Easy Arroz Rojo Recipe (Arroz Mexicano)

Arroz rojo or Mexican red rice is one of the basic recipes of Mexican cuisine. It’s easy to master with my fail proof recipe. Let’s learn how to make this delicious perfect Mexican rice for all your favorite meals.

Small bow filled with arroz Mexicano which is Mexican red rice but made vegan.

Arroz Rojo

Amigos, today’s recipe is one you must master — and trust me it’s not hard at all.

This is the rice that you’ll be often served at your favorite Mexican restaurant. Sometimes it’s also referred to as arroz Mexicano, arroz a la Mexicana. Americans will sometimes refer to is as “Spanish rice”…which I don’t fully understand because it has nothing to do with Spain.

One thing we will all be able to agree on that this authentic Mexican rice recipe is a beautiful red color that takes really only a couple of minutes of preparation, but with it’s basic ingredients needed you’re going to make the most delicious homemade arroz.

This is the best vegan Mexican rice recipe!

How to make arroz Mexicano

Sweet Mexican Rice Recipes

If you’d rather eat a sweet rice dessert instead of this savory side dish then try the following recipes.

Vegan Mexican Rice Recipe

Ok amigos, you may be confused and think that Mexican rice is naturally vegan — but it’s not!

Mexican cooks often use chicken broth or chicken bouillon powder to flavor all sorts of Mexican food. One of them being rice. So next time you go out to eat or at someone’s house always ask if they’ve used chicken broth.

This recipe is of course vegan because instead of the chicken broth or bouillon we’re going to be using vegetable or a vegan swap like Better Than Bouillon or your favorite vegetable stock.

This is seriously the best vegan Mexican rice recipe!

Extra long grain rice to make Mexican arroz rojo
extra long grain rice

Ingredients You’ll Need for Mexican Red Rice

The simple ingredients list for this classic recipe are few and all common, easy to find.

  • long grain rice or extra long grain rice (don’t use instant rice nor brown rice)
  • olive oil or vegetable oil
  • roma tomatoes
  • white onion
  • garlic cloves (I’ve never used garlic powder for this)
  • water
  • salt
  • vegetable broth
Ingredients needed to make arroz rojo
Ingredients for Mexican Red Rice

Other Ingredient Options

Sometimes I also like to add either a small can of vegetable mix consisting of carrots, peas and corn. Other times I’ll use frozen vegetables, or if I have neither then I’ll just make the rice as is. These options are your choice.

Additionally some people like to add a little bit of cilantro. I never do, but again it’s your choice.

Skip The Canned Tomatoes and Make Real Tomato Sauce for Your Rice

If you want the authentic flavors of true Mexican rice then skip the recipes that call for canned tomatoes, store bought tomato sauce or tomato paste.

Real arroz rojo is made with fresh tomatoes!

How to Make This Easy Vegan Mexican Rice Recipe

The first step is to blend the tomatoes with garlic clove, onion and a bit of water. Blend until smooth to make the tomato sauce, then set aside.

How to Make Mexican Arroz Rojo
How to Make Mexican Arroz Rojo

On the stove top, you heat up some oil to medium heat in a large pan then add the rice and toast it until it begins to brown just a tad bit. Careful not to burn it, it will just have a golden brown color not too dark.

Then pour in the freshly blended tomato sauce — careful as the heat will cause it to splatter. Stir until well combined and allow to simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken up.

How to make Mexican rice

Next you add the vegetable broth and allow it to come to a gentle boil. Then lower the heat to the low setting, place the lid on your pan and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

After 15 minutes carefully uncover and use a fork to push an area of the rice aside. You want to check that the liquid has all been absorbed. If it hasn’t then cover and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Fluffing Mexican Rice with a Fork
Fluffing Mexican Rice with a Fork

Once the liquid has all been absorbed then turn off the heat, use the fork to gently mix and fluff the rice. Making sure to reach the bottom of the pot or pan. Cover again, remove from the heat then allow to sit for another 10 minutes undisturbed. After this you’ll have fluffy rice and be ready to serve as desired!

Now you’re ready to serve as desired!

Recipe for Arroz Mexicano
Arroz Mexicano

👩‍🍳 Nancy’s Tips


  • What Kind of Rice is Best Always use extra long-grain rice for Mexican arroz. Long grain rice is what’s traditionally or the type of rice nearly all Mexican recipes use. This recipe is also specific to this rice. So please note that if you use different types of rice, the rice ratio to the liquid measurements as well as the results will be the same. I would never use this recipe with brown rice, again measurements would be change and would have different times for cooking.
  • Leave it Alone It’s tempting, but leave the rice alone! If you keep opening the lid it won’t steam properly. Additionally if you keep stirring it then you’ll end up with unevenly cooked rice.
  • Use a Fork NOT a Spoon Using a spoon smooches the individual grains of rice and it’ll end up being mushyrice and you don’t want that.
  • What Does Arroz Mean in Spanish It simple means rice.
  • Broth or Bouillon You can choose to use either. If you make your own broth then go ahead and use it. I mostly mix the bouillon power with hot water to create my broth. It’s completely up to you. Check the links to the ingredients below for a quick purchase.
  • What if You Don’t Have Fresh Tomatoes Ok so the traditional method is always fresh tomatoes. But in a pinch you could use one and a quarter cup of tomato sauce or tomato puree. Instead of blending the onion and garlic, just finely chop them and add them to the pan when toasting the rice.
  • Don’t Burn The Rice Make sure you’re keeping a constant eye on the rice when you’re toasting it, so as not to burn it. Additionally don’t turn up the heat too high when cooking it.
How to Make Vegan Mexican Rice in an Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Vegan Mexican Rice

Instant Pot Mexican Rice

Ok amigos if you want to you could totally make this arroz in your Instant Pot or any brand of electric pressure cooker.

You would still blend the sauce just like in the regular recipe. Then you’d set your pressure cooker to the Sauté function and heat the oil then add the rice and toast until slightly golden. Then you’d pour in the blended tomato sauce, veggies if using, and vegetable broth.

The cooking function you’d need to select would be Pressure Cook and set it to Low Pressure then set the timer cooking time to 11 minutes. You could do a quick release, fluff the rice and let it sit until ready to serve.

How to Make Arroz Rojo

This is seriously the best Mexican rice recipe you’ll ever make!

Making Mexican arroz is incredibly easy. Check out the recipe below and do make sure to read through all of the tips to make sure you make fail proof rice every time!

Recipe for Arroz Mexicano

Arroz Rojo Recipe | Vegan Mexican Rice

Nancy Lopez & MexicanMadeMeatless.com
Arroz rojo or Mexican red rice is one of the basic recipes of Mexican cuisine. It’s easy to master with my fail proof recipe. Let’s learn how to make this delicious vegan Mexican rice for all your favorite meals.
5 from 5 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican, vegan mexican
Servings 4 cups
Calories 243 kcal

Equipment

  • blender
  • large pan with a lid

Ingredients
  

  • 2 small Roma tomatoes quartered
  • ½ small white onion roughly chopped
  • 2 whole garlic cloves
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 cup long grain white rice
  • 1 ½ cups vegetable broth

Instructions
 

  • Place the tomatoes, onion, garlic, salt and water in a blender and blend until smooth. Measure out 1 ¼ cups of the tomato sauce and set aside.
    Ingredients needed to make arroz rojo
  • In a large pan heat the oil over medium low heat, then add the oil and the rice. Cook the rice until it's toasted and begins to slightly turn golden. Then quickly add the blended tomato sauce, stir and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or just until the sauce begins to thicken up
    How to Make Mexican Arroz Rojo
  • Pour in the vegetable broth and veggies if using, mix to well combine. Allow to come to a soft boil then cover with the lid, lower the heat to low and cook over very low heat for 15 to 20 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed. (Mine usually takes about 17 minutes.)
    How to make Mexican rice
  • Use a fork to gently push some rice aside and check to see that all of the liquid has been absorbed. If so use a fork to stir and fluff the rice then remove from heat, cover again and let it sit 10 more minutes then fluff again and serve as desired.
    Fluffing Mexican Rice with a Fork

Instant Pot Mexican Rice Instructions

  • Make the tomato sauce just like above and measure out and set aside.
  • Set the pressure cooker to Sauté, once warm add the oil then add the rice and toast until it begins to turn slightly golden. Pour in the tomato sauce, allow to cook for 5 minutes before adding the vegetables (if using) and the vegetable broth.
    Mexican rice or arroz rojo made in an Instant Pot.
  • Cancel sauté function, secure the lid on the Instant Pot. Set the valve to Sealing then choose Pressure Cook to Low Pressure and time to 11 minutes. Allow to come to pressure and cook and timer to go off.
  • After timer has gone off let sit for 5 minutes then carefully do a quick release buy moving valve to Venting. Allow for the pressure pin to drop before attempting to open the Instant Pot.
  • Use a fork to fluff the rice, then leave to sit for 8 minutes before serving as desired.
    How to Make Vegan Mexican Rice in an Instant Pot.

Video

Notes

You can add a small can of mixed veggies, or some frozen or fresh vegetables if desired.
This delicious recipe makes 4 cups cooked.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 6servingsCalories: 243kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 4gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 648mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 446IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and tag me on social media @MexicanMadeMeatless or tag #mexicanmademeatless!
How to Make Vegan Mexican Rice
Vegan Mexican Rice with Vegan Crema, Vegan Refried Beans and a Fried Nopal Steak

How to Serve Mexican Arroz Rojo

This rice makes a delicious and perfect side dish. You can use it as a stuffing for tacos or burritos. Use it as a base for burrito bowls or taco bowls, or you can even make a Mexican themed fried rice with leftover rice.

It’s also delicious with a fried egg on top for breakfast. Another favorite way to eat it is drizzled with homemade vegan crema, refried beans and a nopal fried liked a steak — so yummy!

It’s also quite flavorful served with just a light drizzle of lime juice. Give it a try sometime.

Below are some great dishes to serve your arroz with.

How to Store & Reheat

To store any leftovers allow them to come to room temperature first. Then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll keep fresh for about 4 to 5 days.

Leftover Mexican arroz freezes quite well. Store in freezer safe container or Ziploc bags for up to 3 months.

To reheat leftovers you can do so on the stove or microwave. Add a few tablespoons of water to the rice before reheating.

If reheating frozen you can first defrost on the counter or in the microwave. Then reheat in the microwave on in a non-stick pan on the stove top.

Vegan Mexican Rice
How to Make Arroz Mexicano

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