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

FAQs

Why does Mexican restaurant rice taste better? ›

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.

Why brown rice? Well, it's got more flavour and twice the manganese, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B3, B1 and B6 of white rice. We use a local medium grain rice, rinse it several times to eliminate loose starches so that it is light and fluffy and then cook in a blend of vegetarian seasonings.

Mexican rice, on the other hand, typically uses long-grain rice sautéed with onions and garlic before being cooked in a tomato-based broth or sauce. It commonly includes ingredients like tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, and sometimes vegetables like carrots.

Spanish rice has a firmer texture and stronger aroma compared to Mexican rice, it gets its sweet yet savory flavor as well as its golden color from saffron. As it is more absorbent, Spanish rice is also better suited for dishes that need to be slow cooked.

Use Fresh Herbs and Chicken Stock

Next, add chicken stock instead of salted water and let the rice boil on high heat for two minutes. Then, lower the heat and allow the rice to steam. “The rice will smell so fragrant from the thyme and garlic, with the thyme enhancing the flavor to another level,” he says.

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.

Mexican rice's vibrant color comes from tomato puree, either homemade or store-bought. It should not be confused with tomato paste, another common condiment used to flavor and color food.

A relatively healthy food option if you go light on, or avoid, the sour cream and cheese. I had a small 'naked burrito' (no bread) which consisted of brown rice, black beans, a choice of pork, chicken, beef or vegan options, lettuce, salsa and cheese and sour cream if you want it. It comes in two sizes.

Native Mexicans began integrating rice into their culinary traditions, creating an enchanting blend of Spanish and Mexican flavors. Using locally available ingredients like tomatoes, peppers, onions, and local spices, the Mexicans created what we now know as Mexican rice.

What rice brand is best for Mexican rice? ›

Use Mahatma® Rice Extra Long Grain White Rice.

The extra long grain rice contains less starch and cooks to a dryer, fluffier 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.

Maybe you took the lid off of the pot too early, letting the steam escape. Maybe you didn't add enough liquid to begin with. Whatever the case, if your rice is looking dried out, or the texture is still hard or crunchy when all the liquid has been absorbed, add up to ½ cup water and return to a simmer with the lid on.

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.

What to Serve with Mexican Rice. Pair this red rice with refried beans, and serve both with any Mexican entrée like enfrijoladas, chicken tacos, and pork and green chile tamales.

The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

Mexican rice is one of the healthiest ways to eat rice! The tomato adds so many antioxidants. And you get more fiber, vitamins and minerals by cooking your rice with a variety of vegetables like you do in Mexican rice. This just goes to show how healthy our food traditions are!

In fact, the use of classic Chinese sauces is exactly what makes takeout fried rice so incredibly moreish. Key amongst these is soy sauce. By adding soy sauce during cooking chefs are adding both salt and umami to the fried rice which, unsurprisingly, greatly improves the dish's overall flavor.