Spanish Rice

Yields: 4 serving(s) Prep Time: 10 mins Total Time: 45 mins Cal/Serv: 366

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice, lightly rinsed, patted dry
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more
• 1 1/4 tsp. Sazón seasoning
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 3/4 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• Fresh cilantro leaves, for serving

Directions

• Use a medium saucepan over medium heat to sweat the onions until soft and translucent. This should take about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for about 2 minutes while stirring frequently until softened and fragrant.
• Add rice, stirring frequently, until toasted and lightly golden, about 6 minutes, before adding the broth, tomatoes, salt, Sazón, oregano, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne. Stir this mixture until evenly distributed. Increase heat to high, bring to a boil. Cover with a lid and reducing heat to low. Simmer for about 18-20 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed into the rice.
• Once liquid is absorbed, remove the saucepan from the heat. Cover the saucepan with a clean towel and its lid, then let the rice rest for 5–10 minutes.

Notes

• Toast the rice before cooking. Toasting the rice in olive oil, onion, and garlic will amp up the flavor of the rice in addition to slightly reducing the cooking time and keeping the rice grains from clumping together. The rice should be toasted until it starts to smell nutty and fragrant, about 5 minutes. To make sure the rice toasts evenly, spread it on a sheet tray after rinsing so that it dries evenly before toasting.
• Allow your rice to rest. To keep the dreamy rice texture we all crave instead of a mushy or undercooked pot of grains, the rice should be allowed to rest and gently steam for 5 to 10 minutes after it’s cooked. Simply cover the pot with a clean kitchen towel and a lid, and let it sit before fluffing it with a fork and adding the cilantro.