Make easy Vegan Mexican Rice (Spanish rice) with just 5 ingredients in 30 minutes – It’s super fluffy, vibrant, delicious, and a cheap, delicious side dish for Mexican-inspired meals!
In a medium pan with a lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, and uncooked rice and saute until the rice turns golden, stirring regularly, for about 4 to 5 minutes. When some of the grains of rice begin to turn a golden brown, move on to the next step.
Add the tomato sauce, salt, no chicken broth, and pepper, and stir.
Bring the mixture to a boil, cover the pan with a lid, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes. Once you cover the rice, do not remove the lid.
Remove from heat and fluff the rice.
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Notes
Sauté the rice: This is an important step to enhance its flavor with a natural nutty toastiness and prevent the rice from becoming too ‘sticky.’
For fluffier rice: Rinse it before you sauté it to remove excess starch.
Deglaze the pan: When you add the broth, scrape up brown bits from the bottom of the pan to get the flavor into the Mexican rice and avoid it burning to the pan.
Don’t lift the lid: Leave the rice to simmer completely untouched. Otherwise, you may accidentally affect the steaming process and cooking time.