Rice is a staple food in many cultures, and it’s no different in the Mexican culture. Mexican rice is a flavorful, aromatic, and satisfying dish that can be used as a side dish or a meal on its own. If you are wondering how to make rice Mexican and want to impress your friends and family with authentic Mexican flavors, read on!

Mexican rice is a great way to add some spicy flavor to your dinner table. But don’t worry, you don’t need to be an expert in Mexican cuisine to make this dish. With a few basic ingredients and a little bit of patience, you too can make delicious, restaurant-quality rice. In this article, we will go over the essential ingredients and steps to follow to make the perfect Mexican rice. Whether you are cooking for your family or hosting a dinner party, this recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. So, grab your rice, onions, tomatoes, and let’s get started!

Ingredients and Equipment Needed

Before we dive into the recipe, let’s go over the necessary ingredients and equipment needed to create an authentic Mexican rice dish.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of long-grain white rice
  • 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or olive oil
  • 4 cups of chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 medium-sized tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin powder
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment:

  • A large skillet or saucepan with a tight-fitting lid
  • A wooden spoon or spatula for stirring
  • A knife and cutting board for chopping

Preparing the Ingredients

Before we start cooking, it’s important to prep all the ingredients beforehand to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Start by rinsing the rice in a fine mesh strainer under cold water until the water runs clear. This helps remove any excess starch and dirt that might affect the texture and flavor of the rice.

Next, chop the onion and tomatoes finely, and mince the garlic cloves. Measure out the chicken or vegetable stock and keep it close by for easy access during cooking.

Instructions for Making Mexican Rice

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add the rice and stir until it is coated in oil and slightly toasted. This should take 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the chopped onions, garlic, and tomatoes. Cook until the onions are translucent and the tomatoes have broken down.
4. Add the tomato paste, cumin powder, and bay leaf to the skillet. Stir well to combine everything.
5. Add the chicken or vegetable stock to the skillet, along with salt and pepper to taste. Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil.
6. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet with a tight-fitting lid, and let the rice simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender.
7. Once the rice is cooked, remove the skillet from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes before removing the lid.
8. Fluff the rice with a fork, remove the bay leaf, and serve hot.

Tips for Perfect Mexican Rice

  • Be sure to use a large skillet or saucepan with a tight-fitting lid to prevent any moisture from escaping during the cooking process.
  • Toasting the uncooked rice in oil helps give it a nice nutty flavor and prevents it from becoming too sticky or mushy.
  • Adding a tablespoon of tomato paste helps deepen the color and flavor of the rice, and gives it a slightly tangy taste.
  • If you want to make the rice even more flavorful, you can add a few minced serrano peppers or jalapenos to the skillet along with the onions and tomatoes.
  • Don’t be tempted to stir the rice while it’s simmering. This can cause it to become mushy or sticky. Instead, let it cook undisturbed until it’s tender and the liquid has been absorbed.
  • If you’re short on time, you can use instant rice instead of long-grain rice. Just reduce the cooking time to 5-10 minutes and adjust the liquid accordingly.

Enjoy Your Delicious Mexican Rice!

Now that you know how to make authentic Mexican rice at home, it’s time to impress your friends and family with your newfound culinary skills. This delicious dish is perfect as a side dish to accompany any Mexican-inspired meal or as a filling base for burrito bowls and other grain bowls. Give it a try and taste the difference homemade Mexican rice can make!

Tips for Making Delicious Mexican Rice

Now that you have all the ingredients, it’s time to get cooking! Here are some tips to make sure your Mexican rice turns out delicious:

1. Rinse the Rice

Before cooking your rice, make sure to rinse it thoroughly to remove excess starch and dirt. You can place the rice in a sieve and then run cold water over it until the water runs clear.

2. Toast the Rice

For a nutty flavor and golden color, toast the rice in a bit of oil before adding the liquid. Heat the oil in a pan and then add the rice, stirring often until it turns golden brown.

3. Use Fresh Ingredients

Fresh ingredients will always give your Mexican rice the best flavor. Use fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, and spices for the best results.

4. Use High-Quality Broth

The broth you use will greatly affect the flavor of your rice. Use high-quality chicken or vegetable broth to add depth of flavor to your Mexican rice.

5. Cover Your Rice When Cooking

When cooking the rice, make sure to cover the pot tightly with a lid. This will allow the rice to cook properly and prevent it from becoming too dry.

6. Let the Rice Rest Before Fluffing

After the rice has finished cooking, let it rest for 10-15 minutes before fluffing with a fork. This will allow the rice to absorb any remaining moisture and make it easier to fluff.

7. Add Flavorful Toppings

For even more flavor, top your Mexican rice with fresh cilantro, crumbled cotija cheese, sliced avocado, or chopped green onions.

8. Adjust the Spice Level to Your Taste

Mexican rice can be as spicy or mild as you like. Adjust the amount of chili powder, cumin, or jalapeno peppers to suit your preferences.

9. Experiment with Different Variations

Mexican rice can be customized to suit your taste preferences. Try adding corn, green or red peppers, or black beans to change things up a bit.

10. Use Leftover Rice to Make Other Dishes

Leftover Mexican rice can be used in a variety of dishes. Try using it as a filling for burritos, or mixing it with eggs for a flavorful breakfast dish.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to making delicious Mexican rice that your friends and family will love. Enjoy your flavorful and spicy rice dish!

5 Ways to Make Mexican Rice

If you’re looking to recreate the taste of authentic Mexican rice, then you need to know more than one way to cook it! Here are several preparation methods that can help you achieve a delicious result:

Method Ingredients Instructions
Classic Mexican Rice rice, oil, onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, salt 1. Heat oil in a skillet and add rice until golden brown.
2. Add onions and garlic.
3. Stir in diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and salt.
4. Cover and simmer until rice is tender.
Spicy Mexican Rice rice, oil, onion, garlic, jalapeno, diced tomatoes with chilies, chicken broth, salt, cumin, chili powder 1. Heat oil in a skillet and add rice until golden brown.
2. Add onions, garlic, and jalapenos.
3. Stir in diced tomatoes with chilies, chicken broth, salt, cumin, and chili powder.
4. Cover and simmer until rice is tender.
Green Mexican Rice rice, oil, onion, garlic, green bell pepper, chicken broth, green chilies, salt, cilantro, lime juice 1. Heat oil in a skillet and add rice until golden brown.
2. Add onions, garlic, and green bell pepper.
3. Stir in chicken broth, green chilies, salt, cilantro, and lime juice.
4. Cover and simmer until rice is tender.
Tomato Mexican Rice rice, oil, onion, garlic, tomato paste, chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, salt, cumin 1. Heat oil in a skillet and add rice until golden brown.
2. Add onions and garlic.
3. Stir in tomato paste, chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, salt, and cumin.
4. Cover and simmer until rice is tender.
Bean Mexican Rice rice, oil, onion, garlic, black beans, chicken broth, diced tomatoes with green chilies, salt, cumin 1. Heat oil in a skillet and add rice until golden brown.
2. Add onions and garlic.
3. Stir in black beans, chicken broth, diced tomatoes with green chilies, salt, and cumin.
4. Cover and simmer until rice is tender.

Classic Mexican Rice:
Beginner cooks can start with this recipe, which is usually a go-to method for making Mexican rice. You’ll need white rice, oil, onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and salt. Cook the rice in oil, then add the onion and garlic. Finally, stir in diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and salt. Cover the skillet and let it simmer until the rice is tender. This delicious classic Mexican rice is perfect as a side dish for your favorite Mexican dish.

Spicy Mexican Rice:
If you prefer a bit of a kick in your rice, you should try making Spicy Mexican Rice. The recipe includes white rice, oil, onion, garlic, jalapeno, diced tomatoes with chilies, chicken broth, salt, cumin, and chili powder. Cook the rice in oil and add the onion, garlic, and jalapeno. Next, stir in diced tomatoes with chilies, chicken broth, salt, cumin, and chili powder. Cover the skillet and let it simmer until the rice is cooked.

Green Mexican Rice:
For those who enjoy a bit of freshness in their rice, Green Mexican Rice is a great option. This recipe consists of white rice, oil, onion, garlic, green bell pepper, chicken broth, green chilies, salt, cilantro, and lime juice. Cook the rice in oil, then add the onion, garlic, and green bell pepper. Finally, stir in chicken broth, green chilies, salt, cilantro, and lime juice. Cover the skillet and let it simmer until the rice is tender.

Tomato Mexican Rice:
Tomato Mexican Rice is another heavenly option to try. All you need is white rice, oil, onion, garlic, tomato paste, chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, salt, and cumin. After cooking the rice in oil, add the onion and garlic. Next, stir in tomato paste, chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, salt, and cumin. Cover the skillet and let it simmer until the rice is cooked.

Bean Mexican Rice:
Finally, Bean Mexican Rice is the perfect dish for bean lovers. You’ll need white rice, oil, onion, garlic, black beans, chicken broth, diced tomatoes with green chilies, salt, and cumin. Cook the rice in oil, then add the onion and garlic. Next, stir in black beans, chicken broth, diced tomatoes with green chilies, salt, and cumin. Cover the skillet and let it simmer until the rice is tender.

Explore these five delicious ways to make Mexican rice and find the perfect recipe for your taste buds. From the spicy kick of jalapenos to the refreshing taste of lime and cilantro, there are so many ways to experiment with this classic dish.

That’s how you make Mexican-style rice

Now you know how to make a delicious and authentic Mexican-style rice dish that will transport your taste buds straight to Mexico! It’s the perfect dish for any occasion, and it’s sure to please everyone at your dinner table. So go ahead and give it a try! Thanks for reading, and be sure to come back soon for more amazing recipes and culinary tips. Until then, happy cooking!