Authentic Mexican Rice: Easy 3-Ingredient Recipe
Taco night just got better with this fluffy, quick, and easy 3-ingredient homemade Mexican rice recipe!
This is the only recipe you will need to make the perfect red rice with simple ingredients you most likely already own.
The best part is that this easy recipe is fully authentic! It’s how we’ve made rice for centuries.
No funny stuff, well maybe I’ll sneak in garlic and cumin as a flavor enhancer to this delicious side dish.
Ingredient Profile
White Rice
The first important ingredient in our 3-ingredient authentic Mexican rice recipe is… long-grain white rice.
I like to use this kind of rice or Basmati rice with its rich nutty notes.
I don’t recommend using sushi rice or jasmine rice because it will change the texture of the rice (sushi will make it sticky) or the flavor (jasmine rice will add some floral notes).
Mexican rice is not typically made with brown rice however, if you’re aiming for this healthy option, remember to add about 25 more minutes of cooking time.
When preparing the white rice, we generally do not rinse our rice before cooking it.
It is toasted on a pan with oil until golden brown before adding any liquid. This is an important step that allows the rice to keep its bite and not turn into mushy rice.
This is why we mostly cook it over the stove, but I’ve learned to also make it in the Instant Pot! I’ll share the method with you in the “Recipe Variations” section.
Tomato
The second main ingredient in our 3-ingredient Mexican rice recipe is… the tomatoes.
This is what makes Mexican red rice, red! Who would’ve thunk? 😆
We traditionally use canned tomato sauce in my family, however, you can use canned diced tomatoes, tomato paste, or even fresh tomatoes!
There are several great options here, if you plan to use fresh tomatoes, you want to saute them with your toasted rice.
Be sure to add them in after you have developed that golden brown color in your rice.
Cook them for about 5 minutes or until they fall apart and release their juices.
Broth
Good broth resurrects the dead.
South American Proverb
The broth is the third ingredient in our 3-ingredient easy Mexican rice recipe!
If you are vegan or vegetarian, you can easily use a vegetable broth (even a tomato-based one) for this recipe.
Traditionally I like to use chicken broth or my easy homemade chicken bone broth that I make in my Intant pot.
Using broth adds a depth of flavor to your rice and also adds many nutritional benefits! If you’ve never given broth a second thought, I’d like to let you in on how nutritious this ingredient is!
Sally Fallon goes into detail about the importance of good broth in her book Nourishing Traditions.
Broth is rich in minerals that are bioavailable which means our body can easily absorb them and process them for good health.
It’s something to consider when bringing together ingredients to nourish your body.
Other broth options include store-bought broth in cans or cartons, and even using water with your favorite bouillon would work just as well.
The Best Mexican Rice Recipe
Mexican red rice is the perfect side dish for most Mexican dishes, so it’s worth keeping in your list of recipes.
In this 3-ingredient recipe, you may need to add some salt if your broth is not very salty or low in sodium and if you want a little more flavor, be sure to add a little garlic.
Another ingredient option that not everyone likes, but adds lovely spicey and nutty notes, is cumin (it’s also not traditional in my family recipe but I love it!).
Ingredients
- 2 cups Rice (white long grain rice)
- 4 cups Broth
- 1/2 cup Tomato Sauce
Suggested Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil (optional)
- 1 tsp Salt (optional, if broth isn’t salty enough)
- 2 Garlic Cloves (optional, minced, or 1 tsp garlic powder)
- 1 tsp Cumin Ground (optional, not traditional)
Instructions
1. Preheat a medium pot with a lid or large skillet with a lid on medium heat.
2. Add Olive oil (if using) and rice into the pot. Continuously stir rice on medium heat to achieve a brown golden color for about 5 minutes.
3. Add garlic and cumin (if using) and cook for 30 seconds. Add your tomato sauce and cook for 1-2 minutes.
4. Add Broth and bring to a simmer, you may want to raise the heat to medium-high. Taste your broth and see if it needs salt!
5. Once it begins to simmer throughout, place the lid on the pot. Bring the flame down to low heat and keep simmering for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not remove the lid!
6. After your timer goes off, turn off the heat and let it sit for an additional 10 minutes. Do not remove the lid.
7. After 10 minutes or so, fluff rice with a fork or serving spoon. Serve and Enjoy!
Recipe Variations:
Instant Pot Easy Red Mexican Rice
1. Set to “Saute” on Normal.
2. Add Olive oil (if using) and rice into the pot. Continuously stir the rice to achieve a brown golden color for about 5 minutes.
3. Add garlic and cumin (if using) and cook for 30 seconds. Add your tomato sauce and cook for 1-2 minutes.
4. Add Broth (ONLY use 2 1/2 cups of broth, ), secure the lid, and set the valve to “Sealing”.
5. Press cancel and set it to “Pressure Cook” on high for 3 minutes.
6. When the time is up, allow the pressure to come down naturally for 10 or more minutes.
7. Fluff rice with a fork or serving spoon. Serve and Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
Meixcan Rice Conclusion
I hope you try my authentic Mexican rice recipe, it is quick, simple, and easy to make, it’s really a no-brainer.
I was shocked to see the barbaridades (nonsense) out there for this recipe, you never know what you’re gonna get from the internet.
Remember the 2 keys to this recipe are to toast and taste.
Brown your rice until golden before you simmer it and if you burn it, you won’t be the first person (guilty on multiple accounts). 🙃
Taste, taste, taste before you close the lid, and add salt if needed.
If you try this tasty recipe at home, please leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, as a result, it will help the blog. Additionally, If you have any questions or would like to leave a review, please drop a comment below. ❤️
¡Buen Provecho!
