Red Rice

staple, spring, summer, autumn, vegetarian, vegan
Mexican
Yield: 2
Author: Katie Schenk
Red Rice

Red Rice

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 35 Min

Deeply savoury, lightly spiced, and far more interesting than plain rice could ever hope to be, this red rice belongs beside almost everything. The toasted jasmine rice and tomato-rich base give it the sort of flavour that quietly steals attention from the main dish, which frankly feels deserved.

Ingredients

  • 1½ tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 cup jasmine rice
  • ¼ onion, diced
  • ¼ red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, diced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ¼ cup tomato sauce
  • 1¼ cups water
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable bouillon powder, roughly half a cube
  • ¼ teaspoon chilli powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 pinch sugar
  • ½ lime, juiced
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro (coriander), chopped

Instructions

  1. Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs mostly clear, then drain well.
  2. Heat the canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the rice and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the grains look lightly golden and smell slightly nutty. Add the onion and red bell pepper and cook for 2 minutes until softened slightly, then stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook for another minute, stirring constantly, until the tomato paste darkens slightly in colour.
  3. Add the tomato sauce, water, vegetable bouillon powder, chili powder, cumin, oregano, bay leaf, kosher salt, and sugar. Stir well and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.
  4. Remove from the heat and leave the rice covered for 10 minutes before fluffing with a fork. Discard the bay leaf, then stir through the lime juice and cilantro just before serving.

Costs

Total Cost: $2.08

Cost per Serving: $1.04

Costs calculated in May 2026 in Cleveland, USA using ingredients from Aldi, with the exception of oil from Thrive Market and bouillon from Whole Foods.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

470

Fat

11 g

Sat. Fat

1 g

Carbs

83 g

Fiber

3 g

Net carbs

80 g

Sugar

5 g

Protein

8 g

Sodium

881 mg

Cholesterol

0 mg

Nutritional information is an estimate only, and depends on the ingredients you use.

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