Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
updated May 1, 2019
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Confession: I am not one of those people who is obsessed with Chipotle. I sort of missed that moment when everyone learned the glories of a burrito bowl, but with the fast-casual chain scheduled for a four-hour nationwide shutdown today, I thought it might be time to catch up.
My fiancé, on the other hand, is quite different. He’s sung Chipotle’s praises countless times, and with that, the wonders of the chain’s simple and citrusy rice.
And in developing and testing this recipe, I now get it. The best part about this rice is its versatility. It’s kicked up with citrus juice and cilantro, but not so much that it overwhelms whatever you might pile onto it — it’s meant to be a bed for a whole lot of other wonderful, flavorful things.
The extra-long, thin grains of basmati rice help keep things extra light and fluffy. After the rice is cooked, it’s tossed in the smallest amount of olive oil to keep the grains separated (according to their website, Chipotle uses rice bran oil, although it’s much more likely you have olive oil in your pantry). There’s also the balance that’s found in tossing the rice in both lime and lemon juice. Lime juice lends sweetness and just a touch of bitterness, while lemon juice adds a little sourness.
But the real secret to this famed rice isn’t what you may think it is. It’s not some special spice blend or magical cooking method — it’s a bay leaf. Tuck one into the rice as it cooks and it imparts an herbal, slightly spicy aroma to the end result that will keep those lucky enough to dig into this rice wondering just what it is.
Makes about 5 cups
Serves 6 to 8
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 2 cups
basmati rice (white or brown)
- 3 cups
water
- 1
bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt, plus more as needed
- 1 teaspoon
olive oil
- 2 tablespoons
freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon
freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 cup
chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
Place the rice in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse under cold, running water.
Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the rice, bay leaf, and salt. Stir once, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer until all of the water is absorbed, about 18 minutes for white rice and about 50 minutes for brown rice.
Remove the pot from the heat and let steam, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover, remove the bay leaf, and fluff rice with a fork. Stir in the olive oil, lime juice, lemon juice, and cilantro. Taste and season with more salt as needed.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
