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

FAQs

Why does Mexican restaurant rice taste better? ›

Why does Mexican restaurant rice taste better? The method used to make Mexican rice involves lightly frying the uncooked rice in oil which helps it absorb more flavor from the seasoning and cook to a perfect consistency. In addition, a traditional blend of spices and diced vegetables and potatoes create unique flavor.

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.

Rinse and drain rice thoroughly.

This is crucial to remove the extra starch from the rice so it doesn't cook up sticky and mushy. To rinse, place rice in a fine mesh sieve and thoroughly rinse rice under cool running water until the water runs clear.

Use Stock Instead of Water

“Instead of water, use either vegetable or chicken stock. Homemade is ideal, but plenty of premade boxed stocks exist for convenience. Add stock to the hot pan with vegetables and toasted rice.” He explains that toasting the rice first adds a layer of nutty flavor and creates more depth.

For many Latin American families, the kitchen has to be stocked with a few key ingredients. There are the dried goods such as grains, rice and beans, liquids like oils and vinegars, marinades like adobo and sofrito, but just as crucial are the salsas and, of course, the sazón.

Horchata is a sweet Mexican drink made from rice. Horchata is made by blending white rice and cinnamon sticks in water and letting them soak overnight. After the rice and cinnamon are discarded, the remaining liquid is then flavored with vanilla, sugar, and ground cinnamon.

A standard serving size for rice ranges between 1/2 cup and 1 cup per person. The precise amount may vary depending on the rice type being cooked, but generally, 1/2 cup to 1 cup of cooked rice per serving is appropriate.

Why is my Mexican rice crunchy? ›

Maybe you didn't add enough liquid to begin with. 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.

The extra long grain rice contains less starch and cooks to a dryer, fluffier texture. Jasmine rice is a little too starchy, and basmati rice has an aroma that is not authentic to Mexican rice. Toast the rice in oil.

In the case of making Mexican rice, frying the rice before cooking it, will add an oil coating to the grains, allowing them to separate after cooking, just like rice for Paella. Frying the rice before adding the broth is an important step.

Always rinse the rice with water to remove starch from the rice and then soak it in water prior to cooking. This makes the rice fluffy and does not stick. For extra flavor add tomato or chicken bouillon.

Add 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of water per cup of cooked rice.

So adding water will help prevent your cooked rice from drying out, and add moisture back into the cooked rice. Scale up with the water amount depending on how much cooked rice you have prepared.

If you're worried about your blood sugar, you may be excited to hear that Mexican rice is higher in fiber than plain white rice. A ½ cup serving of plain white rice has about 0.3 g of fiber, while a ½ cup serving of Mexican rice has 1.5 g of fiber (5).

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.

In fact, the use of classic Chinese sauces is exactly what makes takeout fried rice so incredibly moreish. Key amongst these is soy sauce. By adding soy sauce during cooking chefs are adding both salt and umami to the fried rice which, unsurprisingly, greatly improves the dish's overall flavor.

Rice comes into play because it absorbs moisture even faster than salt. You're familiar with the lifesaver of putting your water-damaged phone in a bag of uncooked rice? It's the same concept. By adding just a few grains of rice to your salt shaker, restaurants can guarantee that your salt will pour with ease.