Combining the southwest flavors of cilantro, lime and avocado, this Keto Cilantro Lime Chicken cauli-rice bowl is a tasty meal to treat your taste buds.
I created this Keto cilantro lime chicken dish as part of a collaboration with @ketocollabs and Kumana Foods on Instagram. As part of the partnership, Kumana Foods sent me a package of their Keto friendly Avocado sauces. I received three flavors, the original, the hot version and a mild Mango flavored one. All three use an avocado base with various ingredients such as onions, jalapeños, bell peppers and vinegar. They’re a tangy sauce that I opted to enhance by using them in a marinade and salsa dressing.
The dish itself is fairly easy to prepare. You start with a cilantro lime marinade that compliments the sauces, but also incorporates them for extra flavor. I opted to use the “Be Mango” Avocado Sauce for a slightly sweet enhancement, but their other sauces should be just as good. The great thing about this recipe, though, is that the sauces are purely optional. The recipe works great with the simple ingredients on their own.
The great thing about this recipe though, is that the sauces are purely optional. The recipe works great with the simple ingredients on their own.
You can use chicken breasts (as I did in my recipe) or chicken thighs for a little more flavor. I typically like using chicken thighs because they cook more evenly and the fat keeps them from being too dry. But either works well. Simply marinade the chicken in a large freezer lock bag for at least 30 minutes or up to 3 hours. The acid in the marinade helps tenderize the meat and of course give it flavor. A bonus tip is to pound or roll your chicken breasts before you marinating them so they are of even thickness. This allows them to cook evenly. I’m perfectly happy with skipping this step though.
When you’re ready to cook the chicken, heat your cooking source (a grill, griddle or pan) to medium-high heat and cook the chicken breasts for about 5 minutes per side. You want to make sure the juices run clear and there is no pink in the middle.
While the chicken is cooking, you can prepare the avocado salsa and cilantro lime cauli-rice. They take very little time to prepare, so 10-15 minutes is sufficient. I buy pre-riced cauliflower from the grocery store, so it’s easy to pop in the microwave and steam for 2-3 minutes.
Finally, when the chicken is finished cooking, let it sit for a few minutes to rest. You can then slice it into strips or cubes, and place it over your prepared rice with a little avocado salsa on top. The avocado salsa should keep for a few days in the fridge as well, so you can have some for leftovers.
Keto Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa
Ingredients
Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
- 4 chicken breasts
- 2 limes juiced
- 4-5 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 1/4 cup Kumana Foods “Be Mango” Sauce
Avocado Salsa
- 4 large avocados diced
- 1/2 lime juiced
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 4 tbsp Kumana Foods “Be Mango” Sauce
Cilantro Lime Cauli-Rice
- 14 oz riced cauliflower steamed
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 1/2 lime juiced
- 1 pinch of salt
Garnish
- Additional cilantro chopped
- Crushed red pepper
- Thinly sliced red onion
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients for the cilantro lime chicken marinade in a bowl and whisk to combine. Transfer to a large freezer bag, with chicken breasts, and marinade in fridge for 30 minutes, up-to 3 hours.
- Heat cooking surface to medium high heat, discard marinade and grill chicken breasts for 4-6 minutes per side till completely cooked.
- While chicken is cooking, prepare the avocado salsa by cutting avocados into small chunks and gently stirring in the remaining ingredients. Set aside.
- Steam a bag of riced cauliflower and stir in the cilantro, lime and salt. Mix to combine.
- Slice chicken breasts and place over a bed of cauli-rice. Spoon avocado salsa over the top and garnish with crushed red pepper, chopped cilantro and sliced red onions.
Delectable!