On almost every platter served at Mexican restaurants, you will see a generous helping of Mexican rice. This tomato laden rice is a common side dish in restaurants, and it is a staple in Mexican cuisine. It has not always been this way, however. Rice is not native to Mexico. When the Spanish discovered that rice would grow well in the Veracruz region, it became integrated into Mexican cuisine.
Rice is a traditional food served at lunch in Mexico. It may be accompanied by fish or beans. The rice and beans that you find taking up half your plate at Mexican restaurants is not the way it is served in Mexico. Rice is also used for many other dishes besides this savory dish. It is used in desserts, pastries and horchata, which is a Mexican drink that is gaining in popularity around the world.
In Mexico, rice is often served in a pilaf style. What this means is the rice is browned before being simmered in broth. The rice is seasoned by adding carrots, peas, onions and other vegetables while the rice cooks. In some parts of Mexico, a creamier rice may be served that is similar to risotto.
A traditional method for cooking rice is to use a vessel made of clay called a cazuela. The rice gets an earthy flavor from the vessel. Rice is soaked, drained, and then fried until it turns golden. Liquid is added into the vessel and the rice simmers until done.
Mexican rice should be nice and fluffy. To get fluffy rice, you need to rinse the rice before cooking. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear. The water washes the extra starch off of the rice, which makes it sticky. You can also soak your rice ahead of time. This lessens your cooking time and helps the rice absorb more flavors during cooking. Long grain rice is preferred in Mexico, but medium grain rice also works very well.
Do not know what to do with leftover rice? Freeze it! Spread out a sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil and spread out the rice in a flat manner. Seal up the foil and stick it in the freezer. They stack very well and you do not need to thaw it to reheat. Just pop the foil packet into the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. You cannot get any easier than this!
When you choose a Mexican rice recipe, follow the directions carefully for the best results. You may be adding ingredients like olive oil, carrots, parsley, and chilies. They will add a lot of flavor to your finished meal. Serve up your rice with a simply prepared fish or other entre.
Learning how to prepare Mexican rice will add a lot more dimension to your meal whenever you make Mexican food at home. With a little practice, you will be able to add this recipe to your list of accomplishments that your family will look forward to.
Some peppers are mild and others are almost unbearably hot and spicy. The Scoville heat index is used to measure how hot chili peppers are. Different Mexican foods suit different levels of spiciness and whereas some recipes call for mild bell peppers, others are better with spicier jalapeos or habanero chilies.
