Mexican Rice 101

Mexican rice is a dish that is served at every Mexican restaurant all over the world. This rice is flavored with tomatoes and spices and has become an expected dish with Mexican food. This has not always been true, however. Rice is not a native plant in Mexico. Rice was introduced to Mexico through the Philippines. When the Spanish discovered how well rice grew around Veracruz, rice became a permanent ingredient in Mexican cuisine.

Rice is traditionally served at midday in Mexico. It is usually served with beans or fish. The rice and beans you get in restaurants are not how they are served in Mexico. Learning more about traditional Mexican food will really open your eyes. Mexican cuisine uses rice in many ways beyond the savory rice discussed here. They also use it in cakes, desserts and horchata, a tasty drink.

Rice is often prepared in pilaf style in Mexico. Rice is browned first and then simmered in broth. Additional flavor is added from onions, chilies, and carrots that cook with the rice. Some regions in Mexico favor a creamier rice that resembles risotto.

A traditional way to cook rice in Mexico uses a clay vessel known as a cazuela. Rice cooked this way gets an earthy flavor. Soaked rice is drained and then fried until a golden brown. Liquid is then added to the vessel so the rice can simmer until it is tender.

Mexican rice should be nice and fluffy. To get fluffy rice, you need to rinse the rice before cooking. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear. The water washes the extra starch off of the rice, which makes it sticky. You can also soak your rice ahead of time. This lessens your cooking time and helps the rice absorb more flavors during cooking. Long grain rice is preferred in Mexico, but medium grain rice also works very well.

If you have leftover rice, it is easy to freeze it for another day. Pack the rice into thin layers on heavy duty aluminum foil. Seal it up and freeze it. They stack nicely in the freezer and are easy to reheat. Simply place the frozen packets in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for half an hour. No defrosting is needed.

If you want to make a traditional Mexican rice recipe, take a look online. There are many to choose from. Look for a recipe with lots of flavorful ingredients like onions, carrots, and chilies. Serve your rice with any entre you wish. It goes well with fish, chicken, pork, or beef.

Taking the time to learn how to prepare Mexican rice will add a lot more authenticity to your Mexican cooking. With some practice, you will be able to make a nice Mexican rice without even thinking twice. Your family will love the richness of the flavor. It is a nice change from pasta or potatoes.

If you like Mexican food, you can learn a lot about its history and preparation at MexicanFoodRecipes.org. From favorites like tamales to enchiladas to lesser known treats like posole and authentic Mexican rice recipes, you can find all sorts of great recipes here.

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3 Responses to Mexican Rice 101

  1. I really like your blog because as I am reading it my mouth starts to water. I can’t help thinking how delicious the Mexican rice is. Its great to know that your article features how to cook the dish. It also illustrates how nutritious and that it doesn’t affect yourself of gaining weight.

  2. Oh wow, I just love Mexican Rice. Keep it up!

  3. sakisgalan says:

    este blog es mui bueno!!

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