Mexican Rice Recipe | Arroz A La Mexicana | Quick Rice Recipes

What is Mexican rice and how does it taste?

In Mexican cuisine, especially in the North of Mexico, this easy Mexican rice recipe is the most commonly made side dish with any main or even as a filling. What the world refers to as Mexican rice or sometimes Spanish rice, is actually tomato, garlic, onion flavoured rice which turns red and fluffy upon being cooked. This flavoured red, Mexican rice is also known as Arroz a la Mexicana or Arroz Rojo locally, which translates to red rice in English.

Cooking Mexican rice involves following our perfect Mexican rice recipe that provides accurate cooking instructions with precise temperatures, cooking time involved at each stage. This Arroz a la Mexicana recipe ensures that the end result is perfectly cooked, fluffy, and flavourful Mexican rice that you would love to have over and over again. Jump to recipe here.
 

▲ This delicious and spicy Mexican rice is a perfect way to elevate a meal
 

Long-grain rice sauteed in fat, cooked with vegetables and fresh tomato, onion, and garlic paste, tastes incredibly scrumptious when cooked right. Far from bland and boring, this delicious and spicy rice is a perfect way to round off a meal. You may pass it on as a wholesome dinner in itself or as a part of a homemade side for a Mexican meal. All you need to do is gather the simple arroz a la Mexicana ingredientes and try this quick Mexican rice recipe in your kitchen to know the real deal.
 

▲ Grind the tomatoes, onion, and garlic to a smooth puree
 

Or try all our Rice Recipes right here!
 

▲ Toast the rice in just a bit of oil till lightly coloured

How to make restaurant-style authentic Mexican rice?

Cooking this Mexican rice is so easy that you will never want to order it in or get take-out after trying the Arroz a la Mexicana recipe at home. Arroz a la Mexicana ingredients are also limited to staples found in our pantry. All you need is long-grain rice, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and assorted seasonal vegetables along with pickled or fresh jalapenos and parsley. Start with pureeing tomatoes, garlic and onions in a grinder. Now, sauté the soaked and drained rice in a large heavy-bottom pan. Once the rice starts to turn golden, tip in the puree and let it cook, and develop complex flavors that the rice will eventually absorb as it cooks along. Now, the chopped vegetables and vegetable stock are introduced to the pan. Once the rice boils and liquid is absorbed and allowed to rest for a few minutes, it is then fluffed up carefully using a fork and spatula. For more information on ingredients and accurate instructions, watch Yummefy’s easy and perfect Mexican rice recipe video above.
 

▲ Pour garlic tomato puree over the toasted rice and cook, stirring occasionally, till the puree is absorbed and is almost dry

Is Mexican Rice healthy?

If you are looking for a completely gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian meal then our Mexican rice recipe is perfect for you.  It’s a great way to introduce healthy carbohydrates in your diet through whole grain rice, which is further fortified with fiber-rich and nutrient-dense fresh and seasonal vegetables. The cooking method used, which is boiling and steaming of rice uses bare minimum fats which makes the Arroz a la Mexicana recipe extremely healthy and nutritious when prepared at home. If you want to introduce some protein to the dish, then we would recommend you replace the vegetable stock with chicken stock and add some shredded grilled chicken breast to the recipe.
 

▲ Add vegetables including green peas, carrots, and corn to the tomato rice

Can the Arroz a la Mexicana recipe be made in an instant pot?

Yes, Arroz a la Mexicana is a great one-pot recipe that can be prepared instantly without having to process ingredients separately. So, whether you are preparing a quick dinner, or looking for an easy side for a lavish buffet, fix some Mexican rice and you will be surprised to see how easy it is to cook in an instant pot.
 

▲ Pour vegetable stock in to the pan with the rice and bring to a boil and cook, covered.

Can Mexican rice be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator?

Follow the Arroz a la Mexicana recipe to prepare Mexican rice a few days ahead and refrigerate it in the refrigerator in an airtight container and it will keep well for at least five days. Alternatively, you can also prepare Arroz a la Mexicana with leftover boiled rice, however this would mean that you skip the sautéing step that rice goes through in the original Mexican rice recipe. The depth in flavours that is added through the toasting of rice and the boiling of rice with vegetables in stock might be lacking, if rice is prepared this way.
 

▲ Remove the Mexican rice from the heat once the liquid is completely absorbed and the rice is ready

What is Mexican Rice seasoned with?

A sprinkling of parsley is all you need to season your Mexican rice, and up the freshness quotient of your dish. You may also consider preparing a fresh piquant salsa that would complement your Mexican rice.

Why is your Mexican Rice mushy?

This Arroz a la Mexicana recipe usually yields fluffy Mexican rice but if your dish has turned mushy then here are a few possibilities of where your recipe could have gone wrong and tips you must follow to avoid it in the future. Always rinse your rice before cooking in order to remove excess starch. Use a long-grained rice like a basmati variety as it turns fluffy on being cooked and does not stick together. It is also important to sauté the rice on high heat until it is properly toasted, thus also evenly coating the grains in fat. This step helps the rice maintain its shape even after being cooked.
 

▲ Serve the rice hot and enjoy

What should you serve with your Mexican rice?

You can easily make a meal out of this wonderfully flavoured Arroz a la Mexicana on its own for the weeknights. But if you want to make it a part of a lavish Mexican meal, then Mexican rice and refried beans are the most popular pairing. Leftover Mexican rice also makes a great filling for enchiladas, burritos, and tacos; you may also consider serving the rice with avocado and mango salsa or tomato and cilantro salsa. 
 

▲ Flavourful Mexican Rice - Long-grain rice that is sautéed, then cooked with vegetables and fresh tomato, onion, and garlic paste, tastes incredibly scrumptious
 

Needless to say, Mexican beer and to some extent tequila is the favorite pairing with any Mexican food. But you should not limit your possibilities and palate to just that. Sommeliers suggest that considering the spicy and complex flavours of the Mexican food, Mexican rice can be served with red wines with low tannin levels and low alcohol. Beaujolais, red wine with low tannins, from France, has a fruity profile and makes a nice complement to Mexican rice. Zinfandel, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon are some other red wine options that work well with Mexican food.

Our Arroz a la Mexicana or simply Mexican rice is easy to make at home. Follow this Arroz a la Mexicana recipe in English to prepare restaurant-style Mexican rice instantly in one pot.