Everything You Ever Wanted to Learn about Mexican Rice

Mexican rice is a dish that is served at every Mexican restaurant all over the world. This rice is flavored with tomatoes and spices and has become an expected dish with Mexican food. This has not always been true, however. Rice is not a native plant in Mexico. Rice was introduced to Mexico through the Philippines. When the Spanish discovered how well rice grew around Veracruz, rice became a permanent ingredient in Mexican cuisine.

Rice is traditionally served at midday in Mexico. It is usually served with beans or fish. The rice and beans you get in restaurants are not how they are served in Mexico. Learning more about traditional Mexican food will really open your eyes. Mexican cuisine uses rice in many ways beyond the savory rice discussed here. They also use it in cakes, desserts and horchata, a tasty drink.

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 way to cook rice in Mexico uses a clay vessel known as a cazuela. Rice cooked this way gets an earthy flavor. Soaked rice is drained and then fried until a golden brown. Liquid is then added to the vessel so the rice can simmer until it is tender.

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.

When you have leftover rice, just freeze it. Take a sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil and spread the rice out in a thin sheet. Seal up the foil and place it in the freezer. When you want to use it again, just pop it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit to reheat it. You do not need to thaw it first.

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.

Knowing how to make Mexican rice will really fill out your menu when you choose other Mexican entrees. The recipe is easy to do once you learn it. It makes a wonderful change instead of potatoes or pasta. It is a great choice when you want something different. Many people rate Mexican food as one of their favorites; when you can add this and other Mexican dishes to your menu, your family will cheer.

Mexican food makes a great change from the usual staples and a lot of Mexican meals are simple to prepare. The use of spices and fresh produce makes many easy Mexican recipes very healthy as well as delicious. You can find many different dishes at MexicanFoodRecipes.org to make for your family.