Description
Homemade spicy Mexican rice delight combines zesty flavors with authentic regional ingredients. Balanced spices and fresh components create a memorable dining experience you’ll savor with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups (355 ml) vegetable broth
- 1 cup (236 ml) long grain rice
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) vegetable oil
- 2 whole garlic cloves
- ½ small white onion, roughly chopped
- 2 small Roma tomatoes, quartered
- ¼ cup (59 ml) water
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 g) salt
Instructions
- Tomato Preparation: Blend ripe tomatoes, garlic, onion, and water into a smooth, vibrant sauce. Reserve one portion for rice cooking.
- Rice Toasting: Heat oil in a large pan over medium flame. Add rice and stir continuously until grains turn golden and emit a nutty aroma, ensuring even toasting.
- Sauce Integration: Pour reserved tomato sauce into toasted rice, creating a rich, cohesive mixture. Simmer for 5 minutes to develop deep flavor profiles and allow sauce to slightly thicken.
- Liquid Infusion and Steaming: Add vegetable broth, bringing the mixture to a vigorous boil. Immediately reduce heat to lowest setting, cover pan tightly, and steam rice for 15-20 minutes. Check liquid absorption at 15-minute mark, ensuring rice doesn’t stick or burn.
- Finishing and Resting: Remove pan from heat, gently fluff rice with a fork to separate grains. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes, allowing residual steam to perfect rice texture and distribute moisture evenly.
Notes
- Rice Toasting Technique: Golden-brown toasting is crucial for developing a nutty, rich flavor and preventing mushy texture. Stir constantly to ensure even coloration and prevent burning.
- Liquid Ratio Precision: Use exact liquid measurements to achieve perfect rice consistency. Too much liquid creates soggy rice, while too little results in undercooked grains.
- Steam Resting Magic: The 10-minute resting period after cooking allows moisture to redistribute, creating fluffy, separated rice grains with optimal texture and flavor absorption.
- Spice Customization: Adjust heat levels by adding jalapeños, cayenne, or chipotle powder during tomato sauce blending to personalize spice intensity according to preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg