Capsaicin Free Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
Bright, citrusy, and fragrant with fresh herbs, this Instant Pot rice is the kind of side dish that quietly steals the show at the dinner table. The combination of fresh lime juice, lime zest, and roughly chopped cilantro folded into fluffy long-grain white rice delivers a clean, vibrant flavor that pairs beautifully with grilled proteins, beans, or roasted vegetables. For anyone avoiding capsaicin, finding a zesty, restaurant-style rice without any hidden chili heat can be surprisingly tricky — this one gets all its punch from citrus alone, so there's nothing to worry about. Rinsing the rice before cooking is a small step that makes a real difference, helping each grain stay separate and light rather than clumping together. The Instant Pot does the heavy lifting in just a few minutes of pressure cooking, followed by a natural release that lets the rice finish perfectly without any guesswork. A pat of unsalted butter stirred in at the start adds just enough richness to round out the brightness of the lime. It's simple, satisfying, and genuinely hard to stop eating straight from the pot.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice
- 1 ¾ cups water
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp lime zest
Instructions
- 1
Place the rice in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water, stirring with your hand, until the water runs mostly clear, about 30 seconds.
- 2
Add the rinsed rice, water, butter, and salt to the Instant Pot insert and stir briefly to combine.
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