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If you have ever eaten at a Mexican restaurant, you have probably had a version of Mexican rice. This tomato and spice flavored rice has become a permanent fixture in Mexican cuisine. It was not always so, however. Rice did not grow in Mexico originally. It was introduced to Mexico from the Philippines. The Spanish found that rice grew very well around Veracruz and the rest is history.

Rice is a traditional food served at lunch in Mexico. It may be accompanied by fish or beans. The rice and beans that you find taking up half your plate at Mexican restaurants is not the way it is served in Mexico. Rice is also used for many other dishes besides this savory dish. It is used in desserts, pastries and horchata, which is a Mexican drink that is gaining in popularity around the world.

In Mexico, rice is often served in a pilaf style. What this means is the rice is browned before being simmered in broth. The rice is seasoned by adding carrots, peas, onions and other vegetables while the rice cooks. In some parts of Mexico, a creamier rice may be served that is similar to risotto.

A cazuela is a clay vessel that was traditionally used to cook rice. It gives the rice an earthy flavor. Rice is soaked first, drained, and then fried until it is brown. Broth or other liquid is added so the rice can simmer until it is done.

Mexican rice should be nice and fluffy. To get fluffy rice, you need to rinse the rice before cooking. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear. The water washes the extra starch off of the rice, which makes it sticky. You can also soak your rice ahead of time. This lessens your cooking time and helps the rice absorb more flavors during cooking. Long grain rice is preferred in Mexico, but medium grain rice also works very well.

Do not know what to do with leftover rice? Freeze it! Spread out a sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil and spread out the rice in a flat manner. Seal up the foil and stick it in the freezer. They stack very well and you do not need to thaw it to reheat. Just pop the foil packet into the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. You cannot get any easier than this!

When you choose a Mexican rice recipe, follow the directions carefully for the best results. You may be adding ingredients like olive oil, carrots, parsley, and chilies. They will add a lot of flavor to your finished meal. Serve up your rice with a simply prepared fish or other entre.

Taking the time to learn how to prepare Mexican rice will add a lot more authenticity to your Mexican cooking. With some practice, you will be able to make a nice Mexican rice without even thinking twice. Your family will love the richness of the flavor. It is a nice change from pasta or potatoes.

Looking for traditional Mexican recipes with a real authentic Mexican recipes flare try our selection of classically inspired Mexican dishes at MexicanFoodRecipes.org.

While you may be familiar with many methods of cooking used in Mexico, there are a few that you may want to learn about. Sure, you have grilled, fried, and boiled food before. But have you ever used a steaming bucket? What about a molcajete?

Steaming is a popular method in Mexican cookery. A dish known as barbacoa is cooked by wrapping meat in a cactus or banana leaf and steaming it over water that is boiling inside a pit. Steaming buckets are the traditional way to cook tamales. Steam keeps the masa on the outside of the filling moist. Today, many Mexican cooks use special kettles that allow them to cook many types of tamale at the same time. Sweating is another method used, especially to remove the skin on fresh chilies. Onions and chilies are also soaked frequently to make them a bit more mild. Letting them soak in milk or a water and vinegar solution for half an hour to an hour will remove some of the heat.

Are you still wondering about the molcajete? It is a mortar and pestle that is used to grind or mash herbs and other ingredients. A metate y mano is a large tool made of stone. It is made with a slight concave surface so corn and other ingredients can be ground. This was how corn was prepared to make masa.

Mexican cooks often simmer and boil their food. Vegetables and meat may be placed into a pot to slowly cook all day long. By dinner time, the meat is so tender it falls to pieces. The meat is then used for carnitas, tacos, and many other recipes.

Mexico is known for its grilled dishes. Cooking over an open flame adds so much to meats and vegetables. Many dishes require the meat to be marinated in spices and peppers before grilling. The results are then incorporated into many different recipes. Roasting and grilling increases the flavor of onions, chilies, tomatoes, and garlic. It causes the sugars in these foods to caramelize, resulting in intense flavor.

Stewing is a traditional method of cooking that has been used in Mexico since time immemorial. The long cooking times needed for proper stewing were common. At times, the vegetables and meats were cooked separately and then combined for further simmering before serving. Today, this is often done in a Dutch oven. In days gone by, this was done in a clay cazuela.

When you want to try some quick authentic Mexican recipes, think about what methods may appeal to you in your own kitchen. Learning new techniques is fun and expands your abilities in the kitchen. Do not be afraid to make a mistake or two. Your family will love trying new things that you make in the kitchen, especially if you are making Mexican food.

As you can see, there is so much to learn about Mexican foods. Their cooking methods of developing the delicious flavors in the food make this a never ending topic of interest for many.

If you enjoy making Mexican dishes, we have plenty of Mexican recipes at MexicanFoodRecipes.org including Mexican beef casserole, Spicy Mexican torte, baked chicken burritos and many more. Whether or not you have Mexican cooking pots, these typical Mexican foods are easy to make, even for beginner cooks, and they all taste divine.

Mexican herbs and spices truly make the meal. Without these ingredients, a Mexican recipe would be no different than many others. These herbs and spices give their all to make Mexican food the culinary delight that it is. It pays to learn a bit about them.

Probably the most well known seasoning in Mexico is chile powder. This is made by mixing many different chilies that have been dried and ground. Chilies are also used fresh or roasted. Chipotle is made from jalapeno peppers that have been smoked and dried. Ancho is made from a chile with a sweet, fruity flavor. Many commercial chile powders that are found at the store are made of a combination of chilies, salt, oregano, garlic, coriander, and cumin.

Epazote is an herb that you can grow in your garden. Some call it Mexican tea. This herb is traditionally used in bean dishes to not only add flavor but to help digestive upsets that beans can cause. A few leaves are added while the beans are cooking. Be careful when you use epazote because it is very potent. Large quantities of this herb can be toxic.

Annatto seeds give food a distinctive flavor and a yellow coloring. It is often used in rice dishes and sauces. The seeds should be soaked in water for at least an hour. After soaking, they are crushed. Sometimes recipes call for the water that the seeds were soaked in; others call for the seeds themselves. They are often used in marinades along with other spices.

Cilantro is a popular herb that resembles flat leaf parsley. They are actually the leaves produced by the coriander plant. This herb is always used fresh. The flavor is tangy with a pungent quality that really makes a dish sing. It adds a nice bright note to rice, moles, salsas, beans, soups and stews.

The seeds of the cumin plant are often used in Mexican cooking. Cumin seeds can be used ground into powder or whole. It is often used with chile powder to create a nice balance in the flavors. Soups, stews and many other dishes are better after you add cumin. Azafran, also known as safflower or Mexican saffron, adds flavor and color to a dish, making it a beautiful yellow. This spice is used sparingly because it can be bitter. It is frequently added to rice or seafood.

If you study authentic Mexican food recipes you will see these spices used frequently, along with others such as thyme and oregano. In Mexico, they have a unique type of oregano that is earthier in flavor than Italian oregano. You can find this Mexican oregano in some herb catalogs. Unless you live in an area with a large Mexican population, it may be difficult to find it in local nurseries or grocery stores.

Understanding how to develop the flavors of Mexico will involve learning about the spices and herbs they use in cooking. That authentic Mexican flavor you want cannot be developed without them. Use these spices the right way and you will find your recipes turn out better than ever. Learning how to use these spices will change your cooking for the better.

Learn the truth about Mexican food history and find out more about the wonderful recipes that make MexicanFoodRecipes.org a favorite with the whole family.