The homemade Spanish rice recipe we are glad to present here is the perfect and delicious accompaniment to beef, chicken, Mexican tacos or enchiladas, and even to your favorite seafood.
This
simple Spanish rice is a flavorful side dish loaded with authentic flavor.
About
the origin of the Spanish rice
Despite
its name, Spanish rice -which is similar to Mexican rice or red rice- this
recipe is of Mexican origin. Although there are some distinctions that
differentiate both rice recipes, they have in common the essential ingredients
used for their cooking; namely: white rice, tomatoes, garlic, onions and
spices.
In
addition, you can also find other international dishes, such as Middle Eastern Istanboli Polo with similarities to
Spanish rice.
However,
what makes Spanish-style rice so irresistible is the tomato -usually tomato
sauce. This sauce gives the white rice its characteristic crimson
hue,
while the onion and garlic are key to its delicious flavor. Although this dish
is traditionally prepared with long grain rice, you can use other
varieties if you prefer.
The jasmine rice sometimes used adds an additional aromatic flavor to the
traditional recipe.
Also using in this recipe integral rice, you can enjoy some nutty hints.
What
ingredients do you need to make the easiest, tastiest and foolproof Spanish
rice? Below we listed the basic ingredients you need to cook this recipe:
●
1
packet of long grain white rice.
●
1
tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil plus butter, for toasting the rice.
●
1/2
cup chopped green bell pepper.
●
1/2
cup chopped red bell pepper.
●
1/2
cup finely chopped onion.
●
1
teaspoon garlic clove, minced.
●
1
can (8 oz) tomato sauce or 1 cup of diced fresh or cooked tomatoes, strained.
●
3
cups chicken broth or stock (or vegetable stock for vegetarian version).
●
1
cube beef bouillon.
●
1
1/2 tablespoon of taco seasoning mix.
●
Pinch
of oregano.
●
1
teaspoon salt.
With
these amounts you will have 4 to 6 servings.
Some
people like adding to this Spanish rice recipe beans. If you also do so, try
adding a can of black beans
before you simmer the rice. That way your rice will be more flavorful and
spicy, and will get more nutrients and texture.
Also,
corn can be added to this recipe, a version that has become a popular option
since the corn gives the recipe a delicious flair.
For
the preparation of your easy
Spanish rice
follow these simple directions:
●
Heat
the oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
●
Add
and sauté the rice and the onion with the red and green bell peppers and garlic
until the onion is soft and the rice gets golden brown. It is very important
this browning because is provides the delicious nutty, almost toasty flavor to
the rice.
●
In
a pot add the tomato sauce or puree, and the chicken broth. These two ingredients constitute the liquid
in which your rice will cook. Their rich flavor is completely absorbed by the
rice as it cooks.
●
Then
add the sautéed rice.
●
Cover
the pot and let everything simmer quietly for 30 minutes, until the rice is
cooked and the liquid has almost boiled away.
●
If
necessary, add more water during this time.
●
Next
season with taco seasoning mix oregano and salt.
It
goes well with seasoned sausages, pork and poultry.
You
can also prepare this recipe in the slow cooker. For doing that just:
●
Cook
the rice and vegetables, following the above instructions.
●
Instead
of simmering the rice in the skillet for 20 minutes, transfer it to your slow
cooker.
●
Then
cook, covered, on high for 2½ to 3 hours, or until you see that all of the
liquid has been absorbed.
● Next just fluff and serve.
Recipe
extras
Below
you will find some tips for you to improve the flavor of your Spanish rice and to ease the preparation process.
●
As
to rice brand is concerned, it doesn't matter which one you use as long as it's
long grain.
●
As
you have just observed, you can save time if you better brown the rice in a
separate pan from the pot you use to heat the stock.
●
Get
exotic and succulent flavors by preparing the recipe with a Mexican-style
tomato sauce instead of regular tomato sauce.
●
It
is important to have the package directions handy so you get the optimal liquid
ratio and cooking time for your particular brand of rice.
●
Add
your favorite meat. It could be ground beef, turkey, or chicken, chicken
breasts, shrimp, or bacon and stir it into the rice once it’s finished cooking.
The
Spanish rice is usually served as a side dish. In some other cases is used as a
filling in other recipes like the one to prepare enchiladas. This is so because the flavor of this rice is more
subtle and therefore it does not "steal" the limelight from the main
dish.
However,
if you want to make it the star ingredient, there are many options to enhance
its flavor to make it stand out. For example, you can enhance the attenuated
tomato flavor, you can substitute tomato juice for the chicken broth
with spicy and aromatic herbs.
Store
properly this Spanish rice recipe to keep it fresh for various day. For that we
recommend storing leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be fresh for up to four days.
Also
you can put leftover Spanish rice simply to freeze. Let the rice cool
completely and then pack it in airtight freezer bags or plastic containers.
When
you decide to serve it for eating, reheat it by adding a couple of tablespoons of
water and
microwave the rice for about 5 minutes.
Definitely,
it is quick, simple to prepare full of flavor, this Spanish Rice, perfect for
pairing with your meal.
