Mexican Flag Rice Food

RESTAURANT-STYLE MEXICAN RICE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add onions and rice and sauté for 3 minutes then add jalapenos and sauté until rice is toasted, approximately 2-3 more minutes. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds.
• Stir in all remaining Rice ingredients (except for cilantro and lime juice garnish). Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to LOW. Simmer 12-15 minutes, or until water is evaporated and rice is tender, stirring once at 8 minutes and replacing lid.
• Once water is evaporated, remove from heat, stir, cover and let sit undisturbed for 10 minutes.
• Add cilantro and lime juice if desired and fluff with a fork. Taste and season with additional salt or lime juice if desired.

QUICK AND EASY MEXI-BOWLS

Steps:

• Add all ingredients for the spice mix to a small bowl. Stir together until combined. Set aside.
• In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Once hot, add yellow onion. Cook, stirring occasionally until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in bell peppers and black beans. Cook until everything is warmed through, about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Add chopped meat to a medium bowl with the spice mix. Toss to coat the meat evenly.
• Divide rice, black beans, meat, and salsa between four bowls, layering them in this order.
• Serve with toppings as desired.

MEXICAN FLAG RICE

Steps:

• Cover the 3 cups of rice in very hot water and set aside to soak for 15 minutes.Drain,and rinse with cold water.Drain the rice again and spread out to dry on a towel or baking sheet for an hour.
• Meanwhile mince 1 onion,mince 4 cloves of the garlic.
• Make the puree for the green rice:Place poblano chiles,1/4 cup cilantro ,and 1/4 cup chicken broth in a blender and puree until smooth.Set aside.
• Make the puree fot the red rice:Place the tomato,1/2 onion,2 cloves of garlic and 1/3 cup chicken broth in a blender and puree until smooth.Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium until hot.Add the rice and cook,stirring,for a mi nute or two.Add the onion and garlic,reduce heat and continue cooking for a couple of minutes,stirring until the rice sounds like sand and the onion is translucent.Remove from heat.
• Place 1/3 of the rice in a medium pot,add 1 stalk of celery,juice of 1/2 lime and 2 cups of chicken broth bring to a boil.When it begins to boil,reduce to a simmer and cover.
• Place 1/3 of the rice in a pot with the green chile puree and cook over medium until the puree is slightly reduced(it helps if the pot is already hot).Add 1/4 cup cilantro,juice of 1/2 lime,and 1 3/4 cups chicken broth.Bring to a boil.When it boils,reduce heat to a simmer,and cover.
• Place the last 1/3 of the rice in a hot pot,add the tomato puree and cook to slightly reduce the tomato sauce.(it helps if the pot is already hot).Add 1 celery stalk,1 sprig parsley,juice of 1/2 lime,and 1 2/3 cups chicken broth.Bring to a boil.When it boils,reduce to a simmer and cover.
• Cook each pot of rice about 20 minutes,or until the rice is tender and has absorbed all of the liquid.Remove from heat.
• Fluff each batch of rice with a fork.Arrange the rice in a large casserole dish ,first a band of red,then white,then green,to resemble the Mexican flag.Garnish with a 1/4 cup of cilantro leaves in the center and serve hot.

MEXICAN FIESTA RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan with a lid, then add the onion, pepper, garlic and cumin and sizzle gently for 8-10 mins until the vegetables are soft and golden. Stir in the tomato purée and smoked paprika and cook for 1 min, then stir in the rice.
• Pour over the stock, then cover and bring to the boil. Stir quickly, then cover again and place on the lowest heat possible. Simmer for 10 mins. Turn off the heat and leave, covered, for a further 10 mins. If serving straightaway, stir through the coriander and spring onions; alternatively, leave the rice to cool, chill, then re-fry before serving and stir the coriander and spring onions through at the end.

MEXICAN TOMATO RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan and sizzle the onion for 5 mins until just starting to soften. Add the garlic and cook for a minute more, then stir in the chipotle paste (if using) and the tomato purée and cook for a minute.
• Add the tomatoes and simmer for a few minutes, then scatter the rice into the pan and stir, so it's coated in the tomato mix. Pour over the hot stock, season, give everything another stir and bring to the boil, then cover the pan with a lid and turn the heat down to the lowest possible setting.
• Gently simmer for 15-20 mins until all the stock has been absorbed and the rice is cooked through. Leave the rice to sit for a few mins off the heat, then stir through the coriander and serve.

MEXICAN RICE

Steps:

• Adjust rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350.
• Process tomato and onion in processor or blender until pureed and thoroughly smooth. Transfer mixture to measuring cup and reserve exactly 2 cups. Discard excess.
• Remove ribs and seeds from 2 jalapenos and discard. Mince flesh and set aside. Mince remaining jalapeno. Set aside.
• Place rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water until water runs clear- about 1 1/2 minutes.Shake rice vigorously to remove excess water.This step removes the starch from the rice so it will not stick. IF YOU OMIT THIS STEP YOUR RICE WILL NOT BE DRY AND FLUFFY.
• Heat oil in heavy bottomed ovensafe 12 inch straight sided sautee pan or Dutch oven with tight fitting lid over low-medium heat about 2 minutes. (The recipe is very specific about this but I used a 10 inch dutch oven and it worked out fine.) Drop a few rice grains in and if they sizzle then it is ready. Add rice and fry stirring until rice is light golden and translucent, about 6-8 minutes. Be careful that the oil doesn't get too hot too fast or the oil will splatter.
• Reduce heat to medium, add garlic and 2 minced jalapenos and cook , stirring constantly until fragrant, about 1 1/2 minutes.
• Stir in broth, pureed mixture,tomato paste, and salt. Increase heat to medium high, and bring to a boil.
• Cover pan and transfer pan to oven to bake until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 30-35 minutes.Stir well after 15 minutes.
• Stir in cilantro, minced jalapeno to taste, and pass lime wedges separately.
• Edited to add 6-15-05: If you can't get good fresh tomatoes you are better off using canned tomatoes. Don't use those awful hard and underipe tomatoes that are at most supermarket chains. Just be sure that the processed tomatoes and the one onion equals 2 cups. One the other hand- if you find that after processing your tomatoes and onions that you have less than 2 cups- simply add enough bottled salsa to make up the difference.
• Edited 8-21-06: Do not skip any of the steps. It may seem stupid- but rinsing the rice to remove the starch is very important if you want fluffy rice. It will only take two minutes of your time but it makes the difference.
• Edited 8-15-08: Leftovers are just as delicious the next day so this is a perfect dish to make ahead time for potlucks. This rice also freezes well. For Freezing Ahead: Cool, portion and freeze in a ziploc bag. To reheat from frozen: Place in a pyrex dish and warm in the microwave, stirring every 2-3 minutes until heated through.
• You'll love this rice! Money back guarantee.