Cilantro Lime Rice and Black Beans
Cilantro Lime Rice and Black Beans is a vibrant, flavorful dish that perfectly complements so many meals. Whether you’re looking for a side dish, a base for your favorite protein, or a refreshing vegetarian option, this recipe has got you covered. With its zesty lime flavor and the freshness of cilantro, this dish is not…
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp.olive oil
- 1 1/2 cuplong-grain rice such as Basmati
- 1 1/2 cupwater
- 1 tsp.salt
- 1/2 tsp.lime zest
- 14 oz. 1 can black beans, cooked and rinsed
- 1 cupchopped cilantro
- 2 tbsp.lime juice
Instructions
Instructions
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1 ½ cup long-grain rice and stir until the rice is coated with the oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until some grains begin to brown lightly.
- Add 1 ½ cup water, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp lime zest. Increase heat to bring the liquid to a boil.
- Once boiling, cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, reduce the heat to maintain a very low simmer, and cook undisturbed for 15 minutes.
- Remove the lid and add 14 oz. (1 can) black beans, cooked and rinsed, 1 cup chopped cilantro, and 2 tbsp lime juice. Stir gently to combine.
- Cover the pot again, remove it from the heat, and let it rest, covered, for 10 minutes. After resting, uncover and fluff the rice with a fork before serving.
Equipment
- Large Saucepan
- Tight-fitting Lid
- Fork
Notes
Cook the rice at a low simmer.When you add the liquids to the rice and allow it to simmer, it’s important to keep the temperature low. The tight lid will keep inside the steam and heat created within the pot so the rice cooks perfectly. Make sure everything is simmering gently at this stage.
If you’re using dry beans, make sure they are cooked first.If you’ve decided to go with dry beans, they will need to be cooked ahead of time. To get the right texture for this dish, you will need soft black beans that are firm and not mushy.
Use fresh lime juice.Using a fresh lime for your Cilantro Lime Rice is really important. Not only will you need it for the zest, but fresh lime juice has so much more flavor than the concentrate sold at most grocery stores.
If you’re using dry beans, make sure they are cooked first.If you’ve decided to go with dry beans, they will need to be cooked ahead of time. To get the right texture for this dish, you will need soft black beans that are firm and not mushy.
Use fresh lime juice.Using a fresh lime for your Cilantro Lime Rice is really important. Not only will you need it for the zest, but fresh lime juice has so much more flavor than the concentrate sold at most grocery stores.