Homemade Spanish Rice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does Spanish rice contain? ›

Spanish rice is essentially a rice pilaf, but with southwestern flavorings. To make it you brown the raw rice first with onions and garlic, and then cook the rice in chicken broth with added tomatoes. The browning is essential to the nutty, almost toasty flavor of the rice.

One of the main differences between these two rice dishes is that Mexican rice is fluffier and tends not to stick together. Whilst Spanish Rice is known for that rich yellow color, Mexican Rice is best known for its reddish orange hue that it gets from being cooked with cumin.

For tender grains of rice that easily separate, such as in a pilaf, use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. You can also use another liquid like stock in this 2:1 ratio. For slightly chewier, fluffy white rice, use 1 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice, or a 1.5:1 ratio.

Arroz bomba

The most popular type of rice used in dry Spanish rice dishes like paella or arroz al caldero. This variety of rice has a lower starch content which means each grain stays intact and doesn't fall apart, which is how paella maintains such a unique texture.

Mexican rice (sometimes referred to as Spanish rice or red rice in Tex–Mex cuisine), also known as arroz a la mexicana, arroz mexicano, sopa de arroz, or arroz rojo in Spanish, is a Mexican side dish made from white rice, tomato, garlic, onion, and perhaps other ingredients.

Spanish rice (also called “bomba” rice, calaspara rice, arroz redonda) is traditional in Paella, and it's what I recommend using. It's a short grain rice that absorbs more water than regular rice, without turning mushy. You can buy Spanish rice on Amazon, World Market or an international food market.

Soaking is optional, but we recommend it! Soaking grains helps to remove some of the naturally-occurring phytic acid in the grain, which helps improve digestibility and speed cook time. To soak: Add rice to a large mixing bowl or pot and cover with twice the amount of lukewarm water (1 cup rice + 2-3 cups water).

Combine rice and water in a pot: For most long-grain and medium-grain rice, pair 1 cup rice and 1⅓ cups water. For short-grain rice, use 1 cup rice and 1 cup water. For most brown rice, combine 1 cup rice and 1¾ cups water.

Why does my rice always come out mushy? ›

Mushy or soggy rice is simply overcooked rice that has absorbed too much water. Water over-absorption causes the rice grains to split open, ruining the texture and creating a starchy, gummy result.

What is the ratio of water to rice? For basmati and all kinds of white rice, we recommend a ratio of 1:2 when cooking on the stove. So this would mean for every 1 cup of rice, you add 2 cups of water.

Once boiling, lower heat to a simmer and cover. Ensure it's simmering and not boiling or the rice can cook too quickly. Simmer until water is completely absorbed and rice is tender – about 15-25 minutes (will depend on size and freshness of rice).

One (1) cup raw rice yields 3 ½ cups cooked rice, or enough for 3 light eaters. To be sure you have enough rice, prepare 1 ½ cups raw rice for 3 or 4 people and 2 cups raw rice for 4 to 6 people. Time required to cook a pot of rice? Plan on 30 minutes from the moment you turn on the heat to when the rice is cooked.

Spanish Rice Recipe Ingredients

Rice, of course! Long-grain white rice, such as basmati, works best in this recipe. You can also use brown rice, but you'll need to increase the broth measurement to 2 cups. Simmer the rice for 45 minutes instead of 15.

Spanish Rice Has Saffron While Mexican Rice Has Cumin

But while paella is a cohesive dish featuring other ingredients like mussels, shrimp, chorizo, and vegetables, Spanish rice is much simpler: At its core, it's mostly rice and saffron with few other aromatics, allowing the saffron to be the star.

Arroz Amarillo is a seasoned Spanish yellow rice dish made with white rice that's colored with annatto powder and cooked in a flavorful tomato-based sofrito sauce. This 30-minute yellow rice recipe is a classic staple in Cuban cuisine and a delicious Cuban side dish for pork, ham, chicken, beef, or fish.

Spanish rice (Mexican rice), without meat (1 cup) contains 34.8g total carbs, 30.5g net carbs, 3.5g fat, 4.2g protein, and 183 calories.