Cilantro Lime Chicken and Mexican Rice

This dish is simple, delicious, and relatively healthy, for those of you for which that matters. Also, you will most likely have some mexican rice left over so you can use it for future meals! It is perfect for a summer day where you want something a little lighter but yet very flavorful! The lime on the chicken mixed with the cilantro gives a light, earthy flavor while the rice has a little kick to bring everything together.

Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees and place the chicken breasts in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. While the chicken is cooking, put one cup of rice and two cups of water in a medium sauce pan. Mix in a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, a tablespoon of Cayenne pepper powder, a tablespoon of Chili powder, and a tablespoon of Cilantro. Bring the mixture up to a boil over high heat. Once the mixture is boiling, lower the temperature to medium and cover allowing to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally with a fork.

While the rice and chicken are cooking, combine in a large bowl one can of sweet corn [NoProTip: They have canned corn that has red and green peppers already mixed in, thats what I used!], one can of black beans, one can of soy beans [I know they aren't "mexican" per se, but I love them and wanted to use them, you won't regret it!], and finally half a cup of diced tomatoes. Mix all that together in the bowl and set to the side.

When your 25 minute timer goes off for your chicken, pull it out of the oven. Drizzle lime juice over the top, half a lime for each breast, and sprinkle cilantro over that. Place the chicken back into the oven for another 10 minutes to help the lime juice soak in and completely cook the chicken through.

When the rice has fully cooked the liquid out, mix in the corn mixture into the rice, cover and let sit until the chicken is finished cooking. The heat of the rice will heat up all the other added ingredients. An optional step is to add some lime juice to the rice mixture, that depends on your preference towards lime juice of course.

Once the chicken is done, put a portion of the rice mixture on the plate and place the chicken breast on the top edge of the rice. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the top to help bring out the flavor of the cilantro and the lime.

This meal goes great with a Mexican cerveza like Corona or a sweet white wine.

What you need

Chicken

White rice

Lime, about 2-3 [or buy lime juice, works just as well]

Sweet corn

Black beans

Soy beans

Cilantro

Cayenne pepper powder

Chili Powder

EVOO

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