Scallion Cilantro Lime Rice

Do you remember your first trip to Chipotle? You've been there, right? The uber-industrial, nobody makes a better taco (or burrito), loud, spicy, guacamole-laden mecca of fast casual Mexican food. After my first trip there I remember thinking, "When can I come back here again?!" Well I did. Again and again and again. One of their signature components is the rice (can I get an amen?) so you might remember this recipe for Chipotle-style rice from awhile back. Well, here at Shel's Kitchen we don't just replicate, we like to innovate! So the recipe I have for you today is that original recipe, amped up while as quick and easy as ever. Just take some fresh herbs (in this case green onion and cilantro) and whiz them up in the food processor or blender along with garlic, a little bit of olive oil and lime juice for a bright citrusy zip. Now you have a incredibly beautiful, herbaceous sauce to pour over brown or white rice as a side for tacos, or a tasty bed for taco salad. If nothing else, it'll keep you from standing in line at Chipotle pondering the virtues of the giant tortilla versus the bol.

Scallion Cilantro Lime Rice (very slightly adapted from foodiewithfamily.com)

2 c. white rice
1 c. cilantro (one bundle), free of stems
4 green onions, sliced
2 garlic cloves
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
1 T. water
1 t. salt, plus more if needed

Cook the rice according to the package directions. While the rice is cooking, place the cilantro, green onions, garlic cloves, olive oil, lime juice, water and salt in a food processor or blender and pulse to combine and make a sauce. Scrape down the sides as necessary, continuing to pulse until the sauce is smooth. When the rice is done cooking pour the sauce over the rice and stir to combine. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if needed. Serve immediately.

8 servings (193 calories each serving) according to my calculator on loseit.com