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    Home » Recipes » Instant Pot » Easy Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

    PUBLISHED: May 13, 2021 • By Toni Dash 66 Comments

    Easy Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    cilantro lime rice title image

    Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is ready in less than 20 minutes with no effort from you. The fresh cilantro and lime flavors make for a great side dish, ingredient for Mexican or bowl recipes. Conventional recipe included.

    cilantro lime rice title image

    Much like Quick Pickled Red Onion recipe, today’s Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is an easy staple to have in your recipe repertoire.

    I make a batch of this Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice recipe almost weekly. It’s perfect for use as:

    • a side dish for Mexican-themed dinners 
    • ingredient for tacos or burritos
    • a base for bowls 
    • to serve with Asian-inspired grilled foods

    The possibilities are limitless and it’s fast and easy!

    Don’t have an Instant Pot? Check ‘More Rice Recipes You’ll Love‘ at the end of the blog post for a conventional (non Instant Pot) Cilantro Lime Rice recipe!

    Jump to:
    • The Best Way to make Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
    • Expert tip
    • Lime Zest vs. Lime Juice: Which Has the Best Lime Flavor
    • A Note About Cooking Rice in the Instant Pot
    • Supplies Needed to make Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
    • Mind-Blowing Instant Pot Tips You Need to Know!
    • More Rice Recipes You’ll Love: 
    • Recipe

    The base recipe is a perfect way to cook white rice in the Instant Pot Instant Pot. You can stop there and be good!

    Freshly cooking Instant Pot long grain white rice with chopped fresh cilantro and lime zest in a glass bowl

    The Best Way to make Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice

    After loads of experimenting this recipe is my favorite for the end flavor.

    I’ve tried adding the lime zest or juice to the liquid in cooking. Combining chicken stock with water.

    I’ve played with the times and always come back to this method: cooking the white rice and stirring in the lime and cilantro after it’s cooked makes the best tasting Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice recipe. 

    It leaves the rice perfectly cooked and the flavors of the cilantro and lime fresh and true.

    This Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is so easy it’s almost embarrassing to call it a ‘recipe’!

    Four photos of cooking Instant Pot Long Grain White Rice

    STEP 1. Rinse the rice

    The long grain white rice is rinsed until the water runs clear (do not soak it).

    STEP 2. Cook

    Combine the rinsed rice and water in the Instant Pot.

    Cook for 3 minutes on high pressure; slow release for 10 minutes and perform a manual release to release any remaining pressure.

    STEP 3. Fluff

    Fluff the rice with the tool that came with the instant pot. Add the zest of one lime and the cilantro (can do it right in the Instant Pot).

    Expert tip

    If desired add lime juice for a tangier lime flavor and drizzle a bit of vegetable oil into the rice for a ricer flavor. That’s it!

    Instant Pot Long Grain White Rice, chopped cilantro, limes with zester

    Lime Zest vs. Lime Juice: Which Has the Best Lime Flavor

    As much as I love the tangy flavor of lime juice in a fresh-style margarita or Instant Pot Lime Cheesecake, it’s the lime flavor from the zest I feel gives this rice a wonderful flavor.

    The oils in the lime skin impart a fragrant flavor of lime that is more about the essence than the tang. Does that make sense?

    It doesn’t fight with other flavors by being too tart but definitely brings forward the lime ingredient.

    Freshly cooked Instant Pot long grain white rice with fresh lime zest in a clear glass bowl

    Having said all of that, adding the flavors at the end of the recipe leaves you in the flavor driver’s seat.

    If you love that tangy lime flavor, stir in some freshly squeezed lime juice to make the taste what you love best (included in recipe).

    The rice is light and fluffy but if you want a richer flavor, stirring in a few teaspoons of your favorite neutral flavored vegetable oil will provide that (also in the recipe as an option).

    A Note About Cooking Rice in the Instant Pot

    I love cooking rice in the Instant Pot for the end result, the time and not having to pay attention to it. However there are some things to know.

    1. Different types of rice require different time to cook AND the ratio of rice to water is different!
    2. Brown rice could not just be swapped into this recipe or even a Basmati white rice, without changing the time and/or ratio of water to rice.
    3. What I love about long grain white rice or Jasmine rice is the ratio of water to rice is always 1 to 1. So, no matter how much you are making it’s easy to know how much water to use.
    Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice with fresh cilantro sprigs, limes and Mexican kitchen towel

    Supplies Needed to make Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice

    • Strainer or fine mesh Colander for rinsing the rice
    • 6 quart Instant Pot
    • Zester NOTE: this is my all time favorite zester. It has a cover to shield the zesting surface when stored, a measuring cover on the back to measure the amount of zest if needed (or can be removed to zest directing into the rice as I did for this recipe), non-stick surface for easy zesting and it does not zest into the pith. It’s one of my all time favorite kitchen tools! I’ve given several as gifts too!
    • Large Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • Rice Paddle (one comes with the Instant Pot but it’s perfect for fluffing rice; see photos)
    Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice recipe with freshly chopped cilantro on cutting board, limes and yellow Mexican kitchen towel

    Mind-Blowing Instant Pot Tips You Need to Know!

    After developing Instant Pot recipes for the past few years, I’ve uncovered some unexpected, useful tips I think you’ll want to know!

    Sign-Up below and I’ll tell you all my Instant Pot secrets!

    More Rice Recipes You’ll Love: 

    • Easy Italian Baked Meatballs recipe
    • Pear Salad
    • Shrimp Alfredo Spaghetti Squash
    • Green Smoothies: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners + Pro Smoothie Lovers

    Did you make it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER and PINTEREST!

    Recipe

    Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice

    Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

    This easy rice recipe is fresh flavored with cilantro and lime zest added at the end of the recipe. Perfect side dish or added to Mexican-themed dishes like tacos, burritos and more.
    5 from 66 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 minutes
    Total Time: 18 minutes
    Servings: 5 1-cup servings
    Calories: 270kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups Long Grain White Rice rinsed until water runs clear
    • 2 cups Water
    • Zest of 1 Lime
    • 1/3 cup fresh chopped Cilantro
    • 2 teaspoons freshly squeeze Lime Juice optional
    • 1-2 teaspoons Vegetable Oil optional

    Instructions

    • Place the rinsed rice in the Instant Pot insert. Pour in the water. 
    • Seal the lid, move the pressure vent to SEALING, set the Instant Pot to MANUAL, HIGH PRESSURE and using the ‘+/-‘ buttons set 3 minutes cooking time.
    • When the cooking time is complete, allow a SLOW REALEASE for 10 minutes. 
    • After 10 minutes release the remaining pressure. Fluff the rice with the plastic rice paddle that came with the Instant Pot (or a spatula). 
    • Stir in the lime zest and chopped cilantro. Taste; add lime juice and/or oil as desired. Serve immediately.

    Video

    Notes

    The time for the Instant Pot to come to temperature is not included in the cooking time.
    For a tangier flavor, lime juice may also be added as well as a drizzle of vegetable oil for a richness of flavor.
    A note on rice types
    Long grain white rice or jasmine rice can be used in this recipe.
    Brown rice or white basmati recipe cannot be swapped in without changing the liquid amount and/or cooking time.
    Originally published April 26, 2018

    Nutrition

    Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 0.6mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!

    Originally published: April 26, 2018

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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jennifer says

      May 15, 2021 at 10:51 pm

      5 stars
      This is definitely one of my all time favorite ways to make rice! So flavorful and easy!

      Reply
    2. Betsy says

      May 13, 2021 at 9:26 am

      5 stars
      Wish I’d seen this in time for Cinco de Mayo! Love that it’s made in the Instant Pot. Makes it so easy to pull together! Super delicious! This is going on the menu for our next Taco Tuesday!

      Reply
    3. Audra Fox says

      May 13, 2021 at 8:29 am

      5 stars
      This is the only way I will make rice from now on! It’s so delicious!

      Reply
    4. Kellie says

      May 29, 2020 at 5:59 pm

      Can this recipe be tripled? If so, is the cooking time longer?

      Thank you

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        May 29, 2020 at 6:46 pm

        Hi Kellie. I’ve only made the recipe as written. Rice can be tricky in the Instant Pot so I couldn’t provide guidance on your question from experience.

        Reply
    5. Colleen says

      May 25, 2020 at 11:53 am

      5 stars
      I’m making this for our holiday dinner today. Looks like it would go really well with my kabobs and corn on the cob that will be having with dinner. Thanks for such a great recipe!

      Reply
    6. Bryan says

      February 27, 2020 at 9:37 pm

      I’m located in Denver and typically adjust my Instant Pot recipes for altitude. Is the cook time above what you used in Boulder? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        February 27, 2020 at 10:07 pm

        It is! The only recipe I’ve actually found I need to adjust is hard boiled eggs. This recipe works great at any altitude with the proper time adjustment.

        Reply
    7. Hadia says

      September 24, 2019 at 11:58 am

      5 stars
      I have never made rice with an instant pot, but this should change. I guess the cilantro add such a pleasant dimemnsion to the rice!

      Reply
    8. susan | the wimpy vegetarian says

      September 23, 2019 at 9:07 pm

      5 stars
      I would love to make this one in my Instant Pot. I love this kind of rice, and have had great success with making other rice in my IP.

      Reply
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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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