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

FAQs

What kind of rice do Mexican restaurants use? ›

The most popular type of rice used in Mexico is a medium long grain rice. Two types are cultivated in Mexico, Sinaloa (long grain) and Morelos (short grain). Rice is served as a food, in and of itself, in Mexican meals.

One of the main differences between these two rice dishes is that Mexican rice is fluffier and tends not to stick together. Whilst Spanish Rice is known for that rich yellow color, Mexican Rice is best known for its reddish orange hue that it gets from being cooked with cumin.

Because you use too much water. The ratio is 2 cups water per 1 cup rice. When you add the water lower the flame to medium and cover the pot. **in case your rice has absorbed an excessive amount of liquid, the grains can also have cut up and the starches may also have given the rice a soft, gluey consistency**.

Mexican rice (sometimes referred to as Spanish rice or red rice in Tex–Mex cuisine), also known as arroz a la mexicana, arroz mexicano, sopa de arroz, or arroz rojo in Spanish, is a Mexican side dish made from white rice, tomato, garlic, onion, and perhaps other ingredients.

Whole: Just like all whole grains, rice naturally contains three edible components—the bran, germ, and endosperm (the inedible hull is removed). “Brown” rice is the typical whole grain rice, though this describes not a particular variety but the natural color of the grain.

The big picture: Mexican rice is one of the healthier ways to eat rice. Cooking rice with vegetables and olive oil adds extra vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to your rice.

You can lose weight by eating nutritious Mexican rice as it is rich in fiber and fiber keeps you full for a long. Thus, you can control your calorie intake by having Mexican rice. Its health benefits are much more than white rice as it is incorporated with healthy veggies and is made usually with red or brown rice.

For tender grains of rice that easily separate, such as in a pilaf, use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. You can also use another liquid like stock in this 2:1 ratio. For slightly chewier, fluffy white rice, use 1 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice, or a 1.5:1 ratio.

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 are 2 popular Mexican dishes? ›

Combine rice and water in a pot: For most long-grain and medium-grain rice, pair 1 cup rice and 1⅓ cups water. For short-grain rice, use 1 cup rice and 1 cup water. For most brown rice, combine 1 cup rice and 1¾ cups water.

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. Be patient. Don't raise the temperature to rush the rice—that'll just put you right back where you started.

Long grain white rice is most common rice used in traditional American recipes, and it's also popular in Asian and Mexican cuisine.

However, in southern Mexico, ​plain white rice is more common. But since adding the broth, tomato, onion, and garlic is the Mexican way to add flavor to rice, calling the dish "Mexican rice" indicates rice that is made in the Mexican style.

However, restaurants still make a point of choosing the appropriate type of rice. First off, they almost always use long-grain or medium-grain rice. Long-grain rice (like Basmati) retains distinct grains, while medium-grain has a greater chewiness and maintains its structure after frying.

What kind of rice is best for Mexican Rice? This recipe calls for basic long-grain white rice, which is the best for an Authentic Mexican Rice recipe. However, I have used Jasmine Rice in its place and it comes out great. Basmati rice is typically used in Indian dishes, but will also work well.