Spring and summer are the perfect seasons to bring fresh new flavors to your family gatherings! That’s why Carolina® Rice is delighted to inspire you with cilantro! This aromatic, lemony herb brings rice dishes to new levels. From knowing what to pair with cilantro to mastering classic Mexican dishes like Cilantro Lime Rice, we’ve got you covered. So, without further ado, let’s delve into the fragrant world of recipes with cilantro.
What is Cilantro?
Belonging to the parsley family, cilantro is an herb that transforms any meal it’s used in. It’s known for its strong, floral fragrance and citrusy kick. Its seeds are commonly known as coriander and are also used in cooking, as they share the sweet and lemony qualities of the herb leaves. Versatile and easy to use, cilantro can be both cooked or consumed in its raw form, often placed atop meals to add an extra dimension to the flavor. Cooking cilantro softens the flavor of the leaves and allows them to blend nicely with the rest of the ingredients in the dish. When used in their raw form, the leaves infuse rice with their alluring fragrance, bringing their unmistakable aroma to your creations.
Best Way to Chop Cilantro
To unlock the flavor potential of cilantro, it’s important to work on your chopping technique. Getting this right is an easy process, as long as you follow these simple tips.
- Before adding cilantro to dishes, wash it in a bowl of cold water and gently swish it around.
- To dry your cilantro, place the leaves on a towel. Roll them gently over the material to remove any moisture.
- Gather the stalks closely together and fold the leaves tightly so that they are compact and ready for cutting.
- Use a quality chef’s knife for best results. Chop the leaves finely until you get to the stems.
Storing Cilantro
Like with most herbs, the fresher your cilantro is, the better. However, if you find yourself with leftover cilantro, you don’t need to discard it. Simply put the cilantro upright in a jar of water, much like you would with a bouquet of flowers, and make sure the leaves are above water level. Place a plastic storage bag over the leaves to retain maximum freshness.
What to Pair with Cilantro?
Cilantro is a friendly herb that pairs well with a whole range of ingredients. Here are a few of the most popular ingredients to pair with cilantro.
- Ginger
- Lemon
- Cardamom
- Mint
- Dill
- Ginger
- Oregano
- Lime
- Sweet fruits
Now let’s look at some recipes!
Satisfying Rice Dishes with Cilantro
When it comes to rice salads, you won’t find many tastier than this Green Goddess Rice Salad. Made with Carolina® Jasmine Rice and packed with delicious greens such as cilantro, apple, avocado, and romaine lettuce, it’s simply exploding with flavor! Ready in 15 minutes, it’s a salad that will get everyone excited around your dining table this summer. Don’t be surprised if your abuela compliments you on your culinary skills afterwards!
Cooking Cilantro Lime Rice
Cilantro Lime Rice is a popular dish not only in Mexico but around the world. What’s more, it’s an easy dish to make, with most recipes calling for little more than rice, cilantro, lime juice, and a few choice spices. To kick things off, let’s look at how you can make delicious cilantro lime rice from scratch.
Cilantro Lime Rice: Key Ingredients
The secret to making delicious homemade cilantro lime rice lies in the ingredients. When it comes to the best rice varieties to use in your cilantro lime rice meals, most recipes call for a variety that brings its own fragrance to the meal, such as these:
- Jasmine
- Basmati
- White Rice
- Brown Rice
In this classic Cilantro Lime Rice recipe, the flavors of cilantro and lime blend beautifully with Carolina® Jasmine Rice, culminating in a dish that’s authentic, delicious, and easy to make. To prepare it, you’ll need some fresh cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, garlic, olive oil, and best of all, only 15 minutes of your time, making it a crowd-pleasing meal in minutes!
Cilantro Lime Rice to Accompany Main Courses
Cooking cilantro lime rice is a great option as a main course on its own, or with a portion of meat or fish. A go-to rice recipe in Mexican cuisine, cilantro lime rice works wonders in lots of different meals. This Cilantro Rice Taco Bowl provides the ideal base for classic taco ingredients such as chicken, guacamole, queso fresco, and tortilla chips. Likewise, if you’re looking to up your rice bowl game, this Tex Mex Rice Bowl will be right down your street. Made with Ready to Heat Carolina® Cilantro Lime Rice, it’s a quick and easy Mexican classic.
What’s more, if you love burritos, try these Cilantro Lime Rice and Turkey Burritos. You won’t be left disappointed!
Make Cooking Fun!
At Carolina® Rice, we believe that food is at the heart of life. That’s why we encourage you to get creative in the kitchen and #playwithyourfood. For more recipe inspiration and cooking tips, check out our blog.
