Coconut Lime Cilantro Rice is a great side dish, stark white in color, with the bright green contrast of cilantro. Try it for your next Tropical meal!
Cilantro is one of my favorite herbs. I love it in a salsa, a fish, a cocktail and maybe even a soap...if there was one, but I think people might turn the other way if I smelled like it!
Probably better to just keep it in the kitchen! Coconut Lime Cilantro Rice has everything I love in 1 pot!
When I was given "Island Rice" as my designated dish for Kyle and Joel's Margaritaville themed dinner, my mind immediately went to coconut!
When you think of "island," don't you think of coconuts?! Well guess what? This recipe has coconut milk AND cilantro! My favorites in 1 dish! And lime, too!
Recipe set, grocery list made, let's get going!
At first bite, close your eyes. Your tastebuds will take you to the islands...fictional like Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville or a real oasis, with the sound of the ocean and the rhythm of steel drums!
Don't let the idea of coconut make you think twice, though. This recipe doesn't use coconut milk as the sole liquid cooking the rice.
It is combined with water to lessen the richness that coconut milk usually gives, creating a subtle coconut flavor perfect with that added squeeze of lime.
Coconut Lime Cilantro Rice would also be a delicious addition to a Mexican feast. Especially perfect when served alongside any entrée hot off the grill.
The use of Jasmine rice was a given. I love the smell of it as it cooks. Pretty and earthy.
The scent tempts me to eat it straight from the pot. I kind of want some right now as I write this!
With any of my ethnic dishes, I love to head on over to Jordan Market, a grocery store here in Orange County, California that carries all things Mediterranean.
Now I know this isn't a Mediterranean dish, but Jordan Market has the best brands of rices, and nothing but the best for the Great 8!
Coconut Lime Cilantro Rice
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups long grain Jasmine rice
- 3/4 cup coconut milk, not coconut water
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon white sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves
- 1 - 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice, adjust to your taste
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the rice, coconut milk, water, sugar and salt.
- Cover saucepan and bring to a simmer. Turn heat down to medium-low.
- Cook until all liquid has absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- Remove saucepan from the heat and let rest, still covered, for 10 minutes.
- Fluff rice.
- Add chopped coriander (cilantro) and lime juice. Adjust seasonings.
- Serve!
Be a Gr8 Friend and tell us what you think!