Spanish rice

At our house we love Mexican food. So much so that I have made a lot of inter-cuisine concoctions that we flavor with Mexican condiments just to satisfy our Mexican cravings. For example, I regularly make 'tacos' with whole wheat pita breads or 'burritos' with some mild curry and salsa. I always buy a pack of pita bread whenever I visit Trade Joe's (their whole wheat pitas are the best!). On some weekday evenings when I come back from office craving Mexican, all I do is put the Spanish rice on stove and while its cooking make a quick guacamole and a black bean tomato salsa (frozen avocados, frozen corn and canned black beans all have permanent reserved places in my pantry). I stuff the pitas with salsa, rice and avocados and may be some Monterey Jack cheese and thats it! A satisfying Mexican meal on table in less than 30-minutes and without a trip to a grocery store!

So, that brings me to today's recipe: spanish rice. I have been making this recipe for so long that I don't even remember its source.. this is the perfect Spanish rice recipe I have tried. The rice always turns out so soft and moist and fluffy with a nice tomato, oregano flavor. If fresh tomatoes are not in season, use tomato paste. Infact tomato paste gives a deeper red hue than fresh tomatoes but I like the taste of fresh tomatoes better.

Recipe:
Source: unknown
Ingredients:
1C white long-grain rice
2C water
1/2 onion - finely chopped
1 clove of garlic - crushed
2 tomatoes - chopped into large pieces
1Tbsp tomato paste (if using no fresh tomatoes - I skipped the tomato paste)
pinch of dried oregano (or fresh!)
1Tbsp olive oil
salt

Recipe:
  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot.
  2. Add the rice and toast for a couple of minutes until the rice is aromatic (couple of mins).
  3. Add onions and garlic and cook for a couple more minutes.
  4. Add chopped tomatoes, water and salt.
  5. Bring the mixture to boil then reduce heat to simmer. Cook covered for 15-20mins until all the water is absorbed.
  6. Remove from heat, mix well with a light hand and serve!

Comments

Sushma Mallya said…
Thats a quick and easy rice..looks delicious as well pj..thanks for sharing..
Suji said…
Wow, we all love mexican cuisine very very much.. Great recipe indeed for mexican rice..Thnx PJ

Love
Kairali sisters
Pari Vasisht said…
That's an easy breezy rice, perfect after a day's hectic work.
TREAT AND TRICK said…
It's a great idea to stock some essential groceries in our pantry thus saving a trip to the store, this looks great PJ, beautiful color too...
Kanchan said…
Quite Quick Rice !

Loved this... Even I am a big fan of mexican but haven't tried many recipes at home.
Priya Suresh said…
Very simple and quick rice yet delicious..
I am such a sucker for mexica as well..unfortunately london has very few tex mex restaurants and so i have 2 make thm at home..which i now love because i can do as per my wish. have never tried their rice..next time il fit it into my burrito :)
Sonia said…
Expresso rice!! :D quick and handy for Friday nights. PJ, i love ur rice bowl. :)
TQ ...Glad I have a new recipe now to delight my kid. bookmarked it.
Nupur said…
This looks so simple and oh so good! There's something about Mexican food that makes me crave it so often.
Rachana said…
Thats a simple and delicious rice dish!
Kalyn Denny said…
My sister-in-law is from New Mexico and she makes the best Spanish Rice, very similar recipe!
indosungod said…
Lovely. Not even a pinch of chili powder ? I'll skip the oregano and make this rice. Can't be simpler.
PJ said…
Sushma, thanks! So glad you liked it.

Kairali sisters, thanks! I am a frequent craver of Mexican cuisine.

Pari, thanks! yes, this rice cooks up so fast its perfect for weekday nights.

Treat and trick, absolutely! pantry and freezer is such a great friend. ever since i found frozen avocados, my life has been made so much easier.

Kanchan, thanks! Mexican cooks much faster and its just soooo tasty, isn't it!

Priya, thanks! so glad you liked it.

An open book, where i live Mexican restaurants are everywhere! but not that many good vegetarian choice usually.

Sonia, thanks! The bowl was a chance finding at a local grocery store... i like it too.. specially for pink or red colored foods :)
PJ said…
Jay, great! I hope you like it.

Nupur, same here.. i crave Mexican so much that I finally just decided to learn to make it well at home.

Rachana, thanks! So glad you liked it.

Kalyn, New Mexico has some of the best Mexican joints as far as I have heard!

Indo, sounds great! The heat for me usually comes from the salsa. Though, feel free to add chili flakes, i think they will go very well with the rice too :)
I love spanish rice.. this looks gorgeous and yummy!!!!
Padhu Sankar said…
Sounds so simple .Can't wait to try
Joanne said…
I love a good Mexican dish. I always crave it but never seem to have the items on hand to make it! I need to stock my cupboard like you. This rice sounds absolutely delicious!
Hamaree Rasoi said…
Great recipe to fix a quick meal. Looks yummy

Deepa

Hamaree Rasoi
Panchpakwan said…
Lovely rice dish..delicious.
PJ said…
Pavithra, thanks! So glad you liked it.

Padhu, oh, you should.. it prepares in no time.

Joanne, surprizingly i have been very happy with frozen avocados, corns and canned black beans. With pitas at hand, all i need is some fresh tomatoes and lime!

Deepa, thanks! So glad you liked it.

Panchpakwan, thanks! SO glad you liked it.
Anonymous said…
oh talk abt the love for mxican food..i hear u sistah!and I wud love to give this spanish rice a try..
Cham said…
Never attempted in my kitchen, but tasted in Mexican restaurant.
Very easy breezy recipe!
Mints! said…
Looks nice PJ. I haven't made this in a very long time. Thanks for reminding me :)
Hari Chandana P said…
easy and delicious one.. looks awesome.. :)
FoodLovers said…
quick and nice one Pj iam also a lover of mexican food ..
Long time no see in my blog if u get a chance do stop by PJ
PJ said…
MunchCrunchandSuch, its so much fun making Mexican, and ofcourse eating it, isn't it!

Cham, thanks! it is super easy.

Mints!, thanks! its always a good time for Mexican :D

Hari, thanks! I am so glad you liked it.

FoodLovers, i'll be there is a jiffy!
tasteofbeirut said…
I love Spanish rice and I like your version a lot; I need to make it soon, I crave it all of a sudden!
Padmajha said…
What an easy way to prepare!!Bookmarked and gona try it as soon as I get back home..Thanks for sharing PJ...
very easy beezy but looks flavourful.
Anonymous said…
This is my second time making this rice 1st time the rice stayed cruncky maybe I was using the wrong rice.I followed the directions to the T, but second times the charm fingers crossed.....