When I cook for the people who hold my heart, I do my best in advance to get a feel on what they like to eat, love to eat, and most importantly, what they crave.
These are important things to know about the people you love!
Since cravings are typically strong and spontaneous (and at times can awaken longings we never even knew existed!!!) it’s good to know a thing or two about improvising.
I find legit improvisational skills can take you far in life. It can also help you make some radical green rice. That’s what I call a win-win.
Last Saturday I hosted an impromptu taco party, and this rice accidentally became the star of the show. I love it when accidents turn into beauty, and all the better if they taste beyond amazing. I mean, I don’t even know how else to describe this green beauty. Let’s stick with beyond amazing for now.
The ingredients are pretty rad, too! Lime, cilantro, garlic, avocado, jalapeno, and manchego cheese get blended together to give this rice a drop kick of flavor that leaves me… wanting more.
Plus, it’s like totally green! Um, awesome.
Green Rice – Baker by Nature
Serves 2 as a main meal, or 6 as a side
2 cups white rice, cooked (I’m going to be honest and tell you guys I used the microwave kind and it worked out just fine!)
1 jalapeno, grated using a microplane or cheese grater
1 clove of garlic, grated or very finely chopped
1/2 avocado, pitted and diced
1/2 cup (4 ounces) manchego cheese, grated
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Cook rice according to package details. Keep warm while you prepare the sauce!
In a blender, combine jalapeno, avocado, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and olive oil and blend until smooth. Mix into cooked rice and fluff with a slotted wooden spoon or fork. Serve immediately.
I’m loving all of the flavors going on here – what a great way to jazz up rice and tacos!
Oh, yum! I would love making this into the beginning of a burrito bowl – top it with a little shredded chicken, some black beans, + some pico de gallo, and I’m one happy camper. Delicious!
Green rice, get in my mouth! I’m obsessing over every ingredient on this list. Genius girl!
Ashley, your green rice looks awesome, love all the ingredients in it…and it is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day
Enjoy your week!
Cilantro and lime with rice is such an awesome pairing! You make me hungry looking at this!
MMMM, manchego cheese! This sounds incredible Ashley!
Gosh, I really don’t love avocado, but this rice is toooooo tempting!
OMG I’m all over this. Me and avocado, we’re besties…
This looks and sounds awesome! I am thinking, though, the fine chopping, grating and microplaning going on could be abandoned to a rough chop, since it’s all going into the blender anyway. Definitely a great looking recipe and one I will try!
Hey Wendy! I only suggest the fine chopping and microplane options because unless you’re using a food processor or very strong blender the jalapeno may not completely incorporate into the sauce. Let me know if you try it out!
This sounds so amazing! I’m generally not a fan at all of cilantro, but this looks so good I might have to suck it up and use it (or accidentally forget it… haha)
That is one delicious looking rice! If I had a big bowl of that, I would put some super spicy shrimp on top and wrap it in lettuce leaves!
I am seriously printing this recipe out right now–sounds incredible!!! and I love that you used manchego cheese…one of my favorites. Heck, I might just make this tonight. You are brilliant, girl! x
Awwww, thanks lady! Let me know how it turns out!
Holy moly it was SO good! Made some shredded chicken tacos and put the rice inside. My friends approved, too.
I’ll post next week and obviously link back to you!
I know everybody else has said this but brilliant! Green rice for the win.
This rice sounds so good! And because I’m the only one who eats cilantro in my house, I would get it all to myself…
I wish you loved me because I would LOVE for you to make this for me!! Seriously, one of the yummiest recipes I’ve seen in awhile (and I look at a LOT of recipes)!
I DO love you!
Oh this looks so delicious!!
I love rice bowls and this green rice looks like it’s so full of flavor! Love the cilantro and lime combo…my mouth is watering right now for the zesty flavor!
Intriguing!
I’m kind of obsessed with making pesto, so this is something I’m excited to try! Looks delicious!
WOW! I’ve never thought to add avocado to rice before. I feel kind of silly for never thinking of it.
The cilantro, the jalapeno – I am all about this rice dish 
i totally love this idea!!! sounds so amazing. i usually make plain rice (brown for me, white for my husband) but i must try this version!! love the addition of cheese + avocado. yum!
This green rice looks incredible! I can see this becoming a firm favourite in our house!
Herbed, spicy sauce on rice?! Count me in. I’d eat this with black beans.
The flavors in your rice sound delicious! I don’t think I would bury it in a taco or burrito. Maybe along side a grilled piece of chicken or steak or tofu ? Yum. Thank you for sharing this inspired recipe!
I’m loving the avocado in this recipe. So creative!
I never make rice as a side dish because I usually just find it so meh. But this is anything but meh! I bet it would be good in a burrito too.
What a beautiful side dish – yum!
Wow this looks awesome and delicious
The name green rice caught my attention and now I love how this looks! I can totally see why this was a star of the show!