Mexican Rice Arroz Blanco Recipes

ARROZ BLANCO (MEXICAN WHITE RICE)

Steps:

• In small saucepan or microwave oven, heat broth or water until steaming.
• Stir in about 3/4 teaspoon salt if using salted broth, 1 1/2 teaspoons if using unsalted broth or water.
• Cover and keep warm.
• In medium (3-quart) saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, heat the oil over medium heat.
• When hot, add raw rice and onion and stir regularly until grains have turned from translucent to milky-white, 4-5 minutes.
• Add garlic and stir for a few seconds, until fragrant. Do not let grains brown.
• Add the warm liquid and lime juice, stir thoroughly, scraping down any grains that are clinging to the side of the pan.
• Cover and cook over the lowest heat for 15 minutes--temperature should be low enough that only the slightest hint of steam escapes lid.
• Remove pan from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes.
• Uncover and test a grain of rice: if still a little hard, re-cover pan and set over low heat for about 5 min.; if rice has absorbed all liquid and is completely dry, sprinkle on 2 tablespoons water before returning to heat.
• When rice is done, sprinkle on parsley and gently fluff with fork to release steam and stop the cooking.

ARROZ ROJO (MEXICAN RED RICE)

Steps:

• Grate tomatoes into a bowl using a box grater; discard tomato skins.
• Heat vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat and cook onion until translucent, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir garlic into onion and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir rice into onion mixture and cook, stirring often, until rice is lightly toasted, about 3 more minutes. Stir grated tomato, chicken broth, and tomato sauce into the rice. Bring mixture to a boil.
• Mix in jalapeno pepper, cilantro, and salt; reduce heat to low. Cover skillet and simmer until rice has absorbed the liquid, about 15 minutes. Do not lift the cover while the rice is cooking.
• Turn off heat and let rice stand covered for 8 minutes. Fluff with a fork before transferring rice to a serving dish.

MEXICAN WHITE RICE (ARROZ BLANCO)

Steps:

• Bring about 6 cups water to a boil and pour over rice in a bowl. Soak rice until it has turned a more opaque white, 2 to 3 minutes. (Rice can be soaked up to 4 hrs.) Drain well and spread out on a kitchen towel to dry, at least one hour.
• Cook onion and garlic in oil in a wide 4-5 quart heavy pot or deep skillet over med. heat, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Add rice and cook over med-high heat, stirring, until pale golden, about 5 minute Add broth, water, and 2 teaspoons salt and bring to a boil.
• Cover tightly and cook over low heat until rice is tender, 18-20 minutes. Let stand covered 5 min., then fluff with fork and serve.

ARROZ BLANCO (MEXICAN WHITE RICE)

Steps:

• Cover the rice with hot water and let stand for 10 minutes. Drain the rice in a sieve or colander and rinse until the water runs clear. Shake the sieve vigorously to remove excess water.
• In a blender, combine the onion, garlic, salt, and 3 cups of water and process until puréed (use caution when blending hot liquids).
• In a medium saucepan over moderate heat, heat the oil until hot but not smoking. Add the rice and sauté until it crackles when stirred, about 3 minutes. Add the onion and garlic mixture, bring to a boil, and cook for 3 minutes. Add the cilantro or parsley and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook until small holes appear in the rice, about 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork and remove the herb sprigs. Keep covered until ready to serve.