter, lime zest, and juice.
• Measurements checked on Sept. 19