How to Make Mexican Rice with a Rice Cooker?

Mexican rice is one of those comfort foods that you make yourself. And it becomes even easier when you are doing it with a rice cooker. Once you turn this baby on, all you have to do is wait.

Here is how you are going to do it-

Ingredients for making Mexican rice

This is a recipe for 1.5 cups of basmati rice. If you want more or less you can adjust the ingredients as per the ratios.

• 1.5 cups basmati rice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic
• 5 cup diced carrots
• 5 cup frozen
• 1 onion
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1 cup corn kernels
• Black pepper and kosher salt (According to taste)
• 2 tomatoes
• 0.25 teaspoon chili powder
• 0.25 teaspoon cumin
• 1 (8-ounce) can of tomato sauce

Getting these indigents is the hardest part in the recipe. The rest is a breeze.

How to cook Mexican rice

Like many other Mexican dishes, cooking Mexican rice is very easy. It gets even easier with a rice cooker that has in built settings in it.

So, here is what you have to do-

Step 1

Start your rice cooker and put oil in it. Olive oil is the best choice. However, let me tell you a little secret. Mustard oil is amazing with Mexican rice if you like spicy pungent flavors.

Step 2

When the oil is mildly hot put your chopped onions inside. After a while when the onions have just started to change color and their stiffness, add the tomatoes and garlic cloves. Stir and cook them for a while.

Step 3

Now, it is time to add the rice. Make sure you have washed the rice properly. Get them under a faucet in a bowl. Wash them by rubbing against each other. After staining most of the water add them to the rice cooker.

Step 4

Now it is time to add the things that separates regular rice from Mexican rice. Add cumin, chili powder, carrots, frozen peas, corn kernels, and other vegies if you want. Stir them for a while and season with salt and black pepper.

Step 5

In this step we will add the liquids. That means adding the tomato sauce and the broth. You can use any kind of broth but make sure it is rich in flavors. These liquids should not be so much that it makes the end product mushy and sticky.

Step 6

After stirring and mixing everything let it simmer for a while. 15 minutes is an ideal time but it can take more or less. Keep an eye on the cooker.

Step 7

Your Mexican rice should be ready by now. You can garnish it with cilantro or any kind of protein.

This is especially great for busy people like single moms, students, and people who can’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen. You can make Mexican rice with almost any kind of cooking apparatus be it an electrical cooker or even a pot. It is simple, easy, and quick.

You can even use this recipe for making Mexican rice without a cooker. Just follow the instructions and get things done. You will not need much time or effort.

You can play with your favorite ingredients and the method of cooking to make it more interesting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions new rice cooker cooks might have-

Q: Do you need to soak rice when using a rice cooker?

Short grain rice requires soaking for 20-30 minutes before you can cook them. This head start allows the rice to soak some moisture and makes the cooking process fast.

Q: Can you put butter in rice cooker?

Yes, you can use butter in rice cooker. You can add up to 3 tablespoons of it to make your rice taste different in a buttery good way.

Q: How do I clean my rice cooker?

Some cookers come with self-cleaning settings while some require you to soak them before cleaning. Use normal dishwashing liquid and hot water for both kinds of rice cookers.

Q: Rice cooker vs. pressure cooker- which one is better for cooking Mexican rice?

Neither. It depends on what you are using it for and how much time you have to cook your food. There are some recipes where the rice cooker beats the pressure cooker but there are other recipes where the pressure cooker wins hands down. Nevertheless, for Mexican style rice, we prefer rice cooker.

Q: Can I store Mexican rice in a rice cooker?

We highly recommend it. If you need to, you can keep the rice cooker warm for a prolonged period. The rice will stay fresh and come out perfect every time without burning, as this is a basic rule in cooking Mexican rice.

Tips for making Mexican rice in a rice cooker

The tips below will distinguish your rice from other recipes.

• Microwave the rice for a few minutes before cooking. This increases the absorption of moisture and prevents it from getting clumpy.
• Rinse rice thoroughly with cold water until the water is no longer cloudy.
• Add butter or oil to the water for cooking rice.
• Use a wooden spoon to stir the rice constantly and scrape across the bottom of the pot.
• Do not remove the lid during cooking.

Some of these tips might make the process hard for you. But it won’t be a big deal after you do it once or twice.

Conclusion

I know seven steps might be a lot for many. But just give it a read. There are no techniques involved. You just have to follow the steps and put everything inside at the right time.

The best part is, there is not much that can go wrong.

So, go for it!