Cilantro Lime Rice

Prep time: 3 minutes | Cook time: 12 to 15 minutes (depending on your rice cooker) | Rest time: 10 minutes

The five or less things:

• One cup / 2.5 dl of white rice. Jasmine or long grain. Both work. The rice does not care. It is not picky.
• One cup / 2.5 dl of water. Tap water is fine. The lime and cilantro do most of the work.
• Two tablespoons / 30 ml of lime juice. From a bottle. Do not squeeze fresh limes. Squeezing is work. You have better things to do.
• Half a cup / 0.6 dl of fresh cilantro. Chopped. Or use dried cilantro from a jar. Dried cilantro is cilantro that gave up on life. Fresh is better. Do not be like dried cilantro.
• A sprinkle of salt. Brings out the flavors. Do not skip it. Salt is not optional. Salt is the foundation.

Directions:

1. Rinse the rice in the inner pot. Add water, swirl, and pour it out. Repeat until the water is nearly clear. This removes excess starch. Starch makes rice sticky. Sticky rice is for sushi. This is not sushi.
2. Add the measured water and lime juice to the rice. Add the salt if using. Give it one stir. Just enough to combine. Over-stirring makes glue. Glue is not rice.
3. Close the lid. Press the cook button. Walk away. The rice cooker knows what to do. It does not need supervision. It has been doing this for years.
4. When it beeps, leave the lid on for 10 minutes. The steam finishes the job. Do not peek. Peeking lets steam escape. Escaped steam means uneven rice. Uneven rice is sad rice.
5. Open the lid. Add the chopped cilantro. Fluff with a fork. Gently mix the cilantro into the rice. The green specks will be everywhere. That is correct. That is the cilantro doing its job.
6. Serve hot. This rice is bright and fresh. It tastes like summer. Even if it is winter. The rice does not care about seasons.

Note: This rice is perfect for burrito bowls, tacos, grilled chicken, or fish. The lime keeps it bright. The cilantro keeps it fresh. Add a pinch of chili flakes for heat. Add a splash of olive oil for richness. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat with a splash of water.