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Restaurant-Style Fluffy Mexican Rice (Arroz Rojo)

A mound of bright orange Mexican rice, studded with green peas and a piece of dried chili, served on a white plate.
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Welcome to my kitchen! This easy Mexican rice recipe delivers the fluffy, flavorful texture you crave from your favorite restaurant. It is a simple, one-pot side dish perfect for Taco Night or any weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice
  • 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilies (like Rotel), undrained
  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 cup frozen peas (optional)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Add the rice to the pan. Toast the rice, stirring often, until it turns light golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. This step is key for fluffy Mexican rice.
  3. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the pan. Cook until the onion softens, about 3 minutes.
  4. Stir in the diced tomatoes and green chilies (with their liquid), chicken broth, ground cumin, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  5. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pan tightly with a lid, and simmer for 15 minutes without lifting the lid. Do not stir during simmering.
  6. Remove the pan from the heat and let it stand, covered, for an additional 10 minutes. This resting period helps the rice steam perfectly.
  7. Fluff the rice gently with a fork. Stir in the frozen peas, if using. The residual heat will warm them through.
  8. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

Notes

  • Toasting the rice first prevents it from becoming sticky and helps achieve that authentic, restaurant-style texture.
  • For a richer flavor, use chicken broth instead of water or vegetable broth.
  • If you prefer less heat, use plain diced tomatoes instead of the diced tomatoes and green chilies mixture.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://carlacooking.com/mexican-rice-recipe-authentic-restaurant-style/