Easy Mexican Rice
Make authentic Mexican rice (arroz Mexicano) — flavorful, colorful, and the perfect side for tacos, grilled meats, mole, and more!
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain rice
- 1/4 large white onion, diced
- 3 tbsp olive oil, smooth
Tomato Sauce
- 2 tomatoes, roughly diced
- 1/4 large white onion, roughly diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, roughly diced
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp ground achiote
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1/4 tsp ground cumin
- 3-4 cups chicken broth, low sodium
Additional
- 1 serrano pepper
- 2 cups mixed veggies
- To taste kosher salt, (1 tbsp)
Instructions
Make the Tomato Sauce
- In a blender, combine tomatoes, white onion, bell pepper, garlic, tomato paste, achiote, coriander, cumin, and chicken broth (see note). Blend until smooth and set aside.
Prepare the Rice
- Rinse the rice and drain well. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the rice and stir continuously. After 3 minutes, add the finely diced onion. Toast the rice slowly, adjusting the heat as needed, until golden brown, about 10–15 minutes.
- Carefully pour in the blended sauce. Add the mixed vegetables, salt to taste, and a serrano pepper cut in half lengthwise (leave the stem intact). Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook on medium-low heat for about 25 minutes, until the liquid evaporates and the grains are tender but not mushy. Avoid lifting the lid too often. Turn off the heat.
Finish and Rest
- Once done, notice the tomato film around the pan edges—gently fold it into the rice. Cover again and let rest off the heat for 5–10 minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork or spatula and serve.
Notes
Rice from different brands can absorb liquid differently. To avoid mushy rice, start with slightly less broth than the recipe calls for and check the texture near the end of cooking, adding more broth if needed.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 177kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 4gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 257mgPotassium: 211mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1914IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and intended as an approximation only.