Cilantro Rice Pilaf is the side dish I made to accompany the Mexican Lasagna I cooked for Cinco de Mayo. Usually, I’d make cilantro rice on the dry side by cooking it as a fried rice. Meaning I’d cook the rice first in my rice cooker then sauté it with garlic, onions, salt and pepper then generously garnish it with coarsely chopped cilantro. This time around, I went the pilaf way. It’s almost on the runny and wet consistency.
To tell you the truth, I’d much prefer the dry (fried rice) version but this pilaf version is a change and it was still simple to make and good with the Mexican Lasagna.
Heat up oil in a sauté pan. Cook chopped garlic and onions for about 2 minutes or so.
Add 2 cups of long grain rice. Stir and cook until slightly brown.
Add 3 1/2 cups of water. You might have to add more during cooking. Season with salt and pepper, and a little bit of chili powder if you want. Stir everything together, then cover. Simmer until the rice cooks. Stir occasionally and add more water if necessary.
Here’s what it should look like. It’s kinda runny but not runny like risotto. Uncover the pan. Leave it unopened to cool down.
Right before serving, stir in the chopped cilantro.
Serve as a side dish to either Mexican Lasagna, enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas, tacos, or fajitas. Or to any kind of dishes you want to serve with rice, really. Rice Pilaf goes with everything. You can even take the cilantro our and use corn kernels or chopped fresh tomatoes. Yup, have fun with it.
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| Cilantro Rice Pilaf |
- 2 cups of long grain rice
- 3 1/2 cup of water (+ more)
- 6-8 sprigs of cilantro, chopped coarsely
- Salt & Pepper
- sprinkle of chili powder, optional
- Heat up oil in a sauté pan. Cook chopped garlic and onions for about 2 minutes or so. Add 2 cups of long grain rice. Stir and cook until slightly brown.
- Add 3 1/2 cups of water. You might have to add more during cooking. Season with salt and pepper, and a little bit of chili powder if you want. Stir everything together, then cover. Simmer until the rice cooks. Stir occasionally and add more water if necessary.
- Uncover the pan. Leave it unopened to cool down. Right before serving, stir in the chopped cilantro.
Serve as a side dish to either Mexican Lasagna, enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas, tacos, or fajitas. Or to any kind of dishes you want to serve with rice. Rice Pilaf goes with everything. You can even take the cilantro out and use corn kernels or chopped fresh tomatoes. Yup, have fun with it.
