Thai Lime Chicken Rice Bowls

A quick Thai-inspired ground chicken bowl with fragrant rice and a crisp, tangy cucumber salad that highlights Washington’s summer produce.

Ingredients

  • Organic Ground Chicken, 16 OZ
    16 ounces $7.99
  • Organic Slicing Cucumbers
    1 large cucumber $1.10
  • Organic Jasmine Thai White Rice
    3/4 cup dry $4.19
  • Green Onion
    3 green onions $1.39
  • Cilantro Bunch
    1/2 cup chopped $1.19
  • Lime
    1 lime $0.69
  • Water
    1 1/4 cups
  • Neutral cooking oil
    1 tablespoon
  • Garlic
    2 cloves
  • Fish sauce
    1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon
  • Low-sodium soy sauce
    1 tablespoon
  • Brown sugar
    2 teaspoons
  • Crushed red pepper flakes
    1/2 teaspoon
  • Kosher salt
    1/4 teaspoon

Instructions

  1. Rinse 3/4 cup dry jasmine rice, then combine it with 1 1/4 cups water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes; remove from the heat and rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
  2. While the rice cooks, thinly slice 1 large cucumber and 1 green onion. Toss the slices with the juice of 1/2 lime, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon fish sauce, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; refrigerate until plating.
  3. Stir together the juice of 1/2 lime, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
  4. Mince and immediately sauté 2 garlic cloves and the white parts of 2 thinly sliced green onions in 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil over medium-high heat for 30 seconds. Add 16 ounces organic ground chicken and sauté for 6–8 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles, until it reaches 165°F.
  5. Pour in all of the prepared sauce and sauté for 1–2 minutes, stirring until evenly coated and glossy; remove from the heat.
  6. Divide all cooked rice made from 3/4 cup dry rice between 2 bowls. Top with the cooked 16 ounces ground chicken, all cucumber salad made from 1 large cucumber, 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, and the green parts from 2 green onions.

Total time: 35 minutes

Estimated cost: $16–$18 for 2 servings, with rice and condiments left over

Health notes: About 640 calories per serving, with roughly 48 grams of protein plus hydrating cucumber and fresh herbs.

Drink pairing: An off-dry Riesling balances the lime, savory fish sauce, and gentle chile heat.