Thursday, February 13, 2025

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Spanish Rice – Funds Bytes


We’re significantly fortunate in Nashville, having so many worldwide eating places everywhere in the metropolis. My household’s favourite splurge goes out for Mexican meals! My daughter could be a choosy toddler, however Spanish Rice (and black beans!) are all the time a win together with her! We reside out within the nation, so if we’ve bought a busy day on the farm and our funds’s significantly tight, we prefer to put a spin on a few of our favourite menu gadgets at residence. This tremendous straightforward and budget-friendly Spanish Rice is so straightforward to whip up with simply 5 elements—we by no means skip it!

Side view of spanish rice in a skillet with a wooden spoon.

What’s Spanish Rice?

Spanish rice, also referred to as ‘arroz rojo’ or Mexican rice, is a well-liked Mexican aspect dish. It’s made by sautéing rice with onions, then cooking it with tomatoes, broth, and generally spices to present it a scrumptious taste. Regardless of being a Mexican aspect dish, it’s believed the title ‘Spanish rice’ comes from the truth that rice was launched to Mexico by Spanish settlers within the 1500’s. There are a lot of variations of this dish, however my recipe is a straightforward and scrumptious model that you would be able to make any night time of the week!

Right here’s what you’ll have to make this straightforward Spanish rice recipe:

  • Yellow Onion: I mince half a yellow onion (any selection will work) into small items that nearly disappear into the rice as soon as cooked. You’ll want to sauté it in olive oil till translucent and shiny earlier than including your rice to the pan!
  • White Rice: This recipe works finest with long-grain white rice. Keep away from short-grain or sticky rice varieties, as they received’t provide the similar fluffy texture. Brown rice may work, but it surely takes for much longer to prepare dinner and can probably want extra liquid than I’ve specified within the recipe card beneath.
  • Vegetable Broth: For cooking the rice. I take advantage of Higher Than Bouillon to make my broth as a result of it’s cost-effective and tastes nice. I like to recommend seasoning to style with salt for those who use a special model or a do-it-yourself broth.
  • Diced Tomatoes with Inexperienced Chiles: These are canned diced tomatoes with bits of inexperienced chiles added in for a little bit additional taste. I’ve seen authentic, gentle, and fire-roasted variations accessible within the grocery retailer, however any will work for this recipe! I take advantage of two 10 oz cans, together with the juices.
  • Olive Oil: For softening the onion and toasting the rice.

Spice It Up!

The canned tomatoes with inexperienced chiles already add a little bit kick to this recipe, however not sufficient that it’s too spicy (my daughter eats this with no drawback). However for those who like issues a little bit hotter, be happy so as to add in some spicy taco seasoning, chili powder, or cayenne pepper. You too can prime your rice with contemporary jalapeños or a drizzle of sizzling sauce for a severe kick of warmth!

  1. Don’t overlook to rinse your rice. Give it a superb rinse underneath chilly water earlier than including it to the pan. This helps take away extra starch and stops your rice from turning into too sticky.
  2. Toast the rice earlier than including liquid. As soon as I’ve softened my onions, I add within the rice and let it toast for a couple of minutes earlier than including any liquid. This step provides a nutty, scrumptious taste to the rice and helps the grains keep separate whereas cooking.
  3. Let it simmer! Stirring rice too typically can break up the grains and make it mushy. I like to recommend letting your rice prepare dinner undisturbed till all of the liquid is absorbed. Then, take away it from the warmth and fluff it with a fork earlier than serving.
  4. Keep watch over your rice. Whereas I don’t advocate stirring continually, it’s vital to examine in your rice and take it off the warmth as soon as all of the liquid is absorbed. Nevertheless, in case your rice continues to be a bit undercooked (totally different stoves, pans, and even rice manufacturers can have an effect on cooking occasions), you’ll be able to add a little bit additional liquid and proceed cooking till the rice is tender.

Serving Strategies

It doesn’t matter if I’m making do-it-yourself sheet pan fajitas or a vegetable tamale pie, this straightforward Spanish rice is ALWAYS on the menu. It goes so effectively with virtually any Mexican or Tex-Mex dish and even makes an important addition to cheese and bean burritos or as a aspect to any tacos, equivalent to our tajín shrimp tacos. I generally add this rice to my taco salad for an additional filling lunch possibility for my household, too.

How you can Retailer Spanish Rice

Let your Spanish rice cool utterly earlier than storing it in an hermetic container within the fridge. Don’t go away it out at room temperature for greater than 2 hours to keep away from bacterial development. Reheat it on the stovetop or microwave till heated although. I’d add a splash of water or broth to the rice earlier than reheating, simply to verify it doesn’t dry out.

For longer storage, you’ll be able to freeze it in a freezer-safe container or bag for as much as 3 months. Simply be certain to thaw it earlier than reheating it on the range or microwave.

Overhead view of Spanish rice on a plate with a taco.Overhead view of Spanish rice on a plate with a taco.


Spanish Rice Recipe

This recipe for Spanish Rice is made with 5 easy elements and is the proper aspect dish for any Mexican-inspired meal. Straightforward & budget-friendly!

Side view of spanish rice in a skillet with a wooden spoon.Side view of spanish rice in a skillet with a wooden spoon.

Stop your display screen from going darkish

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil ($0.38)
  • ½ yellow onion, minced (about 1 cup) ($0.45)
  • 2 cups white rice ($0.44)
  • 2 cups vegetable broth* ($0.18)
  • 2 10 oz cans of diced tomatoes with inexperienced chiles ($1.92)

  • Warmth the olive oil in a big skillet with the minced onion till shiny.

  • Add the rice to the skillet. Toss to coat it and toast.

  • Add the broth and canned diced tomatoes with juices.

  • Simmer calmly lined for 20 minutes till the entire liquid is absorbed. Fluff up the rice with a fork and serve!

See how we calculate recipe prices right here.


*We like to make use of Higher Than Bouillon to maintain prices down. The advisable ratio for broth utilizing Higher Than Bouillon is 1 tsp bouillon to 1 cup water. Because the bouillon is already salty, I didn’t add any additional salt to this recipe. In case you aren’t utilizing bouillon, chances are you’ll wish to add 1 tsp of salt if you add your broth to the skillet.

Serving: 1cupEnergy: 217kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 4gFats: 4gSodium: 535mgFiber: 1g

Learn our full diet disclaimer right here.

find out how to make Spanish Rice – step-by-step images

Minced onion in a skillet with oil.Minced onion in a skillet with oil.

Warmth 2 Tbsp olive oil in a big skillet with ½ a minced yellow onion till shiny.

Uncooked white rice added to skillet with minced yellow onion.Uncooked white rice added to skillet with minced yellow onion.

Add 2 cups raw white rice to the skillet. Toss to coat it and toast.

Vegetable broth and canned tomatoes with green chilis added to a skillet with onion and white rice to make spanish rice.Vegetable broth and canned tomatoes with green chilis added to a skillet with onion and white rice to make spanish rice.

Add 2 cups vegetable broth and a pair of 10 oz canned diced tomatoes with juices.

A fork fluffing up a skillet of spanish rice.A fork fluffing up a skillet of spanish rice.

Simmer calmly lined for 20 min till the entire liquid is absorbed. Fluff up the rice with a fork and serve!

Overhead view of spanish rice in a skillet.Overhead view of spanish rice in a skillet.

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