Healthy Spanish Brown Rice Recipe (aka Mexican Rice)

Ingredients

See recipe card for exact amounts.

Ingredient Notes

brown rice – I use regular store brand long grain brown rice because it is inexpensive and easy to find. I have not tried this with white, brown basmati, or brown jasmine rice, but from what I can tell these would probably have a shorter cooking time and may not absorb the liquid at the same rate. If you want to use one of those types of rice you will need to cook it for the amount of time specified on the package. 

tomato sauce – this is made with tomato puree and spices and is a smooth sauce with no chunks of tomato in it. 

veggies – we use chopped onion and green bell pepper

spices – this dish is seasoned simply with a little chili powder, garlic powder and salt. 

cooking oil – we typically use canola oil but you can use olive oil or vegetable oil. 

How to make homemade Spanish rice with brown rice

1. Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat, add the uncooked rice and onion and cook until the rice is toasted and the onion softens, about 4-5 minutes.
2. Stir in the tomato sauce, water, green peppers, and spices. 
3. Bring to a boil over medium high heat stirring occasionally, when it boils reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 45-50 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. 

Tips

• You can skip the step of toasting the rice and softening the onion if you want, but it does help to bring out the nutty flavor of the rice. 
• You need a pan with a tight fitting lid to cook rice properly. 
• Do not stir the rice, just put the lid on, let it cook and check it after the minimum time, if there is still liquid let it cook until the liquid is absorbed.  
• Brown rice has a chewier texture than white rice so keep that in mind when you are checking for doneness. 
• The best way I know to check if the rice is done is by tasting it. 
• If the rice isn’t done before the liquid is all absorbed you can go ahead and add some more water.

Substitutions and additions

• Swap the bell pepper for jalapeno peppers for a spicier dish.
• While we think this dish has great flavor using just water you can swap it for chicken broth, beef broth or vegetable broth. 
• Add in a little ground cumin, maybe a 1/4-1/2 teaspoon. 
• Top each serving with some fresh tomatoes or mix them in right before serving.  

​Storage and reheating

Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove top over medium heat. When I reheat this on the stove top I add a little water. 

Why is brown rice brown?

Rice has three layers; the hull or husk, the bran or germ, and the inside kernel, or endosperm. Brown rice has only the outer hull removed so it retains the bran layer. It differs from white rice because the hull and bran are both removed, making the rice white.

Is white rice or brown rice better?

Brown rice has slightly more health benefits than white rice because it is less refined, making it a whole grain. Brown rice has slightly more fiber, vitamins and minerals and a lower glycemic index than white rice making it a better choice than regular rice. 

Making small changes like this can help maintain an overall healthier diet.