
Cilantro-Lime Chicken with Rice
Juicy chicken thighs in a garlicky lime-cumin marinade, seared and served over rice folded with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime.
Ingredients
serves 4From the garden
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro, leaves and tender stems chopped, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
From the pantry
- 2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 limes — 2 juiced for the marinade, 1 cut into wedges to serve
- 1½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 3 tbsp olive oil — divided
- 1½ cups long-grain white rice, rinsed
- 2¼ cups chicken stock
- salt — to taste
- black pepper
Steps
tap a step to dim it as you go- Whisk the juice of 2 limes with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the garlic, cumin, chili powder, half the chopped cilantro, and a generous pinch of salt. Toss the chicken thighs in the marinade and let them sit 15 minutes at room temperature (or up to overnight in the fridge).
- Meanwhile, bring the rice and stock to a boil in a lidded pot with a pinch of salt. Cover, drop to the lowest heat, and cook 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it steam, covered, 5 more minutes.
- Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high until shimmering. Shake excess marinade off the thighs and lay them in the pan. Cook 5–6 minutes per side, until deeply browned and an instant-read thermometer hits 165°F at the thickest part.
- Rest the chicken on a cutting board for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and fold in most of the remaining cilantro plus a squeeze from one of the lime wedges.
- Slice the chicken and serve it over the cilantro-lime rice, scattered with the last of the cilantro and the lime wedges alongside.