Mexican Yellow Rice

Give a bowl of Mexican red rice to a man and you will feed him for a day. Teach him how to make his own Mexican red rice and you will feed him for life.

Mexican Yellow Rice, also known as Spanish Rice or Red Rice (Spanish: Arroz Rojo), is a Mexican side dish or an ingredient in other dishes. It’s made with white rice, tomatoes, garlic, carrots, sweetpeas, and a few spices. The name Spanish Rice is only used in the United States and did not originate in Spain.

Ways to Make Spanish Rice

Basically, Spanish Rice is a one-pot meal. You can cook it in a Dutch Oven as we did or in a Pressure Cooker, Crockpot, or Rice Steamer. If you are using a crockpot or rice steamer you might want to brown your rice and saute your carrots and garlic in a pan before putting them in. However, with a Dutch Oven and most modern pressure cookers, the browning and sauteing can be done in the pressure cooker.

Spanish Rice can be cooked with other vegetables like corn, peas, and onions and is usually served with refried beans. It’s also served with Mexican main dishes like carne asada, picadillo, tacos, and many more.

Enchiladas with Mexican Yellow Rice
Enchiladas with Mexican Yellow Rice and Refried Beans

How to Store Red Rice

Place your leftover Red Rice in an airtight container or Ziploc bag and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze your leftover Mexican Yellow Rice for up to 6 months in a freezer.

Reheat your Red Rice in the microwave or on your stovetop. Add 1-2 teaspoons of water when heating to keep it from drying out.

History of Arroz Rojo

Rice is not native to Mexico and was brought to the Americas during the Age of Discovery. However, the tomato is native to Mexico so when the Spanish brought in the rice, Mexico was the first to make this delicious tomato-flavored rice dish.

The City of Durango, Mexico

The official name of the city is Victoria de Durango but it’s also commonly referred to as the City of Durango or Durango City. It’s the capital city of the state of Durango, in Mexico and is known for its historic center, with important colonial and Mexican baroque style buildings.

Durango, Mexico
Durango, Mexico

A Brief History of Durango, Mexico

Since the pre-historic period, the area was a conduit for influences from north and south, between the Aridoamerican and Mesoamerican peoples. The Nahoas, a nomadic people from the north, is believed to be the first to inhabit the area about 2,000 years ago.

The modern city started as a small mining town established by Francisco de Ibarra on July 8, 1563. Durango was at the height of its influence during the 18th century because of mining operations in the nearby Sierra Madre Occidental. The bonanza provided financing to build a number of grand colonial-era buildings in the city center, which can still be seen today.

Durango became a World Heritage site in 2010, as part of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro.

Tourism in Durango, Mexico

Visitors will find beautiful landscapes and rich biodiversity in the mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, and desert areas of the State of Durango. The area has been revered by Hollywood movie producers for many decades and as a result, many movies were shot in the area.

The area boasts excellent accommodation, from the historic boutique hotels to rural cabins built in forests with breathtaking views over rivers and valleys.

Durango is also well known for hosting amazing traditional fairs and festivals that are notoriously colorful and the locals are friendly and accommodating. One of the capital’s most distinguishing celebrations is the Durango National Fair held in July, commemorating the founding of the capital city Victoria de Durango.

Mexican Cuisine

Spanish conquerors that founded Durango and began the conquest of the northern territory brought rice, vegetables, and the first herds of animals. Among the famous dishes from Durango, is “Yellow Rice”, particularly recognized for its unique flavor and a local favorite.

Restaurante Esquilón
Hidalgo 411, Zona Centro, 34000 Durango, Dgo., Mexico
Telephone: +52 618 811 1632

Restaurante Esquilón
Restaurante Esquilón

El Esquilón offers a variety of flavors, aromas, and colors of their ancestral roots. The restaurant’s emblem is a replica of the Esquilón de San José, better known as the Bell of Dolores, rung by the priest Miguel Hidalgo to call for the struggle of Independence.

How to Make This Mexican Yellow Rice Recipe

This Mexican Yellow Rice recipe is easy to make and easy to clean up. In a Dutch Oven brown the rice and saute the bell peppers and garlic. Add the tomatoes and spices then cook for 20 minutes. It’s easy, fast, and oh so delicious.

What You Need to Spanish Rice

Ingredients for Mexican Yellow Rice
Ingredients for Mexican Yellow Rice

Equipment Needed:

  • 1 Skillet
  • 1 Knife
  • 1 Cutting Board

Ingredients Needed

How to Cook Red Rice

Time needed: 25 minutes.

How to Cook Arroz Rojo

  1. Heat the Pan

    In a large pan with a lid, heat the butter on medium-high heat until shimmering.

  2. Sauté the Onion

    Add the diced onion and cook for about 30-seconds.

  3. Brown the Rice

    Add rice and cook until lightly toasted, then add garlic and reduce heat to medium.

  4. Add the Spice

    Stir in the tomato sauce and the spices and mix well to coat the rice.

  5. Add the Broth

    Add the broth, mix well, and make sure the rice is settled into an even layer in the pan.

  6. Cook the Rice

    Bring the pan of rice to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cover and cook for 15 minutes.

  7. Add the Carrots

    Add diced carrots and cover the pan and cook for 5 more minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed.

  8. Add the Peas

    Add the peas, cover, and cook for an additional minute.

  9. Fluff the Rice

    Uncover, fluff the rice with a fork, and mix to combine.

  10. Garnish and Serve

    Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.

Mexican Yellow Rice goes well as a side dish to Green Chillie Chicken Enchiladas and Refried Beans.

If you liked this dish please Rate This Recipe and leave a comment.

Mexican Yellow Rice Recipe

Mexican Yellow Rice Recipe

Recipe Author | Captain Cook
Mexican Yellow Rice makes a great side and has a big punch of flavor. Cooked with carrots and sweetpeas and spiced with turmeric, paprika, chili powder, red pepper flakes, and cilantro.

Please Rate this Recipe

5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 12 servings
Calories 388 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet heat the butter on medium-high heat until shimmering.
    ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • Add the diced onion and cook for about 30-seconds.
    2 tbsp yellow onion
  • Add rice and cook until lightly toasted, then add garlic and reduce heat to medium.
    2 cup white rice, 2 cloves garlic
  • Stir in the tomato sauce and the spices and mix well to coat the rice.
    8 oz tomato sauce, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp ground turmeric, 1 tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp sweet paprika, ¼ tsp chili powder, ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • Add the broth, mix well, and make sure the rice is settled into an even layer in the pan.
    4 cup chicken broth
  • Bring the pan of rice to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes.
  • Add diced carrots and cover the pan and cook for 5 more minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed.
    ½ cup carrot
  • Add the peas, cover, and cook for an additional minute.
    ½ cup peas
  • Uncover, fluff the rice with a fork, and mix to combine.
  • Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.
    1 tbsp dried cilantro

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 388kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 9gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 529mgPotassium: 256mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 411IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Lunch, Dinner, Grains
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Other Recipes That Go Well With Mexican Yellow Rice

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
These Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas are made with tortillas that are stuffed with chicken, cheese, green chile enchilada sauce, sour cream, and green chilies.
Check out this recipe
Green Chili Enchiladas with Mexican Yellow Rice and Refried Beans
Easy Refried Beans Recipe
Frijoles Refritos or Refried Beans are a tasty side dish to almost any meal. It can be served with tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas, or almost anything.
Check out this recipe
Refried Beans

Photo Credits:

  • By Taste The World Cookbook – Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • By Restaurante Esquilón – By https://www.facebook.com/restaurante.esquilon/
  • By Microstar – File:Panoramica plaza de armas Durango.jpg, por Sozi (CC-BY-2.0)File:Catedral Basílica Menor de La Purísima.JPG, por Fernandocasas (CC-BY-SA-3.0)File:A lo alto, Quinta del Aguacate.JPG, por MohamedPulido (CC-BY-SA-3.0)File:ES la salvacion.JPG, por Lalomen96 (CC-BY-SA-3.0)File:Palacio Municipal Durango.JPG, por MohamedPulido (CC-BY-SA-3.0)File:Torre del Templo de San Agustín.JPG, por MohamedPulido (CC-BY-SA-3.0)File:AnalcoDurango013.jpg, por Thelmadatter (CC-BY-SA-4.0), CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74730877
SourceWikipedia
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Captain Cook
Captain Cookhttps://notallwhowanderarelost.com/
If you strip away the labels and isms and meta tags, what are you left with? Are you strong and free enough as an individual to survive the loss of all those crutches and maintain reason and meaning? Can you use the power of thought and choice to walk the road of life?
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