Spanish Rice Recipe – Love and Lemons

This selfmade Spanish rice recipe is a straightforward, scrumptious aspect dish! Fluffy and flavorful, it pairs completely with Mexican mains like tacos and enchiladas.





I’ve eaten Spanish rice at Mexican eating places numerous instances, however it wasn’t till this 12 months that I began making this Spanish rice recipe at house. Immediately’s submit is a PSA: in the event you’re not already making selfmade Spanish rice, it’s time to begin. You’re severely lacking out!

Spanish rice, additionally referred to as Mexican rice or arroz rojo, is a sort of rice pilaf cooked with onions and garlic, tomatoes, peppers, and spices. It’s generally eaten all through northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, and it’s the proper aspect dish for a merely cooked protein or Mexican fare like tacos and enchiladas.

The recipe beneath has develop into my go-to technique for make Spanish rice. It’s SO simple, and it comes out moist, fluffy, and flavorful each time. I believe you’re going to find it irresistible.


Recipe ingredients on marble


Spanish Rice Recipe Elements

Right here’s what you’ll must make this simple Spanish rice recipe:

  • Rice, after all! Lengthy-grain white rice, comparable to basmati, works finest on this recipe. You can even use brown rice, however you’ll want to extend the broth measurement to 2 cups. Simmer the rice for 45 minutes as an alternative of 15.
  • Onion and garlic – For savory depth of taste.
  • Further-virgin olive oil – It provides richness to the rice and helps all of the flavors meld. Be at liberty to sub a impartial cooking oil, comparable to avocado or canola oil, in the event you want.
  • Tomato paste, plus diced contemporary tomatoes or canned tomato sauce – They offer the rice its signature pink colour and add tangy tomato taste. Be at liberty to make use of both diced contemporary tomatoes or the canned tomato sauce. Each choices work nice!
  • Jalapeño pepper – For delicate warmth and interesting flecks of inexperienced. Should you don’t like spicy meals, exchange the jalapeño with 1/4 cup chopped inexperienced bell pepper.
  • Dried oregano – I take advantage of this dried herb in lots of my favourite Mexican dishes. It provides earthy depth to the rice.
  • Vegetable broth – You may sub water, however cooking the rice in broth makes it that rather more flavorful. Use store-bought, or make selfmade vegetable broth.
  • And sea salt – To make all of the flavors pop!

Discover the entire recipe with measurements beneath.


Hand using spatula to stir white rice and onion in saucepan


Find out how to Make Spanish Rice

This Mexican rice recipe is so easy to make! Right here’s the way it goes:

First, rinse the rice. That is my first step each time I’m cooking rice, because it removes starches that may trigger the rice to clump. Place it in a effective mesh strainer set over a bowl, and rinse it beneath cool operating water till the water within the bowl runs clear.

Subsequent, sauté the onion and toast the rice. Warmth the olive oil in a medium pot or Dutch oven over medium warmth. Add the onion and cook dinner till it’s comfortable and translucent, about 5 minutes.

Add the rice and cook dinner, stirring usually, for one more 2 minutes, till it’s aromatic.


Rice in saucepan with tomato paste, chopped peppers, diced tomatoes, and dried oregano


Then, add the remaining elements. Stir within the tomato paste and garlic, adopted by the diced tomatoes or tomato sauce, jalapeño, salt, and oregano.


Mexican rice ingredients in pot before cooking


Pour within the broth, and produce it to a boil.

Scale back the warmth, cowl the pot, and simmer the rice for quarter-hour, or till the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.

Lastly, let the rice steam. Take away it from the warmth and let it sit, coated, for 10 minutes.

You’re able to serve! Fluff the cooked rice with a fork and luxuriate in.


Mexican rice in pot with wooden spoon


What to Serve with Mexican Rice

My favourite factor to serve with Mexican rice? Mexican meals! It will be a scrumptious aspect dish for any of those Mexican-inspired recipes:

Listed below are a couple of extra nice methods to make use of it:

How do you wish to serve Mexican rice? Let me know within the feedback!

Storage Directions

Leftover Spanish rice will preserve within the fridge for as much as 4 days. To reheat it, heat it within the microwave or on the range with a small splash of water or vegetable broth.

The rice additionally freezes properly. Stash it in an hermetic container or bag within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Thaw it within the microwave or in a single day within the fridge.


Spanish rice recipe


Extra Favourite Rice Recipes

Should you love this Spanish rice recipe, strive one in all these easy rice dishes subsequent:

Spanish Rice

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook dinner Time: 35 minutes

Complete Time: 45 minutes

Serves 4

Discover ways to make Spanish rice! This recipe is SO simple to make, and the fluffy, flavorful rice is the proper aspect dish for Mexican mains like tacos and enchiladas.
  • Warmth the olive oil in a medium Dutch oven or pot. Add the onion and cook dinner for five to eight minutes, or till softened. Add the rice and cook dinner for two minutes, or till aromatic and toasted.

  • Stir within the tomato paste and garlic, then add the contemporary tomatoes, jalapeño, salt, oregano, and broth. Deliver to a boil. Cowl, cut back the warmth, and simmer for quarter-hour, or till the liquid is absorbed.

  • Take away from the warmth and let sit, coated, for 10 extra minutes. Fluff with a fork.