Veg Mexican Rice

 Mexican Rice , also known as red rice, is a spicy rice meal that originated in Mexico. Rice cooked with tomatoes , onion , garlic and spices. Usually, mexican rice is made with chicken broth, making a non vegeterian dish. I have tried this mexican rice in vegeterian way, by adding only veggies, tomato puree, onion and spices. The taste was very good and spicy lovers would definitely like it. 

INGREDIENTS:

Basmati Rice - 1/3 cup

Tomato - 1 medium sized

Onion - 1/2 cup finely chopped

Carrot - 1/2 no chopped fine

Red ,Yellow bell pepper - 3/4 cup chopped fine

Green peas - 1/4 cup

Garlic - 3 to 4 pods

Water - 1 cup 

Salt - as required

Chilli powder - 3/4 teaspoon( Adjust according to your spice level)

Pepper powder - 1/4 teaspoon

Cumin powder - 1/4 teaspoo

Oregano - 1 teaspoon

Oil - 1 teaspoon

Butter - 1 teaspoon

METHOD:

1. Soak basmati rice in cold water for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, Chop all the vegetables finely and set aside.

2. In a pan, take some water. Once it starts boiling, add a whole tomato and let it boil for couple of minutes. You can see, the skin of tomato getting peeled off. Remove the skin, and grind the tomatoes along with red chilli powder in to a puree. 

3. In a flat pan, add oil and butter. Once it gets heated, add garlic and after some time add onions. Saute , till they turn transparent . Then add required salt, pepper, cumin powder and mix well.

4.  Now add the soaked basmatic rice and mix it without breaking the rice. Toast the rice for about 2 minutes on medium flame.

5. Now add the vegetables. Also add the tomato puree , oregano and mix well. Also add 1 cup of water. When it all starts to boil, keep the flame to sim and cover with lid . Let it cook for about 20 minutes in slow flame. 

6. After 20 minutes, the rice cooked well. Now garnish with some coriander leaves. Mexican rice is ready!