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Easy Restaurant Style Mexican Rice

A molded serving of vibrant orange Mexican rice mixed with bright green peas and diced carrots on a white plate.
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Make authentic, fluffy Mexican rice quickly. This simple recipe delivers rich tomato flavor perfect for any weeknight dinner or Taco Night side dish.

Ingredients

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  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice
  • 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
  • 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 cup frozen peas and carrots mix (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add the rice to the pan. Stir constantly for 5 to 7 minutes until the rice grains turn light golden brown. This step is key for fluffy rice.
  3. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the pan. Cook for 2 minutes until the onion softens.
  4. Pour in the chicken broth, tomato sauce, salt, and cumin. Stir everything together well.
  5. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat immediately to low.
  6. Cover the saucepan tightly with a lid. Let it simmer undisturbed for 18 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time.
  7. After 18 minutes, remove the pan from the heat. If using, gently stir in the frozen peas and carrots.
  8. Keep the pan covered and let it rest off the heat for an additional 10 minutes.
  9. Fluff the rice gently with a fork before serving.

Notes

  • To achieve restaurant-style flavor, use tomato bouillon powder instead of plain salt if you have it.
  • For a richer color, use 1/2 cup of tomato sauce and 1/2 cup of water instead of 1 cup of broth.
  • This rice reheats well; add a splash of water when reheating to restore moisture.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://dishicious.com/easy-restaurant-style-mexican-rice/