How to Make Spanish Rice

There is nothing quite delicious like a plate of Spanish rice. This traditional dish is a staple in many homes, and for good reason. It is hearty, filling, and packed with yummy flavor. But what many people don’t realize is that not everyone knows how to make Spanish rice in their homes.

While the ingredients are simple enough, it takes a bit of practice to get a perfect consistency. The rice must be cooked just right to remain fluffy and moist, but not mushy. The key is to use the correct ratio of water to rice and to simmer the mixture instead of boiling until all the liquid has been absorbed.

Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, you can start experimenting with different variations; You can try adding beans to make it Spanish rice and beans or diced vegetables to bulk up the dish and make it even more filling and you can also change up the spices to suit your taste buds.

This rice dish is very forgiving and can be made with whatever you have on hand. This dish has such a unique flavor just like this dirty rice recipe and I think you will love to recreate it at home.

Whether you like your homemade Spanish rice with chicken, ground beef, turkey, sausage, or vegetables; you can always customize it to your taste and make it your own meal. Below is a quick and easy recipe on how to make Spanish rice with tomatoes, vegetables, and spices.

Ingredients for making Spanish rice

• 11/2 cup long-grained white rice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 cups of chicken stock
• 1 red onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 cups tomato sauce, or a can of store-bought tomato sauce, undrained
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp salt or more to taste
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

How to make Spanish rice with pictures

See Also: Roasted chicken thighs

Tips on how to make the best Spanish rice

• Make use of long-grain rice. This type of rice will give the dish a fluffy texture that is perfect for absorbing all of the wonderful flavors in the dish.
• Use fresh ingredients– Fresh tomatoes, onions, and garlic will give your dish an authentic flavor. I also recommend using a good quality chicken broth for added flavor. If you want your Spanish rice to be extra flavorful use homemade stock.
• Rinse the rice first– Rinse the rice several times in order to remove any excess starch. This step is important in order to prevent your rice from becoming sticky or clumping together.
• Toast the rice until slightly crispy– Another tip is to toast the rice briefly with the onion in hot oil before adding the rest of the ingredients, this allows every grain of rice to absorb all the delicious flavor of the onion s and the rest of the vegetables which helps create an extra delicious flavor in the dish.
• Don’t overcook the rice– Another important tip is to cook the rice properly and not overcook it or else it will turn mushy.

You could pair it with roasted chicken breast, fried shrimp, or sauteed vegetables like peppers, zucchini, and broccoli. Also, a simple green salad on the side is another perfect complement to this dish.

The rice is first sautéed in olive oil until it is browned. Then, the tomatoes, spices, and stock are added and cooked until the rice is tender and fragrant.

Overcooking the rice is a common mistake; the rice is supposed to be tender but still firm to the bite. Make sure to use the correct ratio of water to rice. Too much water will make the rice mushy, while too little will make it dry and crumbly.

For best results, use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice or 1 and 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice. this will depend on the type of rice used though. Make sure to follow the directions on the package of the rice carefully, this will guide you on the amount of water or stock needed for a specific amount of rice.

Also, make sure you are using the right kind of rice for the best Spanish rice recipe. As for me, long-grained rice (Basmati or jasmine) is ideal because it holds its shape better and doesn’t turn into a mushy mess when cooked.

Finally, simmer the rice rather than boiling it. Boiling the rice can cause it to absorb too much water and become mushy. All you need to do is first bring the water or your stock to a boil, then as it starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and let the rice simmer until tender.

Other variations of Spanish rice

• Saffron- You could try adding a few pieces of saffron to Spanish rice for a beautiful yellow color and a slight hint of flavor
• Spiciness- If you’re looking for a bit of spice, try adding some diced jalapeños or red pepper flakes to the mix.
• Meat- If you’re looking for something a little more substantial, you could even add some chopped chicken to get that authentic Spanish rice and chicken recipe. Other variations could include ground beef, sausage, or shrimp in this recipe.
• Another tasty option to try is to use chorizo sausage instead of ground beef or add some chopped ham or bacon for extra flavor; this gives the rice a nice spicy kick. For those who prefer a vegetarian version, there are recipes that call for mushrooms or even cauliflower instead of meat. And you replace the chicken stock with low-sodium vegetable broth.
• Rice- White long-grain rice is the most commonly used type of rice for making Spanish rice, as it is neutral in flavor and has a light and fluffy texture that is perfect for absorbing all the flavors of the seasonings and is easy to cook. However, brown rice, basmati rice, and jasmine rice are also good options for you to choose from.
• Salsa-You can totally make your Spanish rice with salsa instead of tomatoes. It’s actually really easy to prepare this dish and it’s a great way to use up any leftover salsa sauce in the freezer. Simply combine your salsa sauce with the rice along with the required seasonings. Stir everything together until it’s evenly mixed, then place on heat to cook.
• Beans– I like to add black beans and sometimes kidney beans to my Spanish rice other times just to change the whole dish. You can cook your own beans from scratch if you have enough time. However, you can make use of canned beans but be sure to drain and rinse them first before adding them to the rice.
• To add the beans, simply add a can of drained or cooked beans to the pot after adding water to the rice. This is another fantastic way to make a mixture of Spanish rice and beans in one pot as a single meal. This classic combination often results in a flavorful and filling meal.
• Slow cooker- You can absolutely make Spanish rice in a slow cooker. Simply toast the rice in the skillet with the veggies as mentioned in steps 1 and 2 above. Transfer the whole content to your slow cooker, add the remaining ingredients, and mix them together. Set the slow cooker to low heat and let it cook for 4 to 5 hours (or on high heat for 2-3 hours and allow it to do its thing. In the end, you’ll have fluffy, flavorful rice that’s perfect for any meal in just a few hours.

How to make Spanish rice video