This
recipe is courtesy of
Cynthia Detterick-Pineda of Andrews, TX.
More of Cynthia's
Southwest Recipes.
One of the most frequently served items
in a Mexican dinner is probably “Spanish Rice,” or maybe the beans that also
seem to accompany every meal. Sadly this is not how Spanish style rice
is meant to be made. It is not meant to be a mushy, gooey clump of reddish
rice. Almost any Spanish cook will tell you that Spanish style rice is in
the category of a “sopa seca,” or dry soup.
A good Spanish style rice will fall onto
the plate gently, much like a pilaf, and not cling to the fork in a lump
when you try to eat it. Maybe you like your rice made that way and nothing
wrong if you do as we all have different taste. But when making true
Spanish-style rice, keep in mind that most of the ones sold in restaurants,
and the majority of those that come from a bag mix, are not what this recipe
is about. This recipe is for Spanish Rice, the way it is meant to be cooked,
or at least in New Mexican cooking. Many times in Mexico, and some other
parts, the tomato is omitted. That version is also good, but I like the
tomato in mine.
Spanish Rice Recipe
Recipe Type:
Rice,
chile pepper
Cuisine:
Southwest, Spanish, Mexican
Yields: serves many
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients:
2 cups chicken broth or 1 cup broth and 1 cup water
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 medium-size
onion
, diced
1/2 clove of
garlic, minced
1 large jalapeño
chile pepper, seeds and membrane removed and finely chopped
1 cup long-grain rice (converted rice gives a great texture to the finished rice)
1 can (14.5-ounce) diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon
tomato paste
Salt to taste
Black pepper
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350
degrees F.
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the chicken
broth or broth mixture to a simmer; reduce heat to low and let the broth
simmer until ready to use.
In a
large oven-proof pot (cast-iron Dutch oven works well for this) over
medium-low heat, heat vegetable oil until hot. Add onion and sauté, stirring
constantly, until onions becomes translucent but not brown. Add garlic and
jalapeno chile pepper, stirring constantly until soft.
Add
rice, stirring constantly, until the rice just begins to brown.
NOTE: the rice will go from white to translucent
and back to white again before it begins to brown. Once the rice is
evenly browned, remove the pot from the heat and season salt and pepper to
taste. Slowly and carefully add the hot chicken broth, tomatoes, and tomato
paste, stirring to mix well.
Cover
the pot and place in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
NOTE: If after 20 minutes, the water has not
been absorbed and the rice is not soft, place the pot back in the oven and
continue to cook for another 5 minutes. When the rice is done
cooking, remove from the oven and let stand, covered, for at least 5 minutes
to allow the rice to set.
Stove top cooking:
-
You will need an extra
1/2 to 1 cup of liquid if you are going to cook this on the stove top.
-
To cook on the stove
top, follow the above recipe except continue to cook on the stove top and
add more liquid as needed.
