Mexican Green Rice

This green rice, Arroz Verde, is fresh and flavorful with cilantro, spinach, green chili peppers and lime, and it fits perfectly into any Mexican meal.

Here's a rice recipe you'll be making over and over, because it's healthy, packed with flavor and you can eat it with anything, although it is especially wonderful with a side of refried beans and guacamole, which makes dinnertime SO easy!

My Mexican Green Rice.

This is an easy rice to make, and you need no more than 25 minutes to go from scratch to finish. And it's guaranteed to please nearly anyone who eats it, unless they are ridiculous, and then why would you want to please someone like that?

Why we love this green rice

It's packed with flavor from the cilantro, spinach, garlic, chili peppers, lime and onions.
It take less than 30 minutes to cook.
It's so healthy.
It's delicious.
It's versatile.

Overhead closeup shot of a black bowl with Mexican green rice and cilantro, surrounded by wedges of lime, avocado and refried beans, and two decorative silver spoons. In the background is a green napkin with gold border, and all of it is on a black background.

Tips and substitutions

This rice is typically made with just cilantro, but I added spinach for some extra green and flavor and nutrition. You can go without the spinach, if you wish, or add another quick-cooking green, like watercress or arugula.
You can also add mint, in the same proportion as the cilantro.
Be adventurous with your peppers. Use jalapenos or serranos or a poblano pepper.
Wash the rice in running water before you add it to the pot, making sure it runs fairly clear. This will keep your grains separate and fluffy.
Toast the rice with the oil before you add your green puree to it.
Let the rice cook undisturbed after you cover the pot. If you stir rice as it's cooking with a ladle, you will also end up mashing the grains, which you don't want.
Once you turn off the heat, resist the urge to peek and wait another 10 minutes.
As soon as you open the lid fluff the grains of rice delicately with a fork.

How to make this dish even healthier with brown rice

You can use brown rice to make this Mexican green rice. It will take longer for the brown rice to cook, and you will need to add more water. For two cups of rice, use 4 3/4ths cup of water, and after the liquid has come to a boil, cover and cook 45 minutes.

A front shot of a dinner table with a black bowl with Mexican green rice and cilantro, surrounded by wedges of lime, avocado and refried beans, In the background is a green napkin with gold border, and all of it is on a black background.

Cooking the rice in an Instant Pot

You can make this recipe in an Instant Pot but cut down water or vegetable stock to 2 cups for 2 cups of rice.
After you add the liquid, set the IP to pressure cook on high for five minutes. About 10 minutes after cooking has ended, release any remaining pressure, open the lid, and fluff the grains.
For brown rice, use the same proportion of water (2 cups brown rice to 2 cups water/veggie stock) but increase cooking time in the IP to 15 minutes.