We can’t get enough of Chipotle’s Mission-style burritos! Whether we’re ordering our meal wrapped up in a warm tortilla, piled high in a bowl, or served up over lettuce as a salad, there’s one thing we always order at the fast-casual restaurant: their famous Chipotle cilantro-lime rice. This rice tastes so good because it’s rich and flavorful, but unfortunately, it’s not as healthy for you as you’d think.
To make our copycat version healthier, we played around with a few different ingredients. In the end, we landed on a 5-ingredient recipe that’s definitely worthy of the original. Instead of adding butter to our rice, we used jasmine rice instead because of its naturally buttery flavor and enticing sweet aroma. Then, we narrowed in on a few additions to make this dish exceptional. Want to know our secrets?
How to Make Cilantro-Lime Rice at Home
A 4-ounce portion of Chipotle’s cilantro-lime rice clocks in at 210 calories, 4 grams of fat, and 40 grams of carbohydrates. Our recipe contains nearly half as many calories, no fat, and 28 carbs without sacrificing any of the flavor. Sounds like winning to me!
Here’s what you’ll need to make 3 cups of cooked rice:
- 1 cup uncooked jasmine rice
- 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Step 1: Prepare the rice
There are two secrets to making our copycat cilantro-lime rice. We’ll get to the second one in a minute, but the first is all about the type of liquid you use to cook the rice. Using homemade stock or reduced-sodium chicken broth adds a ton of flavor to the rice without amping up the salt content.
Prepare the rice by placing the rice and broth in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, covered, for 12-15 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
Step 2: Allow it to rest
Jasmine rice is notorious for sticking to the bottom of the saucepan, so we like to let the rice sit for 5 to 10 minutes before stirring it. It takes a bit of patience and self-control, but it’ll be worth it when you have the softest, fluffiest grains!
Step 3: Fluff it up
Once the rice has rested, it’s time to add your seasonings. Add the remaining ingredients to the rice and fluff the mixture with a fork. The lime juice and fresh cilantro are obvious, but the pinch of ground nutmeg is our second secret ingredient that really makes this dish shine. This warming spice will seep into the grains, adding a slightly spicy aroma while also bringing out the rich flavor of the rice and enhancing the bright lime and herbaceous cilantro flavors. Yum!
Now it’s time to use that rice to build your own burrito or rice bowl with our favorite Chipotle copycat recipes. I don’t know about you, but I can’t get enough of that barbacoa recipe!
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The post Here’s How to Make Chipotle’s Cilantro-Lime Rice at Home appeared first on Taste of Home.
Sarah Kosalos
