All about cooking

Good old Mexican rice

Mexican rice, as its name suggests, is a typical Mexican side dish. Originated in the Veracruz region, it was originally served with a side of beans or fish.

Some people confuse it with Spanish rice, which is usually made with saffron that gives it a yellow color. However, Mexican rice is normally prepared with tomato sauce and cumin, which tones it reddish.

What distinguishes Mexican rice from other types of rice?

There’s no news Mexico has one of the tastiest cuisines around the globe, and that’s thanks to the wide variety of food combinations they try when cooking. And, of course, rice is not the exception.

Depending on the Mexican region, rice is prepared and served differently. In the North of the country, it is usually cooked with tomato flavors and chicken broth, which is the typical Mexican rice dish. Whether in the South region of the country, plain white rice is a widespread option.

The most typical way of cooking it in Mexico is by adding tomato, chicken broth, onion and garlic. This combination of ingredients will result in the typical Mexican flavor.

You can check https://minuterice.com/recipes/mexican-rice/ to learn more about its combinations and characteristics. You’ll be surprised by its great properties! And you can even find some recipes there, too.

Are you looking for a really easy Mexican rice recipe?

This versatile ingredient can work very well as a side dish, but also as a main course. It all depends on how we cook it.

If you’re looking for a really simple and practical recipe to make this delicious dish, here goes one for you.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of Mexican rice.
  • 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
  • 3 cloves of garlic.
  • 1 big jalapeño.
  • 2 cups of chicken or vegetable broth.
  • 2 teaspoons of chili powder.
  • 2 teaspoons of paprika.
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin.
  • A pinch of salt.
  • 2 cups of tomato sauce.
  • ½ cup of cilantro.

To begin with, rinse and drain the Mexican rice well in a colander.

Then, mince the garlic and dice the jalapeño and add them to a pan with the oil. Set it over the stove and sauté it until fragrant.

After that, turn the heat off and add the chili powder, the paprika, the cumin, the broth and a pinch of salt.

Then, add the rice and stir the whole mixture. Add the salsa and don’t stir. Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes and, once it’s ready, turn the stove off and allow it to sit for another 10 minutes.

Finally, fluff the rice with a fork.

Cook tip

You can add some vegetables, such as carrots, peppers, corn or peas.

Garnish with cilantro to give it a distinctive flavor and serve it immediately. Enjoy!

It all depends on tastes

As Mexican rice is a very versatile ingredient, it goes very well with other dishes, but it can also be a delicious main course.

Some typical Mexican combinations are tacos or roasted meat with Mexican rice as a side dish.

We can always add different types of meat, like pork, chicken or fish, to make it even bulkier. And a great idea is to play around a little bit and combine Mexican rice with a variety of vegetables and seasonings. Yummy!

Don’t forget about its key elements: garlic and salt. Together with a flavored broth, these two seasonings will enhance the rice flavor and they will take it to another level.

Why is it important to follow a recipe when making Mexican rice?

Everybody knows making rice is an easy task. It’s one of the first meals teenagers learn to cook and it’s also one of the most practical ones, since you only need a pan and it takes just some minutes to be ready.

We also know that when it comes to cooking, it’s amazing to be creative and let your ideas flow while you spend some time in the kitchen.

However, it’s always a good idea to follow a recipe when cooking Mexican rice to avoid some mistakes that could ruin your dish and make you regret having cooked it in the first place.

If you are an amateur at cooking or if you don’t have enough practice in the kitchen, you may not add enough liquid to cook the rice, or you may cook it at too high of a temperature, or not cook it enough. In any of these cases, the rice is going to get crunchy and hard. And I swear this is not the result you’re expecting to get!

To avoid these mistakes, you should always make sure you add the right amount of liquid when cooking the rice. Also, follow the recipe strictly when it comes to the cooking time, so that you don’t exceed it, because there’s no turning back.

Mexican rice seems to be a great option if you want to cook a healthy and versatile meal, because you can add different types of broth, meat, vegetables and even seasonings and you’ll get a completely different dish in each case, depending on how you combine it! It sounds really practical.

Moreover, it’s rich in carbohydrates, and, as you can eat it together with other types of food, you can improve your diet a lot by making it more varied.

So, if you’re looking for a delicious and healthy meal, which is also very easy to prepare and to combine with several types of food, Mexican rice seems to be the right answer.

Comments are closed.


Join my free email list to receive FREE cook books!