Simple Santa Fe Rice with Cilantro and Garlic

Simple Santa Fe Rice with Cilantro and Garlic nicely highlights the garlic and fresh herbs that are so abundant in the spring.

Simple Santa Fe Rice with cilantro and garlic

Springtime is a great season for enjoying herbs and spices, storebought or homegrown! My recipe is a Simple Santa Fe Rice with Cilantro and Garlic. Garlic and herbs are both abundant in the spring and the two are highlighted so nicely in this simple rice dish.

You don’t have to use cilantro if you don’t want to. Basil, parsley, and oregano are all really good in this. The rice is so flavorful that you can serve it as a side or use it as a base for something like a burrito bowl or even to serve sautéed vegetables and a grilled piece of meat over. The best part? You can make it on the stovetop or in the rice cooker! Thomas got me this rice cooker (Aroma 20-Cup (Cooked) Digital Rice Cooker) for my birthday and it is awesome (hello timer setting!).

Enjoy this simple staple.

Can I use brown rice for this recipe?

This recipe works great with brown rice, just adjust the amount of broth accordingly to have the proper amount of liquid for cooking brown rice, since brown rice often needs more liquids to cook.

What other herbs work well instead of cilantro?

Parsley is an easy and milder alternative to cilantro. Other herbs that would taste great with this recipe are basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and chives. Thinly chopped scallions also taste great when mixed in.

Do I need to rinse rice before cooking it?

Rinsing rice removes some starch and can keep rice from getting too sticky. It also can rinse any debris off the rice. Rinsing rice can also wash off vitamins and minerals if you buy fortified rice. Whether you rinse your rice or not usually comes down to how much you want your rice to be sticky or not. It’s up to you!

Simple Santa Fe Rice with Cilantro and Garlic

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★★★★★

4.5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless This Mess
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 3 cups 1x

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Description

Simple Santa Fe Rice with Cilantro and Garlic nicely highlights the garlic and fresh herbs that are so abundant in the spring.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Juice of 1/2 of lime or lemon
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (or herb of your choice)
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
• 1/4 tablespoon ground cumin (if using cilantro, omit if using other herb)

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Instructions

1. Combine the rice, broth, and slat in a large saucepan over med-high heat. Bring to a boil. Decrease the heat to simmer and add the lime juice, butter, cilantro, garlic, and cumin. Stir, cover, and simmer 15-20 minutes, until rice is tender.
2. OR
3. Toss everything in the rice cooker and let it cook until done.
4. Serve hot.

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• Category: side
• Method: stovetop or rice cooker
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: rice, side dish, cilantro, garlic, herbs, spices

More tasty recipes with rice:

• Easy Korean Ground Beef and Rice
• Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
• One Pot Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
• One-Pot Sausage, Rice, and Peas Dinner
• Easy Spanish Rice in the Rice Cooker
• Stove Top Chicken and Rice
• One Pot Coconut Chicken and Rice

Main dishes to serve rice with:

• Orange Chicken with Stir-Fry Veggies
• Lemon Garlic Baked Chicken Legs
• Sweet and Spicy Baked Chicken Legs
• Grilled Salmon Foil Packs with Veggies
• Garlic Butter Baked Salmon in Foil
• Brown Sugar and Garlic Grilled Pork Tenderloin
• Grilled Mahi Mahi with Pineapple Salsa

This post was originally published in 2015 and has been updated in August 2019.

Spring herbs and garlic in Simple Santa Fe Rice with Cilantro and Garlic bring fresh flavor to this dinner staple.