Description
Fragrant Mexican red rice brings a burst of authentic flavor to your table, creating a colorful side dish that dances with spices and tradition. Warm, hearty grains kissed with tomato and garlic promise to elevate any meal with its rich, comforting essence.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce (or 2 medium tomatoes, blended)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon chili powder (optional, for a little heat)
- ½ cup frozen peas (optional)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish)
- 1 lime, cut into wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Rice Preparation: Thoroughly rinse rice under cool running water until liquid becomes transparent, ensuring complete drainage.
- Rice Toasting: Activate medium heat in a saucepan, introducing oil and rice. Continuously stir until grains transform into a golden-amber hue, developing rich nutty undertones.
- Aromatic Infusion: Incorporate finely chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until fragrant and translucent, releasing their vibrant essence into the mixture.
- Liquid Integration: Pour tomato sauce and broth into the pan, complementing with salt, cumin, black pepper, and chili powder. Encourage gentle boiling to marry flavors and create a harmonious base.
- Final Cooking Stage: Reduce heat to minimal setting, securely cover the saucepan, and allow rice to simmer quietly. Let ingredients meld together until liquid completely absorbs, creating a perfectly textured Mexican red rice with concentrated flavors and tender grains.
Notes
- Rinse rice thoroughly to remove excess starch, ensuring each grain remains separate and fluffy during cooking.
- Constantly stir rice while toasting to achieve golden color without scorching, which can create bitter flavors.
- Use homemade or high-quality vegetable/chicken broth instead of water to add more complex, rich taste profiles to the rice.
- Adjust chili powder and spices according to personal heat tolerance, allowing flexibility for different palate preferences.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg