frequent diner of tacos, quesadillas and burritos, I enjoy the sidekick item of beans or rice to accompany the meal. I sometimes prepare the rice from scratch and add my own flavors or if time is short and I am very hungry, I like to opt for some of the prepared rice packages, whether Goya, Knorr, or some Rice a Roni kits. Years ago, I recall going with a Vigo branded black beans and rice that was really good. I would make it to go with Cubano sandwiches or fajitas as I really enjoyed the black bean/rice combination with a hint of cumin flavor and Latin inspired spices. Unfortunately my local markets have not carried that type of Vigo rice for about a decade. Surprisingly, I did notice that the Vigo brand carries Classic Cilantro Lime Rice, so I decided to give it a shot.
Packaging
The seasoned
rice is sold in a lime green package. This particular rice item was found
in the rice aisle at Meijer, but I have also seen it in the Latino food aisles
at other markets usually next to the La Preferida and Goya brands.
Price
The cost
of the eight ounce package is $1.99 (as of February 2024; I should mention this
with inflation!).
Preparation
The
preparation involves bringing two cups of water to a boil in a large saucepan.
Next step is adding a few tablespoons of olive oil (or butter) and the contents
of package. You stir the contents for the next minute, then cover and reduce heat
to simmer for the next twenty minutes. The package (unlike other prepared rice
brands) does not seem to include microwave directions. Once the simmer is
complete. I let the rice stand for a few minutes before fluffing with a fork.
Taste/Texture
The
color of the final produce is a muted white color with specs of green (assuming
cilantro). The texture came out decent
as it was not too starchy or wet to one extreme, and not too dry or tough to
the other extreme.
The bite
of the rice was better than expected as the tone of rice had the right balance
of cilantro and lime. My concerns with any “lime enhanced” products are that
the citrus flavor occasionally tends to overwhelm the product. I did not find
that to be the case here. The cilantro, while visible in the dish (rehydrated
herbs), appeared to be a tad lacking so I did not pick up as much cilantro
flavor here as I would have desired. Did this taste as good as homemade
cilantro lime rice? No. When I prepare my own rice from scratch, I put a lot of
TLC into the process as I slightly brown the rice and add some garlic, fresh squeezed
lime juice and fresh cut cilantro before adding the water or chicken stock.
Overall
Result
I would definitely
buy this rice again. While it does not taste as good as homemade, it is very
convenient to prepare, especially at the price point of two bucks and pairs
nicely with numerous items out of the oven or off the grill.
