A Recipe Straight from a Mexican Grandma
My college roommate is half Mexican and half German, and when her German mom joined the family, her dad’s mom immediately went about teaching her the key recipes to keep her son fed and happy. This easy Mexican Rice recipe is one of them. It’s all about toasting the rice to be as golden brown as you can stand to wait for in oil—the toastier the better—and then loading it up with tomato sauce and spices. I’ve made this recipe so many times I’ve memorized it, and the cooking times are spot on. I’ve never made a bad pan of it (i.e., no burning rice!).
My family loves it and it has really been a game changer for our Chiles Rellenos and carnitas spreads!
Mexican Rice Recipe Instructions
First, heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a deep skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the rice and stir constantly until the rice begins to turn golden brown. The toastier your rice, the tastier it will be (information gleaned from my friend, via her grandma of course).
Next, add the chicken stock.
The mixture will bubble up, and should be followed immediately by the tomato paste or tomato sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, black pepper, and salt.
Bring to a boil, stirring the tomato paste to dissolve it if using, and cover with a tight-fitting lid.
Immediately turn the heat down to low and set a timer for 20 minutes.
During or when the rice is done cooking, you may want to check moisture levels. If you smell a hint of a burnt scent, your heat is too high! In this scenario, if the rice is cooked, remove from the heat. If it’s not cooked, lower the heat, and add water ½ cup at a time to continue the cooking process. If it’s too wet, leave the lid slightly ajar or off the pan entirely.
When the rice is done, fluff it with a fork and serve alongside our chiles rellenos, carnitas, or any other Mexican spread!
Recipe
Mexican Rice
Our Mexican Rice recipe is from a friend’s Mexican grandmother. Once you’ve learned how to make Mexican rice, you’ll make it all the time! It’s that easy.
Serves: 8
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 2½ cups uncooked long grain white rice (450g)
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock, or water + 1 bouillon cube (710 ml)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste (or 1 cup plain tomato sauce)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- First, heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a deep skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the rice and stir constantly until the rice begins to turn golden brown. The toastier your rice, the tastier it will be (information gleaned from my friend, via her grandma of course).
- Next, add the chicken stock. The mixture will bubble up, and should be followed immediately by the tomato paste or tomato sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, black pepper, and salt.
- Bring to a boil, stirring the tomato paste to dissolve it if using, and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Immediately turn the heat down to low and set a timer for 20 minutes.
- During or when the rice is done cooking, you may want to check moisture levels. If you smell a hint of a burnt scent, your heat is too high! In this scenario, if the rice is cooked, remove from the heat. If it’s not cooked, lower the heat, and add water ½ cup at a time to continue the cooking process. If it’s too wet, leave the lid slightly ajar or off the pan entirely.
- When the rice is done, fluff it with a fork and serve!
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 297kcal (15%) Carbohydrates: 51g (17%) Protein: 7g (14%) Fat: 7g (11%) Saturated Fat: 1g (5%) Cholesterol: 3mg (1%) Sodium: 311mg (13%) Potassium: 210mg (6%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 2g (2%) Vitamin A: 100IU (2%) Vitamin C: 1.1mg (1%) Calcium: 23mg (2%) Iron: 0.9mg (5%)
