How to Make Mexican Rice Recipe for all your Tex-Mex meals! (2024)

FAQs

What is Mexican rice made of? ›

If you're a fan of homemade Mexican food, a good Mexican rice recipe is a must. Often referred to as Spanish rice or “arroz rojo,” this classic dish features long-grain rice simmered in a tomato-infused broth, seasoned with onions, garlic, cumin, and chili powder — lending it that iconic reddish-orange color.

One of the main differences between these two rice dishes is that Mexican rice is fluffier and tends not to stick together. Whilst Spanish Rice is known for that rich yellow color, Mexican Rice is best known for its reddish orange hue that it gets from being cooked with cumin.

Mexican rice is almost always eaten as a complement to other dishes such as mole, refried beans, rotisserie chicken, carne asada, picadillo, tacos, fried fish, fried chicken, chiles rellenos, or vegetable soup.

The first thing you should do is sauté the rice in the cooking oil before boiling. This will help seal the starch in the grains and prevent the rice from sticking.

Why does Mexican restaurant rice taste better? The method used to make Mexican rice involves lightly frying the uncooked rice in oil which helps it absorb more flavor from the seasoning and cook to a perfect consistency. In addition, a traditional blend of spices and diced vegetables and potatoes create unique flavor.

The extra long grain rice contains less starch and cooks to a dryer, fluffier texture. Jasmine rice is a little too starchy, and basmati rice has an aroma that is not authentic to Mexican rice. Toast the rice in oil.

Did you ever wonder why Mexican rice is a red-orange color? Cumin is the answer. It provides that nutty and spicy taste and is the famous culprit for the red-orange color. Cumin is always an ingredient in this rice.

In Mexico, different regions serve rice in different ways. If you order rice in northern Mexico, you most likely will get the rice cooked with chicken broth and tomato flavors—traditional Mexican (or Spanish) rice. However, in southern Mexico, ​plain white rice is more common.

Serve Wet Burritos, California Burritos, Smothered Chicken Burritos or Ground Beef, Bean and Cheese Burritos with Mexican Rice and drool. Tacos. Tacos might be the most popular Mexican food and so they need the BEST rice as a side.

Is Mexican rice healthy? ›

The big picture: Mexican rice is one of the healthier ways to eat rice. Cooking rice with vegetables and olive oil adds extra vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to your rice. Add extra frozen veggies for even more nutrition!

In its earliest days, what is now considered Mexican food was centered around locally grown produce. The main staples of Mesoamerican cuisine were maize, beans, squash, and chiles. Even today, many of these foods are still essential in a variety of Mexican dishes.

When you cook the rice for a longer time in too much water, it causes the grains to split, which results in a gummy and soggy texture.

How to Make Mexican Brown Rice. First, we'll lightly toast the brown rice in oil for extra flavor and separation. Then, we'll bring the rice to a boil with rich, tomato-y broth (you can use ripe tomatoes or canned). Then, we'll bake it in the oven for perfectly fluffy Mexican rice with amazing flavor.

If the heat is too high, the water evaporates before the rice has a chance to fully cook. If you don't add enough water, the rice ends up dry and crunchy. And if you don't cook the rice long enough, it gets soft on the outside but doesn't cook through.

The big picture: Mexican rice is one of the healthier ways to eat rice. Cooking rice with vegetables and olive oil adds extra vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to your rice.

Mexican Rice, or arroz rojo, is a staple in Mexican cuisine! It is a red rice that is cooked in chicken stock and tomato juice, which gives it that beautiful red color.