Budget Spanish Rice
A simple, flavorful, and economical Spanish-style rice dish, perfect as a main or side. This recipe focuses on pantry staples to create a comforting meal without breaking the bank.
Ingredients
- •1.5 cup long-grain white rice
- •2 tablespoon olive oil
- •0.5 large yellow onion, finely diced
- •3 garlic cloves, minced
- •15 oz canned crushed tomatoes
- •2.5 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- •0.5 teaspoon salt
- •0.25 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- •0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
- •2 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1.
Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or pot with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat.
- 2.
Add the finely diced yellow onion to the hot oil and sauté for 5-7 minutes, or until the onion is softened and translucent.
- 3.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- 4.
Add the long-grain white rice to the pot. Stir frequently for 3-5 minutes, toasting the rice until it becomes slightly translucent around the edges and takes on a very light golden color.
- 5.
Pour in the canned crushed tomatoes, chicken or vegetable broth, salt, black pepper, and ground cumin. Stir everything together well and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
- 6.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover the pot tightly with its lid, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Do not lift the lid during this process.
- 7.
Remove the pot from the heat and let it stand, still covered, for an additional 5-10 minutes. This allows the rice to steam and become extra fluffy.
- 8.
Remove the lid and gently fluff the rice with a fork. Serve hot, garnished with fresh chopped cilantro if desired.
Tips
- 💡Do not rinse the rice for this dish; the starch helps create a slightly thicker, more cohesive texture and aids in absorbing the tomato flavor.
- 💡Toasting the rice before adding liquid is a crucial step that adds a nutty depth of flavor and helps the grains remain separate and fluffy.
- 💡Resist the urge to lift the lid while the rice is simmering. This traps the steam necessary for even cooking and prevents the rice from drying out.
- 💡If you don't have broth, you can use water with a bouillon cube dissolved in it for a budget-friendly alternative.
- 💡Adjust the salt and pepper to your taste at the very end, after the rice has finished cooking.
Recipe from TheCookbook.ai
Created by Basil Roux