Mexican Restaurant Style Rice
Mexican food is my absolute FAVORITE!!! Our whole family’s favorite food! We love when we are back at home and can easily stop by and get tacos or a delicious super burrito. But the reality for us is, that isn’t really possible all that often. Being a military family and moving every few years most of the time we haven’t been near any REALLY good mexican food. Plenty of tex-mex, but that isn’t for us, and plenty of other disappointing places.
Over the years I have figured out ways to bring our favorites into our house, wherever our house may be at the time! Give my daughter mexican restaurant style rice, “smashed” beans (what the rest of the world calls refried beans), and a good tortilla and she’s happier than a pig in mud! It’s the little things in life!!
Mexican Restaurant Style Rice:
1/4 cup white or yellow onion, diced
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups chicken, beef, or veggie stock
1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cups rice (long grain rice works best, ex: Jasmine)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons olive oil
Saute garlic and onion in olive oil over medium heat in a medium size pan or pot (it will need to have a lid) until softened; 1-2 minutes
Add stock, tomato paste, and spices to the pan/pot and bring to a boil with the lid on. Stir a few times to ensure the tomato paste is dissolved and mixed into the stock
Once at a boil, add rice; reduce heat to low and let cook with the lid on until all liquid has been absorbed and rice is tender, about 15 minutes
Remove from heat, stir, and let rest for a few minutes; rice will be fluffier after sitting