Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

5 from 4 votes

This Chipotle Copycat Cilantro Lime Rice is made in one-pot which is easy, flavorful, fluffy and perfectly tender!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword chipotle cilantro lime rice Instant Pot, cilantro lime rice, vegetarian cilantro lime rice

Diet Gluten-Free, Vegetarian

Method Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker, Stovetop

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings

Calories 198kcal

Rinse the basmati rice 2-3 times until the water runs clear (removes extra starch), and drain the remaining water.
Firstly, press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Next, add oil, and once it's hot, add Bay leaf, followed by rinsed basmati rice.
Toast the rice for 30 seconds (or till aromatic). This step helps your rice cook up into separate grains and adds more flavor. This step is optional.
Add water (or vegetable broth), salt and give a stir.
Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 4 minutes.
Once the pot beeps, Allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes, and then do Quick Release for any remaining pressure.
Lastly, add butter, fresh cilantro/coriander leaves, lime juice, and lime zest. Stir well to combine.
Serve this cilantro lime rice with homemade burrito bowl.

Firstly, heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Then, add bay leaf followed by 1 cup of rinsed basmati rice. Stir for 30 secs (till aromatic).
Then add 1.5 cups of water (or vegetable broth), salt, and give a stir. Reduce the heat to low and cover with lid.
Simmer for 15-18 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Then, remove from heat and let it sit for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Then, add the lime juice, zest, butter, and cilantro to the rice. Mix everything.

I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT

Rinsing the Rice: Rinse Always rinse the uncooked basmati rice before you cook it. This helps to remove excess starch, make it less sticky, and prevent it from clumping together.
Add lime juice and cilantro after the rice cools a bit: For the freshest flavor, add cilantro and lime juice after the rice has cooled a bit. Also, the heat of the rice will cook the cilantro and wilt it.
Use fresh cilantro: Always use fresh cilantro in this recipe, dried ones don't work well.
Don't skip toasting the rice: Toasting your basmati rice before adding liquid helps to release the aromatics of the rice. It also helps the grain separate easily from one another. However, this step is certainly not a required step in cooking rice.
'Rice' Setting: You can follow the same instructions and Press the Rice button instead of Pressure Cook/Manual mode. It will default to 12 minutes at LOW pressure. Once the rice is cooked, allow it to cool a bit, and then add the fresh cilantro, lime zest, and juice at the end. Mix well.
Scaling: You can double or triple the recipe if you want to cook more rice. The cooking time will remain the same.

Protein: Add a can of black beans or kidney beans to the rice at the same time you add the cilantro and lime juice. This helps to boost plant-based protein in your diet.
Vegan: If you want to make vegan cilantro lime rice, simply skip the butter or use vegan butter.
Low-Carb: Substitute rice with cauliflower rice to make Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower rice.
Brown Rice: You can substitute white basmati rice with brown rice. Simply Pressure cook for 22 minutes at high pressure, followed by Natural Pressure Release.