What seems like a hundred years ago, before food blogging and Google were even things, a close friend of mine called from across the country, where he was doing an internship in Washington, D.C., to ask me how to make Mexican rice from scratch. Apparently, even at 19 years old, I was the friend someone called when having company over for tacos and needing emergency recipe advice.
Caught off guard, and without a cookbook in sight to rescue me, I'm ashamed to admit that I gave some very unhelpful advice like, "Er … um … go buy a box of Mexican rice mix." He promptly explained to me that a trip to the store was not easily done during rush hour in the nation's capital and he wasn't a boxed mix type of guy anyhow. I totally let him down, and I think he abandoned the rice altogether on his dinner menu.
I have spent many years haunted by this phone call and my inability to conjure up a recipe for a friend in need. I'm here to redeem myself with this homemade Mexican rice that I've been making for years now. It comes together easily with ingredients you likely have on hand, but is fluffy and flavorful and tinted a beautiful reddish-orange, just the way it's supposed to be.
Mexican rice
Serves 4
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup tomato sauce
2 cups chicken broth
Chopped cilantro or sliced green onions, for serving
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and add the rice. Cook, stirring constantly, until the rice begins to turn golden brown. Stir in the salt, garlic powder and cumin, toasting the spices in the oil for about 30 seconds. Add the onions and cook until tender. Stir in tomato sauce and chicken broth and bring everything to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork. Sprinkle with either chopped cilantro or sliced green onions. Serve hot.
Maya Wilson lives in Kenai and blogs about food at alaskafromscratch.com. Have a food question or recipe request? Email maya@alaskafromscratch.com and your inquiry may appear in a future column.