When you marry a man from Louisiana you learn to cook rice...a lot.  Growing up Cajun, my husband ate rice with most meals and still to this day it is one of his favorite side dishes.  While traditionally white rice was always served, I have over the years, swapped some of that white rice for brown rice as a healthier alternative!  On top of that, adding in different flavor components to a rather plain side, keeps things interesting for the both of us!  My cilantro and lime brown rice is one of our favorite ways to prepare brown rice and is delicious served alongside your favorite tacos, or with a grilled piece of fish.

We have all had Chipotle's cilantro and lime rice and it was that rice that inspired me several years ago to start making a similar version at home.  I have no idea if I am remotely close to their actual recipe, but I know that my recipe is equally as delicious and we make it in our house on the regular!

I love that this side dish is so easy, but packed full of flavor at the same time.  It's great served with your regular Tex-Mex cooking, but also is great served alongside chicken, fish, and anything else you want to serve it with honestly!

If you haven't invested in a rice cooker, I would highly suggest you add it to the list of things to get.  You can get one reasonably priced, and once you cook rice this way, you will never cook rice on the stove top again!  Your rice will come out perfect every time and you will no longer be battling with getting your rice to the perfect texture!  It's an amazing kitchen tool and I love ours!  But maybe you are a master at stove top rice cooking, and if that is the case then kudos to you! 

I hope that either way you are preparing your rice, that you will give this cilantro and lime brown rice a try sooner than later!  I am positive your family will love it as much as mine does!

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups of Uncooked Brown Basmati Rice  (you can use regular brown rice too)
• 2 1/4 Cups of Chicken Stock if using rice cooker, 3 3/4 Cups if cooking on the stove
• Juice from 3 Limes (about 1/4 Cup), plus the zest from one lime
• 1/2 Cup of Chopped Cilantro
• 1 Tbsp. Butter
• Salt and Pepper

Directions:

• Cook rice in the chicken broth along with a tsp of salt until it is tender.  If cooking on the stove this will take about 45 minutes, if cooking in a rice cooker it will take about 30 minutes and the rice cooker will let you know when it has finished.
• When rice has cooked, add in lime juice and zest, chopped cilantro, butter, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Combine flavors and taste to ensure it is seasoned well.
• Serve immediately.

We all need a few go-to side dishes in our back pocket, and this one is a winner!