Description
Spanish rice brings comfort straight to your dinner table with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Fragrant with tomatoes and perfectly seasoned, this classic side dish delivers a delightful taste of home cooking that pairs wonderfully with your favorite main courses.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 cups chicken broth
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 small onion
- ½ bell pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
Seasonings and Extras:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- ½ cup frozen peas
- Fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle 1 cup long-grain white rice across the surface and stir constantly until grains transform into a warm golden shade, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Tumble the finely chopped onion and bell pepper into the skillet. Sauté until vegetables soften and turn translucent, around 3-4 minutes. Scatter minced garlic across the pan and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Drizzle 1 cup tomato sauce into the skillet. Pour 2 cups chicken broth over the rice mixture. Dust 1 teaspoon ground cumin and ½ teaspoon chili powder across the surface. Season with salt and black pepper to your preference.
- Allow the liquid to reach a rolling boil, then immediately reduce heat to low. Secure a tight-fitting lid over the skillet and let the rice gently simmer for 18-20 minutes without lifting the lid.
- Check the rice for tenderness. If adding ½ cup frozen peas, fold them into the hot rice during the final 5 cooking minutes.
- Remove the skillet from heat. Gently separate rice grains with a fork to create a fluffy texture. Scatter fresh cilantro leaves across the top if desired before serving.
Notes
- Toasting the rice in oil before adding liquid helps develop a deeper, nuttier flavor and prevents the rice from becoming mushy.
- Choose long-grain white rice for the best texture, as it separates nicely and doesn’t clump together when cooked.
- If your rice seems too dry while cooking, add a splash more broth to prevent burning and ensure even cooking.
- For a vegetarian version, swap chicken broth with vegetable broth and the dish remains equally delicious.
- Prep Time: 6-9 minutes
- Cook Time: 23-25 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 to 4
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg