Traditional Mexican Red Rice Food

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.

RESTAURANT STYLE MEXICAN RICE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add the rice and gently stir until rice begins to lightly brown. Add the garlic, salt, and cumin and stir the rice til it looks golden.
• Add the tomato sauce and chicken broth and turn the heat up to medium high. Bring the mix to a boil then turn the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove from heat and fluff with a fork, then stir in chopped cilantro.

ARROZ ROJO (MEXICAN RED RICE)

Steps:

• Grate tomatoes into a bowl using a box grater; discard tomato skins.
• Heat vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat and cook onion until translucent, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir garlic into onion and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir rice into onion mixture and cook, stirring often, until rice is lightly toasted, about 3 more minutes. Stir grated tomato, chicken broth, and tomato sauce into the rice. Bring mixture to a boil.
• Mix in jalapeno pepper, cilantro, and salt; reduce heat to low. Cover skillet and simmer until rice has absorbed the liquid, about 15 minutes. Do not lift the cover while the rice is cooking.
• Turn off heat and let rice stand covered for 8 minutes. Fluff with a fork before transferring rice to a serving dish.

MEXICAN RED RICE (ARROZ ROJO)

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, heat the vegetable oil on medium-high heat. Add the rice, onions and garlic. Saute until the rice has an opaque color and is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth, tomato paste and salt. Mix well to incorporate evenly. Then add in the chile and cilantro sprig. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until rice is ready, about 30 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve immediately.

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN RICE

Steps:

• Rinse the rice in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear. Set aside.
• In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add the oil. Once hot, add the rice and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the rice is lightly golden brown all over (about 10 minutes).
• Add tomato sauce, garlic, and diced onion to the pan. Stir. Add tomato bullion, salt, carrots, peas, and water (and serrano peppers, if using. They add a little flavor, but not spice.).
• Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low and cook for about 20 minutes or until the water is completely absorbed. Remove from heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.

TRADITIONAL MEXICAN RED RICE

Steps:

• Put the tomatoes, onion, and garlic in a blender and process until smooth. Set aside.
• In a saucepan over medium-high heat, heat the oil. When hot, add the rice and stir until it just starts to change color, about 1 minute. Do not allow it to brown. Add the tomato mixture,and stir gently to blen. Add 2 cups hot water, the peas, corn, carrot, chiles, cilantro, and 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt. Bring to a boil, shaking the pan to mix the ingredients. Reduce the heat to low Taste the broth and add more sea salt if needed, then cover and cook for about 10 minutes.
• Uncover and stir carefully so that all of th eroth is mixed in (most will have been absorbed). recover and cook until all the broth is absorbed, about 10 minutes longer. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Before serving, remove the cilantro and chiles and fluff the rice with a fork.

MEXICAN RED RICE RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a medium-sized saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 1 or 2 minutes until softened and translucent.
• Add the rice and continue sautéing, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until the rice becomes a golden brown color. Do not allow the rice to burn.
• Add the garlic and sauté for 1 more minute.
• Take the pan off the heat; add the chicken broth and tomato puree, plus the parsley and vegetables if using. Stir, return the pan to the heat, and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low and cover.
• Let simmer for 20 minutes without taking off the lid. After 20 minutes, remove the lid and carefully insert a spoon into the cooked rice. If the bottom of the pan is dry, your rice is done; if there is still some broth visible, allow it to cook for a few more minutes.
• Once the rice is done cooking, remove it from the heat and let it sit, covered and undisturbed, for another 10 minutes or so.
• Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.
• Serve with almost any savory Mexican dish and enjoy.