Print

Easy Restaurant-Style Spanish Rice (Mexican Rice)

A close-up of fluffy, orange-red spanish rice served in a white bowl, topped with fresh cilantro.
Print Recipe
Save Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

You can make fluffy, restaurant-quality Spanish rice at home using simple pantry ingredients. This one-pot recipe focuses on toasting the rice for the best texture and flavor, making it the perfect side dish for tacos or any weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 cup frozen peas and carrots mix (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
  • 1 lime wedge (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Add the rice to the pan. Stir constantly and cook 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 to the pan and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
  4. Stir in the minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, and oregano. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth and tomato sauce. Add the salt. Stir everything together well.
  6. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover the pan tightly with a lid, and simmer for 18 minutes without lifting the lid.
  7. After 18 minutes, remove the pan from the heat. If using, gently stir in the frozen peas and carrots. Keep the lid on and let the rice rest for 10 minutes. Do not skip this resting time.
  8. Remove the lid and fluff the rice gently with a fork. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve immediately with a lime wedge.

Notes

  • To achieve restaurant-style fluffy rice, do not lift the lid while the rice simmers. The steam trapped inside cooks the grains evenly.
  • If you want a richer flavor, use chicken broth instead of water. For a vegetarian option, use vegetable broth.
  • This rice pairs well with your favorite Tex-Mex meals like tacos, enchiladas, or burritos.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://fooddexterity.com/easy-restaurant-style-spanish-rice-recipe/