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Everything You Ever Wanted to Learn about Mexican Rice
By Christine Szalay-Kudra | March 11, 2010
Mexican rice is a dish that is served at every Mexican restaurant all over the world. This rice is flavored with tomatoes and spices and has become an expected dish with Mexican food. This has not always been true, however. Rice is not a native plant in Mexico. Rice was introduced to Mexico through the Philippines. When the Spanish discovered how well rice grew around Veracruz, rice became a permanent ingredient in Mexican cuisine.
Rice is a traditional food served at lunch in Mexico. It may be accompanied by fish or beans. The rice and beans that you find taking up half your plate at Mexican restaurants is not the way it is served in Mexico. Rice is also used for many other dishes besides this savory dish. It is used in desserts, pastries and horchata, which is a Mexican drink that is gaining in popularity around the world.
Pilaf style is a very popular way to serve rice in Mexico. For a pilaf, the rice must be browned before being cooked in broth. Rice is seasoned by adding onions, carrots and other vegetables while the rice is simmering. Some people in Mexico prefer a creamier rice that is very similar to risotto.
A cazuela is a clay vessel that was traditionally used to cook rice. It gives the rice an earthy flavor. Rice is soaked first, drained, and then fried until it is brown. Broth or other liquid is added so the rice can simmer until it is done.
Mexican rice should be nice and fluffy. To get fluffy rice, you need to rinse the rice before cooking. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear. The water washes the extra starch off of the rice, which makes it sticky. You can also soak your rice ahead of time. This lessens your cooking time and helps the rice absorb more flavors during cooking. Long grain rice is preferred in Mexico, but medium grain rice also works very well.
When you have leftover rice, just freeze it. Take a sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil and spread the rice out in a thin sheet. Seal up the foil and place it in the freezer. When you want to use it again, just pop it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit to reheat it. You do not need to thaw it first.
If you want to make a traditional Mexican rice recipe, take a look online. There are many to choose from. Look for a recipe with lots of flavorful ingredients like onions, carrots, and chilies. Serve your rice with any entre you wish. It goes well with fish, chicken, pork, or beef.
Taking the time to learn how to prepare Mexican rice will add a lot more authenticity to your Mexican cooking. With some practice, you will be able to make a nice Mexican rice without even thinking twice. Your family will love the richness of the flavor. It is a nice change from pasta or potatoes.
Learn the truth about Mexican food history and find out more about the wonderful recipes that make MexicanFoodRecipes.org a favorite with the whole family.
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