Taste the authentic Mexican flavor with this Arroz Rojo

Every time we hear the name Mexico, we can’t help but think of beaches, pyramids, Aztecs, fiestas, and traditions. Mexico is a culturally rich country that delights everyone, both visitors and locals alike, with its colorful and tasty traditions.

That country is recognized worldwide for many things, but undoubtedly the one that stands out the most is its gastronomy, especially its traditional cuisine.

A legacy of aromas and flavors

Known for tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and guacamole, Mexican cuisine has become something with a much more transcendental meaning. Not too long ago it became the first country with a gastronomy recognized as Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, honoring more than a thousand years of tradition. Quite an achievement.

Traditional Mexican cuisine is an integral model of cooking that includes agriculture, rituals, practices, and uses inherited from ancestral communities, but without neglecting innovation. The main ingredients of its cuisine are usually corn, beans, and pepper, for example.

All the typical dishes of Mexico that we know today emerged throughout history thanks to the cultural practices of pre-Columbian peoples, especially the Aztecs. Many centuries ago they were able to cultivate a great variety of plant and animal species that are seen today in Mexican dishes.

Influence of Spain cuisine in Mexico

Undoubtedly the influence of Spanish cuisine is very marked in Mexican cuisine. After Mesoamerica, Spain is the second most important pillar of Mexican gastronomy.

As this wonderful cuisine is the result of local cultural heritage enriched with new ingredients  the Spanish colonization brought to this part of the world; the taste, smell, and color of its dishes are unique.

Spanish settlers brought several cooking traditions from the Iberian Peninsula that prevail today in Mexico and, much more importantly, they brought food and ingredients from the Old World that did not exist in Central and South America, such as sugar, wheat, onion, garlic, meats, and many others. And undoubtedly, one of the most important has been rice.

Rice in Mexican cuisine

Rice has become a key food in Mexican culture. With its long history and travel around the world, rice also managed to reach Mexican lands, where the locals took advantage of all the benefits and goodness of rice to integrate it into their culinary traditions and make it part of their diet.

Each region of Mexico has its own typical foods and traditions, but one staple that is common to each of them is rice, which is prepared and eaten throughout the entire country.

Although there are several rice-based meals, certainly everyone’s favorite is Arroz Rojo, a dish so simple and tasty that it can be served as a main dish or accompanied by beans, tortillas, bread, or any variety of Mexican typical foods.

Arroz Rojo: Mexican Red Rice

Here is our traditional https:/mahatmarice.com/recipes/traditional-mexican-rice/ for you to prepare and enjoy at home.

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp. of olive oil.
• 1 serrano pepper.
• 1 1/2 tbsp. of chicken broth powder.
• 2 cloves of chopped garlic.
• 2 chopped Roma tomatoes.
• 1 stalk of chopped celery.
• 1 cup of fine long rice.
• 1/2 cup of chopped onion.
• 1/2 tsp. of cumin.
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped.
• 1 minced poblano pepper.
• 1 3/4 cups of water.
• 1/3 tsp. pepper.
• 1/3 tsp. of salt.
• 1 tsp. of smoked paprika.

Preparation:

1. Pour 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat for 3 minutes.
2. Prepare the veggies while the rice is roasting. Combine the onions, carrots, poblano, and serrano peppers in a mixing bowl. Stir often while sautéing for 5 minutes. Cook for another minute after adding the garlic.
3. Meanwhile, put the tomato, celery, 1 3/4 cups of water, and chicken broth in a blender. Blend on high speed until blended.
4. Blend the tomato mixture with the rice in the pot. Mix in the smoked paprika, cumin, pepper, and salt. Cover for 5 minutes after reducing heat to low. Season with salt and continue to simmer until all of the liquid has evaporated. It takes between 14 and 17 minutes.
5. Allow cooling for 10 minutes after removing from the heat. When ready to serve, toss the veggies on top of the rice to mix everything together. Serve immediately.