Tags
basmati rice, bell pepper, cooking, recipe, salsa, side dish, spanish rice
Here’s an easy and simple recipe for Spanish rice. I love this alongside grilled chicken, anything Mexican or to accompany a meatless meal, like for example a green salad with some sliced oranges, red onion and pepitas. I think this rice would be perfect for that.
Now when it comes to easy the one thing I like to keep in mind is using the freshest and best ingredients (budget permitting). It’s hard to hide behind a lot of ingredients with this side dish (this isn’t a 12 ingredient wild rice), so I try to use the best ingredients I can. I think it makes a difference in the end. But, I’ll let you be the judge {hope I didn’t sound to preachy.}.
I make my Spanish rice using basmati rice which is nuttier in flavor and has a sweet-smelling aroma. It is also known for its fluffy and light texture.
My guess is you have most of what you need in your pantry and in your vegetable bowl to get started. Am I right?
So to begin, dice a 1/2 cup of onion and a 1/2 cup of green bell pepper. This was about half of a medium onion and half of a large bell pepper.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat add 1 1/2 tbsp of olive oil. When the oil is hot, sauté the diced onion and bell pepper along with 2 minced garlic cloves until the vegetables are softened and onion is turning translucent or about 5 minutes. Season cooked vegetables with coarse salt.
Lower the heat to medium and add 1 cup of basmati rice to the vegetable mixture. Cook, stirring constantly for about 2 minutes.
Add 2 tbsp of tomato sauce (not spaghetti sauce) and 2-3 tbsp of your favorite salsa to the vegetable-rice mixture.
Stir well to combine.
annashortcakes said:
looks nice. I am always on the lookout for a good Mexican recipe. I’ll have to give this a try…
{Main St. Cuisine} said:
I agree! Mexican food? Yes, please! 🙂
Thanks so much for dropping by today!
Allison
dulcetdevotion said:
This looks delicious right now. I’ve just come home from work and have the munchies:) I agree about the grilled chicken — will you come over and make it for me?
I love pasta so much that I don’t think to make rice side dishes–but whenever I do, I really enjoy it! So I am committed to make this!
Have a great week:)
{Main St. Cuisine} said:
I agree…we make and love our weekly pasta dishes here. So when I make rice I’m always surprised that we don’t have it in rotation more often. Let me know how it turns out and how you personalize it. How I wish that I could get together with fellow food bloggers and cook! That would be a fun gathering for sure…please bring the macarons!
Sarah said:
I love when I find a recipe like this that has a brand new (to me) ingredient to try. In this case it’s the basmati rice. Thank you so much for the introduction to it. I’ll eat anything that has a connection to Mexican flavors, so there is no question I’ll be making this Allison. Just as soon as I find that homemade chicken stock….hmmmm…. I wish! One of these days I’m going to make Ina’s version.
Speaking of Ina, I ordered the Paris book after we talked about it. YAY!
I would also just LOVE to get together with you, Melanie, and other food bloggers to cook. We’d have such a great time, and we’d eat SO well. Sigh….
🙂 Have a wonderful week Allison, and thank you for this recipe!
{Main St. Cuisine} said:
Yes, the homemade chicken stock. Uh, do as I say and not as I do…because I haven’t made any like I planned to do. Oh well. I’ve made Ina’s version and it’s quite good. When your freezer is stocked with all of that homemade stock you’ll be so pleased with yourself.
You are going to love that book, Sarah. I can’t wait to hear what you decide to make.
Oh yes, a foodie meet-up. That would be so fun….I’d wear my stretchy pants for that gathering (and it would be worth it!),
Carole Crandall said:
So good…..I loved it. It was incredibly light and very tasty; not too spicy.
{Main St. Cuisine} said:
I loved it too! I think it will have to go into regular rotation and accompany something like chicken enchiladas! I’ll be sending more your way soon…
Just A Smidgen said:
There are so many dishes I make that would be kicked-up a notch with this on the side.. not just for the flavor but because of the pretty color it would add to the plate!! Love it!!
{Main St. Cuisine} said:
Smidge, I have to confess that sometimes I’m a little lazy in the side dish department, especially on weeknights. But this rice was easy to make and you’re right, the color was really pretty when plated. Now that I’m the proud owner of a 1 lb bag of basmati rice, I’m on the look out for some recipes. Do you have any to share on your site?
Thanks so much for dropping by!
Allison
Just A Smidgen said:
I don’t really, although I always make coconut rice and have used basmati for it quite often in the past! xo
meeshiesmom said:
Allison-
We love spanish rice, but the last recipe I made was a flop. I need to give this one a try.
Karen
{Main St. Cuisine} said:
I tried to make it as friendly for the littles as I could. I think Meeshie is a tad more adventurous than my boys so I bet you could really add to this rice with additional veggies, etc. Let me know how you personalize it. I’m sure any changes you make will be really delicious!
Simply Tia said:
I love your step by step photos. This rice looks easy to make and delicious to eat. Will be pinning this one as well! Thanks Allison.
{Main St. Cuisine} said:
Thanks, Tia! I’m sure step-by-step pics were slightly overkill for such a simple recipe, but I put them out there anyway. I should have of taken a photo of me stuffing myself with the finished rice!!
Thanks for your kind words, my friend. 🙂
Simply Tia said:
Now that’s a picture I would have loved to see! Hahaha.
I don’t think it was overkill at all. If anything, it demonstrated how easy the dish was and the photos would/should inspire anyone to go make it. I know I’ll be (making it)!
Heather @ SugarDish(Me) said:
Making this, making this, making this. With yellow rice. Oh yes. 🙂
{Main St. Cuisine} said:
That sounds good, Heather! Commenting on Spanish rice makes me want a burrito…or at least a breakfast burrito (it’s 8:30 in the morning after all).
Heather @ SugarDish(Me) said:
breakfast burrito sounds amazing. I wish tomatoes would hurry up and be in season…
Bam's Kitchen said:
Hola! So simple but so yummy. Take care, BAM
{Main St. Cuisine} said:
Hola, mi amiga! Yes, it was tasty and so easy…a nice change from making pasta!
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Liz said:
I enjoyed browsing all your rice recipes. Thanks for sharing…Best wishes!
{Main St. Cuisine} said:
Thank you, Liz! I so appreciate you taking some time to look through and leave such a nice comment.
Best,
Allison