Description
This Authentic Mexican Rice recipe delivers fluffy, flavorful rice perfectly tinted with tomato sauce and infused with chili powder, garlic, and tomato bouillon. A simple stovetop method yields a vibrant side dish that’s ideal for Mexican meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 cup Long-grain white rice
- 4–8 ounces Canned tomato sauce (Use at least 4 or up to 8 ounces)
- 2 cups Water
- 1 teaspoon Minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
- 2 teaspoons Caldo de Tomate (tomato bouillon)
- 1 teaspoon Chili powder
Instructions
- Heat the oil and toast the rice: Heat oil in a 3-quart sauté pan over medium heat. Add the rice and stir to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes until the rice begins to turn a golden color, which enhances the flavor.
- Add spices and garlic: Stir in the chili powder, Caldo de Tomate (tomato bouillon), and minced garlic to evenly coat the rice and build the seasoning base.
- Pour in liquids: Add water and tomato sauce to the pan and stir well, ensuring all ingredients are combined.
- Simmer the rice: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover the pan and let simmer gently for 20 minutes, or until the rice has absorbed all the water.
- Rest the rice: Turn off the heat and keep the pan covered. Let the rice rest for 5-10 minutes to finish absorbing steam and become fully tender.
- Fluff and serve: Use a fork to fluff the rice grains, separating them for a light texture, then serve as a perfect side dish for your favorite Mexican meals.
Notes
- You can adjust the tomato sauce quantity between 4 to 8 ounces to make the rice lighter or richer in tomato flavor.
- Use long-grain white rice for optimal texture; rinsing is optional but not required.
- Caldo de Tomate enhances the tomato flavor but can be omitted or substituted with vegetable broth powder if unavailable.
- Covering the pan tightly during simmering is important to trap steam and cook the rice evenly.
- Letting the rice rest covered off the heat allows for fluffier rice by finalizing the steam absorption.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: Mexican rice, Authentic Mexican rice, tomato rice, side dish, long grain rice recipe
