Rice browned to have a nutty flavor, then simmered with vegetables and spices. This Spanish Rice is an easy to make, full of flavor side dish!
Dinner Themes
If you’ve read many of my posts you know that my husband and I love to go all out when we cook weekend dinners. And by ‘go all out’, I mean that my husband spends significant time on a main dish, and I get excited about everything else. (*Editor’s note: I do not “love to go all out” on anything. -M.L., husband)
I also like to have a theme for our weekend meals. Sometimes I’ll do a theme such as ‘foods using apples’ or ‘fall foods’, but I also love to pick themes based on other cultures, such as Greek or Argentinian foods.
Now, I need to say this: I do not claim to be an expert on any culture, because I’m not. Seriously. I’m from the southern U.S. and I don’t even consider myself an expert on southern cuisine. I’ve been known to get lost in the county where I live if I don’t have my GPS running.
I enjoy researching and trying different foods, then changing them to fit the taste of my family. I do not claim or believe that my dishes are culturally authentic. But, I love to learn from other cultures, love to experiment with the ingredients and techniques, and then love to share my results!
Spanish Rice
Spanish Theme Night
All that to say, we recently had a Spanish dinner night. My husband’s family has roots in Spain, so I enjoy learning about different Spanish foods and trying them out.
I adapt the food to use the ingredients I have available, and to fit the tastes of my family. It’s a really fun process!
Side Dishes
I don’t remember everything we made for our last Spanish dinner night, but I do remember I was in charge of sides and experimented to make a delicious Spanish Rice.
Rice
For this recipe, I use white rice. The trick to the rice is to brown it. I do so in a combination of corn oil and butter. Browning the rice gives it a nutty, delicious flavor!
Spices and Tomato Sauce
The flavor of this rice comes not only from browning the rice, but from a mixture of spices and tomato sauce.
For this recipe I used:
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- salt
- cayenne pepper
The result is a flavorful, rice-pilaf like dish, with a little bit of a kick!
This Spanish Rice is a quick and easy side to make that will be a star of your meal!
Spanish Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain white rice
- 1.5 tablespoons corn oil
- 1.5 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion diced
- 4 cloves fresh minced garlic
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1.5 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Pinch cayenne pepper
- salt to taste, I use 1/4 teaspoon
Instructions
- In a large sauce pan, heat corn oil and melt butter. Add onion, saute until onion starts to soften, about 3 minutes.
- Add rice and saute until rice starts to brown. Add garlic and saute for another 30 seconds.
- Stir in tomato sauce, oregano, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and 4 cups of water.
- Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and simmer until liquid is absorbed.
- Simmer until water absorbed, about 15-20 minutes (time can vary depending on the heat of your stove as well as the type of rice you use).
Nutrition
Disclaimer: All nutritional information provided on this website is an estimate only and is not guaranteed.
If you enjoyed this Spanish Rice recipe, you might also enjoy these other SugarSpicesLifre recipes:
One Pot Sausage, Chicken and Rice
Tequila Lime Chicken Taquitos
Jamaican Curry Chicken and Coconut Rice (Instant Pot)
Air Fried Buttery Steakhouse Potatoes
Creamy Three Cheese Mac and Cheese
