Description
This Easy Mexican Rice Recipe is a flavorful and simple side dish perfect for complementing any Mexican meal. Featuring aromatic spices, tomato sauce, and tender rice cooked to perfection in chicken broth, it’s a quick 25-minute dish that serves 8, making it an ideal choice for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock or broth
- 8 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
Instructions
- Rinse the Rice: Rinse the rice thoroughly in a mesh strainer under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch, which helps prevent the rice from becoming mushy.
- Cook Rice: Heat the vegetable or canola oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the rinsed rice and cook, stirring frequently, until the grains become translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes. This step toasts the rice to enhance its flavor.
- Add Ingredients: Pour in the chicken stock or broth, tomato sauce, chili powder, garlic salt, and ground cumin. Stir to combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer Rice: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan with a lid, and let it simmer gently for 20 minutes until the rice absorbs the liquid and is tender.
- Fluff and Serve: Remove the saucepan from heat and let it stand covered for 2-3 minutes. Then, use a fork to fluff the rice gently to separate the grains before serving.
Notes
- Rinsing the rice is key to getting fluffy, separate grains.
- You can substitute vegetable broth for a vegetarian option.
- Adjust chili powder to your desired level of spiciness.
- Cover the pot tightly while simmering to ensure even cooking.
