Description
This Homemade Spanish Rice recipe delivers flavorful, fluffy rice infused with tomato sauce, garlic, cumin, and aromatic chicken bouillon. Cooked stovetop by browning the rice first then simmering it to perfection, this classic side dish pairs wonderfully with Mexican or Tex-Mex meals and can easily serve a crowd.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 1 cube chicken-flavored bouillon
- 4 cups water (or 4 cups lower sodium chicken broth, no bouillon needed)
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Dash of garlic pepper
- Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the Oil: In a large frying pan, warm the vegetable oil over medium heat until it shimmers, preparing the pan for browning the rice.
- Brown the Rice: Add the long-grain white rice to the heated oil. Stir frequently and cook until the rice turns golden brown, about 5 minutes. This enhances flavor and prevents the rice from sticking together during cooking.
- Prepare the Bouillon Mixture: In a microwave-safe container, combine the chicken-flavored bouillon cube with 4 cups of water and microwave for 3 minutes or until the bouillon fully dissolves. Alternatively, skip this step if using lower sodium chicken broth directly.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Pour the bouillon mixture (or chicken broth), tomato sauce, minced garlic, salt, ground cumin, and garlic pepper into the pan with the browned rice. Stir thoroughly to mix all ingredients evenly.
- Simmer: Cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Let the rice simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 to 40 minutes or until the liquid is completely absorbed and the rice is tender and fully cooked.
- Fluff and Serve: Remove the pan from heat. Use a fork to fluff the rice gently. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro if desired. Serve warm as a delicious side dish.
Notes
- For more flavor, you can toast the cumin lightly before adding.
- Use low sodium broth to control salt levels better.
- If you prefer vegetarian, substitute vegetable broth and omit the bouillon cube.
- Stir gently while simmering to avoid breaking the rice grains.
- Allow the rice to rest covered off heat for 5 minutes before fluffing to improve texture.
