Texas Style Spanish Rice Recipe

Name: Texas Style Spanish Rice Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons Oil; 2 Tablespoons Chopped Onion; 2 Cloves Garlic; 1 Cups Uncooked White Rice; 2 Cups Water; 1 Cup Picante Sauce; 1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds; 1 Teaspoon Salt; 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper; 1 Teaspoons Cayenne Pepper

Recipe Pin

Texas Style Spanish Rice is for those days when you want something delicious without much labor. I have been making this one-pot dish for centuries, which has always been a delight. Made with only five ingredients and in under 30 minutes, you cannot name a more filling dish than this.

I mean, who doesn’t love rice? It is cheap, versatile, and keeps cravings away for hours. Being an Asian, I love my rice. I also wanted to experiment with rice recipes and stumbled upon this one. This recipe is simple, homemade, and well-seasoned, which makes it suitable for people of all ages.

Texas-style Spanish Rice is an easy recipe. It’s just an upgraded version of regular white rice filled with flavor. If you are not a fan of fried rice, then this is something different you can try. The result is more fluffy, flavourful rice that you can store for days.

When you can make Texas-style Spanish rice as easily as pot rice, why would you not try this? I know I would. Moreover, it is a healthy option to enjoy. So, try it right away.

What's In The Post

Equipment Required

Saucepan: Since this is a one-pan recipe, I will use only a saucepan.
Spatula: I am using a spatula to toss and twirl everything together.
Bowls: This is a quick recipe, so I like to keep everything ready in medium-sized bowls so I can cook it in one go.

Texas Style Spanish Rice Ingredients & Substitutions

Note: The ingredients in this recipe serve up to 3 people. You can increase or decrease the quantity in more or fewer proportions.

2 Tablespoons Oil: I like to use olive oil or peanut oil for this recipe since it adds a nice flavor to the rice.
2 Tablespoons Chopped Onion
2 Cloves of Garlic: You can also use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic.
1 Cups Uncooked White Rice: You can also use brown rice, but remember it takes longer to cook.
2 Cups Water: You can also use vegetable broth or dashi for a different taste profile.
1 Cup Picante Sauce: If you don’t have this, you can use salsa or pico de gallo.
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 Teaspoon Salt: I have used regular salt; you can also use kosher or rock salt.
1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
1 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

Preparation & Cooking Time

Preparation Time	Cooking Time	Total Time
10 Minutes	30 Minutes	40 Minutes

How To Make Texas Style Spanish Rice At Home

Step 1

Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat.

Step 2

Add onion and garlic; and cook until tender for about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Now add cumin to the pan.

Step 4

Season it with salt and pepper and mix it well.

Step 5

Then, add rice to the pan and let it cook for some time.

Step 6

Further, season it with cayenne pepper.

Step 7

Now for the Mexican twist, add picante sauce and combine it evenly.

Step 8

Add a cup of water to the saucepan.

Step 9

Let it simmer until the rice is cooked properly.

Step 10

Once the water has been fully absorbed, the rice is ready and perfectly cooked.

Step 11

Garnish it with coriander and serve to enjoy.

Expert Tips That I Recommend

I like Texas-style Spanish rice because it is simple and delicious. But you are always free to experiment. You can turn it into an acai bowl by adding more veggies, protein, nuts, and cheese.
Whenever I cook rice, I like to rinse it at least 2-3 times beforehand. Yes, it is an Asian habit, but it also helps remove the extra starch from the rice, which can make it sticky if not removed.
Since rice is the main hero ingredient in this recipe, I like to use long-grained rice. It gets fluffy quickly, while short-grained rice is often mushy and sticky.

Faq About Texas Style Spanish Rice

Why is your Texas-style Spanish rice so mushy?

If you overcook your Texas-style Spanish rice, it will turn out mushy. Do not overcook it; this will destroy the texture you want in your Spanish rice. Stay aware of the water-to-rice ratio, avoid high heat for long durations, and avoid overcooking.

Why is your Texas-style Spanish rice so hard?

To avoid overcooking, adding insufficient water while cooking the rice will result in hard Texas-style Spanish rice. This is because the rice will not get enough water to boil. Moreover, if you are using high heat, the water evaporates before the rice gets time to cook, which again makes your rice hard.

Can I use water to make Texas-style Spanish rice?

I don’t recommend making rice with plain water, as this can remove the flavors. Instead, go for vegetable broth or chicken stock, as the rice absorbs it over time, making it more flavorful.

Can I use cooked rice to make Texas-style Spanish rice?

No, you cannot use cooked rice to make this recipe. You need to use uncooked rice to better absorb the picante sauce and chicken broth. On the other hand, cooked rice cannot absorb the flavors well, making this recipe quite unappetizing.

Can you make your own Picante sauce at home?

Yes, you can make your own picante sauce at home. Add chipotle peppers, tomatoes, chili peppers, jalapenos, onion, and garlic to a food processor and blend until smooth enough. Add it to a pan and add cumin, cayenne powder, salt, pepper, apple cider vinegar, and a small lime. Let it boil at low heat for 5 minutes, and your picnic sauce is ready at home.

How can Texas-style Spanish rice be made more flavourful?

You can make Texas-style Spanish rice more flavourful by adding fresh herbs like rosemary, oregano, thyme, and basil. Also, use vegetable or chicken stock instead of plain water, as plain water will make your Spanish rice bland.

How do you decide how many cups of water to add to rice?

Usually, you should add 2 cups of water for 1 cup of rice while cooking rice. This allows the rice to be perfect every time. Although the measurement for this recipe is mentioned, you can follow the same rule if you want to double or triple it.

Nutritional Serving Per Recipe

What I love even more about this Texas-style Spanish rice is that it is entirely healthy to enjoy. It is low in fat and calories; hence, people can consume it as part of a balanced diet daily. To get deeper insights, take a look at the nutritional chart below:

Calories	72 kcal
Fat	6 g
Saturated Fat	0.4 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	2 g
Monounsaturated Fat	4 g
Trans Fat	0.02 g
Cholesterol	2 mg
Sodium	690 mg
Potassium	157 mg
Carbohydrates	4 g
Fiber	2 g
Sugar	3 g
Protein	1 g
Iron	0.3 g
Vitamin A	252 IU
Vitamin C	1 mg

Another good thing about this recipe is that it is entirely soy, nut, dairy, gluten, and keto-free. Hence, people following these diets can have them without any restriction. On the other hand, people following vegan and vegetarian diets need to make specific changes first.

Recipe Variations For Different Diets

Vegan Diet: Unfortunately, this dish is not vegan because it contains chicken broth. But when I want to make it vegan, I skip the chicken broth and use vegetable broth instead.
Vegetarian Diet: So you want to make it vegetarian? If yes, swap chicken broth for vegetable broth and enjoy.

Storing & Reheating This Recipe

Storing

Countertop: Once my Texas-style Spanish rice is ready, I do not leave it on the countertop for more than an hour. It tastes best when served right away. After one hour, it goes straight to the fridge for further storage.
Refrigeration: I like to store my leftover Texas-style Spanish rice in the fridge. I let it cool down completely, then store it in an airtight container for about 2-3 days.
Freezing: To preserve your Texas-style Spanish rice even longer, you can freeze it. Transfer the leftovers to a freezer-safe bag; they will stay fresh for up to 3 months.

Reheating

Skillet: I like to use a skillet to reheat my Texas-style Spanish rice because it is convenient. I start by adding the leftovers to a skillet and tossing them over medium heat until they are warm.
Microwave: When I have small portions of Texas-style Spanish rice to reheat, I like to use my microwave. To do this, I transfer the rice to a microwave-friendly bowl, cover it with a paper towel or aluminum foil, and heat it at medium heat for about 30 seconds. After this, I stir it well, and if more heat is needed, I follow it up with 10-second increments. You can also add a teaspoon of water to the bowl to prevent the rice from drying out too much.

What To Serve With This Recipe

If you have no idea what to serve with, you can serve Texas-style Spanish rice topped with Salmon. Since this is a Mexican dish, I also like to keep the Mexican flavors alive by adding them to a Burrito or Taco Salad. Additionally, pair it with Mutton Stew, Iranian Curry, or Chicken Curry.

Printable Version

More Rice Recipes That You Can Try

Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe — Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

Syrian Rice With Toasted Almonds — Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

Conclusion

If you have only been trying crazy appetizers, lunch, and dinner ideas at home, it is time to try rice recipes. This is your sign to bring rice delicacies home with this Texas-style Spanish Rice.

I know rice can get boring, which is why I love this spin-off version. It is easy to make, kids and adults will love it, and it can be customized in various ways.

Moreover, if you love rice, I know you are pumped to try this recipe. It hardly takes 30 minutes, and you can prepare it for days. So, try it, and let me know in the comments below how it turned out. I would love to hear what you think about this new way of cooking rice.