The Kitchen Wife: Mexican Fried Rice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of rice do Mexican restaurants use? ›

The most popular type of rice used in Mexico is a medium long grain rice. Two types are cultivated in Mexico, Sinaloa (long grain) and Morelos (short grain). Rice is served as a food, in and of itself, in Mexican meals.

For tender grains of rice that easily separate, such as in a pilaf, use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. You can also use another liquid like stock in this 2:1 ratio. For slightly chewier, fluffy white rice, use 1 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice, or a 1.5:1 ratio.

However, in southern Mexico, ​plain white rice is more common. But since adding the broth, tomato, onion, and garlic is the Mexican way to add flavor to rice, calling the dish "Mexican rice" indicates rice that is made in the Mexican style.

Well, color is the first marker. Saffron imparts a very distinctive yellow color when it's used as a flavoring, and Spanish rice is no exception (obviously since paella is known for being yellow). Mexican rice, though, is reddish-brown -- hence the name "red rice" -- thanks to the addition of cumin and tomato.

Signature flavor

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

Bring water to a boil before adding it to the rice.

Meanwhile, bring 2 parts of water to a boil. Pouring already boiling water on top of the rice helps control the exact amount of water you're adding, something that's important for basmati and jasmine rice because they're on the starchy side and can end up gummy.

What is the ratio of water to rice? For basmati and all kinds of white rice, we recommend a ratio of 1:2 when cooking on the stove. So this would mean for every 1 cup of rice, you add 2 cups of water.

How many cups of rice do I need for 4 people? ›

One (1) cup raw rice yields 3 ½ cups cooked rice, or enough for 3 light eaters. To be sure you have enough rice, prepare 1 ½ cups raw rice for 3 or 4 people and 2 cups raw rice for 4 to 6 people. Time required to cook a pot of rice? Plan on 30 minutes from the moment you turn on the heat to when the rice is cooked.

Mexican rice (sometimes referred to as Spanish rice or red rice in Tex–Mex cuisine), also known as arroz a la mexicana, arroz mexicano, sopa de arroz, or arroz rojo in Spanish, is a Mexican side dish made from white rice, tomato, garlic, onion, and perhaps other ingredients.

If your rice is really wet and mushy, you probably added too much water and/or overcooked it. This recipe is kindly sponsored by Mahatma® Rice. I carry their products in my kitchen at all times!

Spanish rice has a firmer texture and stronger aroma compared to Mexican rice, it gets its sweet yet savory flavor as well as its golden color from saffron. As it is more absorbent, Spanish rice is also better suited for dishes that need to be slow cooked.

Long grain white rice is most common rice used in traditional American recipes, and it's also popular in Asian and Mexican cuisine.

WHAT RICE IS BEST FOR MEXICAN RICE? I highly recommend basmati rice for this easy Mexican Rice recipe for the same reasons I raved about it in my Greek Lemon Rice. Not only does basmati boasts a light nutty flavor but basmati grains are long and slender like other white rices but they cook up lighter and fluffier.

However, restaurants still make a point of choosing the appropriate type of rice. First off, they almost always use long-grain or medium-grain rice. Long-grain rice (like Basmati) retains distinct grains, while medium-grain has a greater chewiness and maintains its structure after frying.

The perfect kind of rice for burritos

Many use jasmine or basmati rice for an even better flavor and aroma. Cilantro lime rice is also one of the recommended types. If you're looking for a bit of spice, try adding Mexican-style seasonings like chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and oregano.