Mexican Rice

This recipe is basic, with no heavy spices. That makes it good as a standalone with a spicy entrée or as part of something else.

Mexican Rice

1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 medium diced white onion
3-4 minced garlic cloves
1 tsp salt
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
1-4 dried de arbol or puya chilis
1 dried bay leaf
2 cups basmati rice

2 cups water

• Heat the olive oil in a saucepan
• Add the onions, salt, and garlic and stir until the onions are translucent
• Add in the rice and toast it. Stir just enough to keep it from scorching
• Cook until the rice is fragrant, 4-5 minutes
• Add the water, bay leaf, tomatoes and chilis, bring to a boil
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 18-20 minutes
• Remove from the heat and let stand a few minutes
• You can fluff the rice up with a fork and a spritz or two of olive oil
• Remove chilis and bay leaf

Any dried Mexican chili should work. De arbol are not super hot, puya even less so. Pequin dried chili would be a good hot chili to try.

I was lazy and used canned tomatoes, it would be much better with fresh tomatoes. 14 oz, including the liquid.