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Spicy Spanish Rice

I made this recipe because I was feeling some sort of comfort food, but I didn’t want to get too crazy and end up with 300 dishes in the sink… Because I was home alone and theres NO WAY I was going to wash all of that! It was also one of the first major snowfall’s of the year so I really just wanted to curl up with my blanket and watch The Nanny.  Anyone else a fan of that show?! It’s probably one of my top 3 favorite TV shows ever and I recently just got DVD’s for all of the seasons as a present… so I’m trying EXTRA hard not to watch them too fast!

When I walked around my kitchen trying to think of what I really, really wanted to make, I had to think of what I really, really wanted to eat. Usually when i’m craving comfort food, I need at least 2 out of 3 of these things:

  1. Something Cheesy
  2. Something Spicy
  3. Something Warm 

Soooo I got to work. Brown rice was cooked to al-dente perfection. Onions, garlic and jalapenos were sauteed with some spicy spices. Fire roasted tomatoes were… well they didn’t do anything because this recipe uses the canned version to make our lives easier 🙂

Typically, I would say that this makes an excellent side dish to some enchiladas or any Spanish/Mexican cuisine, but I think this Spicy Spanish Rice tastes amazing with soup!  Whenever I make rice as a side dish, I tend to get full really fast and can’t truly enjoy both of the things that I’m eating. I had a lot left over, because apparently I like to cook for 4 people when I should only be cooking for 1, so I ate the rice with some tomato soup and it was the PERFECT combo. I also had a huge cinnamon roll that I warmed up in the microwave in between rice bites and soup slurps, but who’s keeping track?

If you are looking for some quick and easy Spicy Spanish Rice that is nothing short of comforting and delicious, this recipe is for you <3 ENJOY!

P.S. If you are wondering what the difference is between Spanish Rice and Mexican Rice, then i’ll fill you in on a little secret: there really is no difference. When I cook Mexican Rice at home, I tend to use white rice and go heavy on the taco seasoning.  I also incorporate salsa into my recipe.  For Spanish Rice, I think that brown rice is a better option than white rice because no matter how long you cook it, it doesn’t really get mushy. Other than that, I use the same veggies and spices! If you want me to share a Mexican Rice recipe with you, I will definitely incorporate that into an upcoming post!!

Spicy Spanish Rice
Satisfy your comfort food cravings with this quick, cheesy, and spicy dish – perfect for cozy nights in with your favorite show!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup brown rice
  • 2 cups vegetable stock
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 red onion (diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (sliced)
  • 1 can fire roasted tomatoes (about 14.5 oz)
  • 1 large jalapenos (diced)
  • 1/2 tbsp tomato paste

Spices

  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp cumin powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Garnish

  • 1 large lime
  • 2 green onions (chopped)

INTRUCTIONS

  1. Boil brown rice until al-dente in the vegetable stock.  If you find that the stock is being absorbed too fast, add a little bit of water at a time.  I added 1.5 cups of water towards the end. Strain any excess water once cooked.
  2. In a pan, heat up your oil.  Add in the red onions and mix until they are slightly translucent.  Add in the garlic and let it cook for about 30 seconds.
  3. Stir in the can of fire roasted tomatoes, jalapeno and tomato paste.  Let it all cook for about 1 minute.  (It’s ok if the liquid from the can is in the pan. It will keep the rice from being dry)
  4. Throw in all of your spices and add sea salt to taste.  Add in the rice.
  5. Stir and let it cook on low heat for 1-2 minutes until the rice is completely coated.
  6. Garnish with lime and green onions. Serve while hot!

NOTES

  • Try to not to let the rice cook more than al-dente because it will continue cooking once you add it to your pan with the tomato mixture.
  • Fold the rice instead of stirring it to prevent it from getting mushy.

DID YOU ENJOY THIS RECIPE?

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hello,
i’m megha

Welcome to my page! Over here you’ll find some of the topics i’m most passionate about  Hope you find my blog as a means of making an easy weeknight dinner, planning a stress-free travel itinerary, or even styling the perfect look for an important event! Thanks for visiting!

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