Spanish Rice (Quick and Easy)

At our house, we eat Mexican cuisine once or twice every week.  And we like to have Spanish rice and beans with our meals.

 Even when I was buying a mix on sale at $1.00 a package - I knew that I was wasting my money on processed food that I could make just as fast and with fresh ingredients.  So with some experimentation, I found that my version is actually better.  This recipe serves 4, (but you can easily double it to serve 8 without any problems), and leftovers keep very well in the refrigerator in a covered container.

You will need:
2 Tabs. oil
1/4  medium onion
1/4 green pepper
1 cup Minute rice
1 cup hot water
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 teas salt
1 teas black pepper
1 teas garlic powder
2 Tabs picante sauce, (you can use homemade)

Chop your green pepper into small pieces, and thinly slice your onion

It doesn't take much onion, (I only use 1/4 of a medium sized onion).
And, it only takes a small amount of sweet green pepper, (I use about 1/4 of a medium sized green pepper).

In a large skillet, heat 2 Tablespoons of oil over medium heat.  Add 1 cup of Minute rice.

 Add the onion and green pepper, and stir.

Cook until the rice browns and the onions and pepper are softened, (about 4 - 5 minutes), stirring every so often.

 Once the rice has browned, it will look like this.  (Browning the rice, helps bring out the nutty taste and enhance the flavor.)

Add 1 cup of HOT water.

 Add 1, (8 ounce), can of tomato sauce, stir well.

Add the garlic powder, pepper, and salt.  Stir everything well.

Add 2 Tablespoons picante sauce.  (You can add mild, medium, or hot - depending on your taste for heat).

 Stir well.  Bring the ingredients back to a boil.  Lower the heat, and simmer UNCOVERED for 5 minutes, until the rice is cooked.  (Everything will thicken up during the cooking process.)

And that quick, is how you can make your own Spanish rice for less than 50 cents, in only 5 minutes.

It's very tasty, and goes well with many dishes.  I no longer buy any packaged Mexican or Spanish rice.  We have had family taco, (or enchilada), night and all the kids and grand kids ask for seconds on the rice and beans.

Give this a try at your house.  You'll wonder, "why did I ever buy that high sodium, chemical loaded packaged store product?"


Enjoy!