Homemade Spanish Rice

Homemade Spanish Rice

This delicious rice starts with pan-toasted rice. Then, it’s cooked until perfectly tender in a tomato and chicken bouillon mixture seasoned to perfection with a simple blend of salt, pepper, and cumin. Finally, it’s finished off with peas and carrots. It all comes together to create a side dish that’s loaded with flavor and healthy. It’s also super versatile and can be paired with everything from seafood to beef. If you make it just once, it will become a staple in your regular recipe rotation.

Why You’ll Love This Authentic Homemade Spanish Rice Recipe

• It’s easy to make and uses simple ingredients that are easily found at the local grocery store.
• It’s tender and flavorful, and it makes the perfect side dish recipe to pair with any Mexican meal.
• It can be combined with beef, chicken, or pork to create other delicious recipes like burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and more.

Homemade Spanish Rice Ingredients

You’ll only need a few ingredients to make this recipe, and you can find them all easily at your local grocery store. The actual measurements and full list of ingredients are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• White rice is the most common type of rice used in Spanish rice. It is a short-grain rice that cooks quickly and has a mild flavor.
• Vegetable oil is used to sauté the onions and garlic in the beginning of the recipe. It can be any type of vegetable oil, such as canola oil, olive oil, or corn oil.
• Roma tomato is a type of plum tomato that is firm with a thick skin and a sweet flavor.
• Cloves garlic is a flavorful ingredient that has a strong, pungent flavor that can add depth to any dish.
• Onion is a common ingredient in many different dishes that has a mild, sweet flavor.
• Chicken granulated bouillon is a seasoning that is used to add flavor to food. It is made from chicken stock that has been condensed and then dried.
• Tomato chicken granulated bouillon is a seasoning that is used to add flavor to food. It is made from chicken stock and tomato paste that have been condensed and then dried.
• Cumin is a spice that has a warm, earthy flavor that can add depth to any dish.
• Frozen peas and carrots are a convenient way to add vegetables to any dish.

How to Make Homemade Spanish Rice

You’re going to be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to make this delicious rice recipe. It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps.

Step 1: Make the Tomato Mixture

Add tomato, onions, garlic, and both types of bouillon to a blender. Mix until smooth, then add 1 cup of water and blend to combine.

Step 2: Toast the Rice

Heat oil over medium heat in a large frying pan or skillet. Then, cook the rice until it begins to brown.

Step 3: Cook the Rice

Add the tomato mixture to the rice and stir. Then, add the remaining cup of water, salt, pepper, and cumin and stir. Bring to a boil and cook until the rice is tender.

Step 4: Add the Vegetables

Add the peas and carrots, cover, and cook until the vegetables are tender. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Stir constantly while toasting the rice to ensure even cooking and avoid scorching.
• Remove the rice from the heat as soon as the vegetables are heated through to avoid overcooking the rice.
• Use fresh vegetables for the best flavor possible.
• Use good quality rice. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your rice.
• Use chicken broth or vegetable broth instead of water. This will add more flavor to your rice.

Variations

• You can use brown rice in place of white rice for an even healthier side.
• Add cayenne or diced jalapenos for a spicy version of this rice.
• For extra depth of flavor, try roasting the vegetables before blending them.

What to Serve with Spanish Rice

Spanish rice is perfect with a wide variety of dishes. Of course, it’s the classic pairing with most Mexican dishes, however, it’s great with many other kinds of beef, chicken, pork, and seafood dishes, as well. Some great ideas include:

• Mexican-inspired dishes such as crockpot chicken tacos, fajitas, or carnitas
• Non-Mexican dishes such as pizza and pulled chicken sandwiches
• Carne asada, chili verde, Cuban black beans, or grilled shrimp
• Blackened fish tacos or queso-baked chicken
• One-pan huevos rancheros with zucchini
• Fried beans
• Coleslaw
• Chips and salsa
• Green beans
• Baked potatoes

When choosing a side dish to serve with Spanish rice, it is important to consider the flavors of the main course. For example, if serving a Mexican-inspired dish, you will want to choose a side dish that is also Mexican-inspired, such as refried beans or guacamole. If you are serving a non-Mexican dish, you might want to choose a side dish that is complementary to the flavors of the main course, such as a salad or a vegetable side dish.

No matter what you choose to serve with Spanish rice, you are sure to have a delicious and satisfying meal.

Recipe FAQ

What is Spanish rice?

A traditional Mexican side dish made by cooking white rice in a broth of tomato, garlic, and chicken bouillon. It may also have peas, carrots, and other ingredients added.

What is the difference between Spanish rice and Mexican rice?

Although the terms Spanish rice and Mexican rice tend to be used interchangeably, they’re actually different. Authentic Spanish rice as its made in Spain and is made with saffron, while Mexican rice (also called Spanish rice in Mexico) is made with a simple tomato and chicken broth combo and just a few seasonings.

Why does my Spanish rice come out mushy?

There are generally 2 reasons that rice of any kind comes out gooey or mushy. It can be from adding too much liquid at the start, or it can be because you aren’t allowing the liquid to completely evaporate during the cooking process.

What does Spanish rice contain?

Spanish rice is made with white rice, tomato, garlic, and onion as the core ingredients. Other ingredients include broth and vegetables, like peas and carrots.

Can you freeze homemade Spanish rice?

Spanish rice freezes very well and can be stored for up to 3 months in the freezer.

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Spanish Rice

Store this rice in the refrigerator for 5 to 6 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.

To reheat, place the rice and a bit of water in a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Then cook over low heat, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes until warmed through.

Try this Delicious Authentic Mexican Rice Recipe Today

This homemade Spanish rice is full of the traditional flavors of Mexico, and it’s the perfect side to serve with all of your favorite Mexican food recipes and beyond. It’s a simple recipe that’s ready in no time, and that combined with all its flavor is sure to make it your new favorite rice dish. Give it a try, and I know you’ll find yourself making it again and again.

More Delicious Mexican Recipes You’ll Enjoy

Spicy Pinto Beans – These pinto beans are loaded with jalapenos, serrano peppers, onion, garlic, and seasoning, and are a delicious side dish for any Mexican dish.

Chile Verde Recipe – This delicious Chile verde recipe has tender chunks of pork cooked in a homemade salsa verde with roasted peppers, onion, garlic, cilantro, and seasonings.

Avocado Dip – This delicious appetizer dip has ripe avocados, jalapenos, cilantro, green onions, and more. It is perfect to serve with tortilla chips and makes a great addition to tacos, burritos, nachos, and more.

And, here is an Air Fryer Chicken Fajita recipe, from Deliciously Seasoned, that you will enjoy as well.