This do-it-yourself Spanish rice recipe is a straightforward, scrumptious aspect dish! Fluffy and flavorful, it pairs completely with Mexican mains like tacos and enchiladas.
I’ve eaten Spanish rice at Mexican eating places numerous occasions, but it surely wasn’t till this yr that I began making this Spanish rice recipe at house. Lately’s publish is a PSA: for those who’re no longer already making do-it-yourself Spanish rice, it’s time to start out. You’re critically lacking out!
Spanish rice, also referred to as Mexican rice or arroz rojo, is one of those rice pilaf cooked with onions and garlic, tomatoes, peppers, and spices. It’s usually eaten during northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, and it’s the very best aspect dish for a merely cooked protein or Mexican fare like tacos and enchiladas.
The recipe beneath has turn out to be my go-to manner for learn how to make Spanish rice. It’s SO simple, and it comes out wet, fluffy, and flavorful each and every time. I believe you’re going to like it.
Spanish Rice Recipe Components
Right here’s what you’ll wish to make this simple Spanish rice recipe:
- Rice, after all! Lengthy-grain white rice, akin to basmati, works highest on this recipe. You’ll be able to additionally use brown rice, however you’ll wish to building up the broth size to two cups. Simmer the rice for 45 mins as an alternative of 15.
- Onion and garlic – For savory intensity of taste.
- Further-virgin olive oil – It provides richness to the rice and is helping all of the flavors meld. Be at liberty to sub a impartial cooking oil, akin to avocado or canola oil, for those who desire.
- Tomato paste, plus diced recent tomatoes or canned tomato sauce – They offer the rice its signature pink colour and upload tangy tomato taste. Be at liberty to make use of both diced recent tomatoes or the canned tomato sauce. Each choices paintings nice!
- Jalapeño pepper – For delicate warmth and interesting flecks of inexperienced. In the event you don’t like highly spiced meals, substitute the jalapeño with 1/4 cup chopped inexperienced bell pepper.
- Dried oregano – I exploit this dried herb in a lot of my favourite Mexican dishes. It provides earthy intensity to the rice.
- Vegetable broth – You must sub water, however cooking the rice in broth makes it that a lot more flavorful. Use store-bought, or make do-it-yourself vegetable broth.
- And sea salt – To make all of the flavors pop!
In finding the whole recipe with measurements beneath.
Methods to Make Spanish Rice
This Mexican rice recipe is so easy to make! Right here’s the way it is going:
First, rinse the rice. That is my first step every time I’m cooking rice, because it eliminates starches that may motive the rice to clump. Position it in a superb mesh strainer set over a bowl, and rinse it below cool operating water till the water within the bowl runs transparent.
Subsequent, sauté the onion and toast the rice. Warmth the olive oil in a medium pot or Dutch oven over medium warmth. Upload the onion and prepare dinner till it’s comfortable and translucent, about 5 mins.
Upload the rice and prepare dinner, stirring incessantly, for every other 2 mins, till it’s aromatic.
Then, upload the remainder components. Stir within the tomato paste and garlic, adopted by way of the diced tomatoes or tomato sauce, jalapeño, salt, and oregano.
Pour within the broth, and produce it to a boil.
Scale back the warmth, duvet the pot, and simmer the rice for quarter-hour, or till the rice is delicate and the liquid is absorbed.
In the end, let the rice steam. Take away it from the warmth and let it sit down, lined, for 10 mins.
You’re in a position to serve! Fluff the cooked rice with a fork and revel in.
What to Serve with Mexican Rice
My favourite factor to serve with Mexican rice? Mexican meals! It could be a scrumptious aspect dish for any of those Mexican-inspired recipes:
Listed below are a couple of extra nice tactics to make use of it:
How do you love to serve Mexican rice? Let me know within the feedback!
Garage Directions
Leftover Spanish rice will stay within the refrigerator for as much as 4 days. To reheat it, heat it within the microwave or at the range with a small splash of water or vegetable broth.
The rice additionally freezes neatly. Stash it in an hermetic container or bag within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Thaw it within the microwave or in a single day within the refrigerator.
Extra Favourite Rice Recipes
In the event you love this Spanish rice recipe, take a look at this sort of easy rice dishes subsequent:

Spanish Rice
Serves 4
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Warmth the olive oil in a medium Dutch oven or pot. Upload the onion and prepare dinner for five to eight mins, or till softened. Upload the rice and prepare dinner for two mins, or till aromatic and toasted.
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Stir within the tomato paste and garlic, then upload the recent tomatoes, jalapeño, salt, oregano, and broth. Deliver to a boil. Duvet, scale back the warmth, and simmer for quarter-hour, or till the liquid is absorbed.
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Take away from the warmth and let sit down, lined, for 10 extra mins. Fluff with a fork.