I have a deep affection for a generous serving of steaming rice. It’s satisfying, comforting, and budget-friendly. 🙌 Moreover, rice is incredibly versatile, allowing for endless flavor combinations to keep things exciting. This uncomplicated and flavorful tomato rice recipe utilizes basic ingredients that I usually have readily available, resulting in a delightful balance of tangy and savory notes. It can serve as a foundation for nourishing bowl meals or as a vibrant side dish to elevate your dinner plate.
What’s in Tomato Rice?
This tomato rice is reminiscent of what many refer to as Spanish or Mexican rice, although I must admit that my approach is not entirely authentic to either culture. It is essentially rice cooked with onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, a blend of spices (cumin and chili powder), and a delicious broth. It’s remarkably uncomplicated, yet incredibly tasty! I found myself unable to resist indulging in forkfuls straight from the pot. 😅
What Else Can I Add?
There are numerous ways to customize this rice according to your preferences. You have the option to exchange the vegetable broth with chicken broth to add a slight variation in flavor. Alternatively, you can substitute the diced tomatoes with salsa or Rotel. Additionally, you can explore the idea of incorporating extra spices such as cayenne or smoked paprika, or even adding a hint of lime juice to the broth before cooking. If you desire more vegetables, consider mixing in some frozen peas or diced bell pepper.
Although not necessary for enhancing the flavor of the rice, I enjoy adding sliced green onions and lime wedges as garnish to my tomato rice.
Can I Use Brown Rice?
To successfully prepare tomato rice using long grain brown rice, it is important to note that it requires a higher amount of liquid and a longer simmer time compared to white rice (approximately 2-3 times longer). Although precise recommendations can only be determined through testing, it is indeed possible to adapt this recipe for long grain brown rice.
How to Store the Leftovers
To ensure quick cooling in the refrigerator and convenient freezing of leftovers, it is advisable to divide the rice into individual portions before refrigerating. Once the rice has cooled down completely, transfer it to an air-tight container before placing it in the freezer for extended storage.
To quickly reheat the tomato rice, simply pop it in the microwave. To prevent it from drying out, add a dash of water or an ice cube prior to reheating.
How to Make Tomato Rice – Step by Step Photos
To begin, mince two garlic cloves and finely dice one onion.
In a sauce pot, combine the onion and garlic with 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Cook over medium heat until the onions become soft and translucent.
Place 1.5 cups of long grain white rice into the pot, followed by ½ teaspoon of chili powder and ¼ teaspoon of cumin.
Continue cooking and stirring the rice and spices for a few more minutes until the rice and spices are slightly toasted.
To the pot, include a 15oz. can of petite diced tomatoes (including juices), 1 Tbsp tomato paste, 2 cups vegetable broth, and ½ tsp salt. Stir the mixture to combine and ensure any spices clinging to the bottom of the pot dissolve. It’s convenient to have frozen tomato paste readily available in one tablespoon servings, especially for recipes like this!
Cover the pot with a lid, increase the heat to high, and let the broth reach a full boil. Once it is boiling, decrease the heat to low (or slightly above low) to achieve a gentle simmer.
Allow the rice to simmer gently for a duration of 20 minutes, refraining from stirring or lifting the lid. Once the mentioned time elapses, carefully take the pot off the heat while ensuring the lid remains intact, and grant the rice a resting period of 5 minutes. Here is a depiction of the rice following the simmering process.
Use a fork to fluff the rice, ensuring that the diced tomatoes, which rise to the surface while the rice simmers, are evenly spread throughout.
Hot serving is preferred! Lime and green onion can be added as garnish, but it is not essential. The rice is delicious even without any additional toppings. 🙂
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