Mexican Rice Side Dish

Bring vibrant flavors to your table with this authentic Mexican Rice Side Dish, a perfect complement to your favorite Mexican-inspired meals. Featuring fragrant long-grain white rice toasted to golden perfection, this dish packs bold flavor with a savory blend of tomato sauce, chicken broth, garlic, and warming spices like cumin and chili powder. Tender peas, diced carrots, and an optional sprinkle of fresh cilantro add a pop of color and freshness to every bite. Ready in just 35 minutes, this easy and versatile recipe is ideal for weeknight dinners or as a crowd-pleasing accompaniment to tacos, enchiladas, or grilled meats.

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup long-grain white rice
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 0.5 cup, finely chopped onion
• 2 cloves, minced garlic
• 0.5 cup tomato sauce
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
• 0.25 cup frozen peas
• 0.25 cup, diced carrot
• 2 tablespoons, chopped (optional) fresh cilantro

Directions

Step 1

Heat the vegetable oil in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat.

Step 2

Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Drain thoroughly.

Step 3

Add the rice to the saucepan and sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the rice turns golden brown.

Step 4

Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the saucepan and cook for 2 minutes, stirring to combine, until the onion is softened and fragrant.

Step 5

Stir in the tomato sauce, chicken broth, salt, cumin, and chili powder. Mix well to incorporate all the flavors.

Step 6

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for 15 minutes.

Step 7

After 15 minutes, add the peas and diced carrots to the saucepan. Stir gently to combine, then cover and cook for an additional 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender, and the rice is fully cooked.

Step 8

Remove the saucepan from heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 5 minutes to absorb any remaining liquid.

Step 9

Fluff the rice with a fork and garnish with freshly chopped cilantro if desired before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1039.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	669.6

Total Fat 29.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 4.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 16.8g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3682.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 85.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 7.5g	0%
Total Sugars 12.3g
Protein 17.6g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 140.4mg	0%
Iron 6.1mg	0%
Potassium 923.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 39.2%

Protein: 10.4%

Carbs: 50.4%