Spanish Rice with Blended Tomato
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Toast the rice until golden, then pour in the blended tomato, onion and garlic and listen to it hiss. Twenty minutes covered and five to rest, and the pot holds fluffy orange-red rice, every grain toasted gold.
The short version
Toast 1 cup of rice in oil until golden, stir in a blended tomato, onion and garlic mixture until it sizzles and thickens, add broth and spices, then cover and cook on low for 20 minutes. Rest 5 minutes and fluff.
What makes ours better
what we fixed so you don’t have to
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Toast the rice until golden. Browning the dry grains in oil gives a nutty flavor and helps the rice cook up fluffy and separate instead of sticky.
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Blend the tomato, onion and garlic. A smooth base colors every grain evenly and spreads the flavor through the pot, with no chunks to pick around.
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Fry the tomato mixture before the broth. Cooking the blended mixture in the hot pan for a couple of minutes reduces the raw taste and deepens the flavor.
What you need
the usual suspects
- Canned diced tomatoes1 cup
- Yellow onion¼ medium
- Garlic2 cloves
- Chicken broth1½ cups
- Paprika½ teaspoon
yes, all of the butter
Steps
deep breath. you’ve got this.
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Blend the tomato base
Put the drained tomatoes, onion and garlic in a blender and blend until smooth. You should have about 1 cup.
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Toast the rice
Heat the oil in a large skillet or saucepan with a tight lid over medium heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring often, for 4 to 6 minutes, until most of the grains are golden brown and smell nutty.
Stir constantly toward the end. The rice goes from golden to burnt fast.
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Fry the tomato mixture
Pour in the blended tomato mixture. It will sizzle and spatter, so stand back. Cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes, until it thickens and coats the rice.
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Add the broth and spices
Stir in the broth, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, stir once, then cover and reduce the heat to low.
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Cook until absorbed
Cook for 20 to 25 minutes without lifting the lid, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. If the rice is still firm and the pan is dry, add 2 tablespoons of hot water, cover, and cook 3 more minutes.
About 22 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
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Rest and fluff
Take the pan off the heat and let it stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork to mix in the tomato that has risen to the top, and stir in the cilantro. Taste and add salt if needed.
About 5 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
Good to know
the stuff I’d tell you over the phone
- For a smoky, savory version, cook 2 chopped bacon slices in the pan first, then use 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat in place of the oil.
- Add a diced green bell pepper with the rice, or ½ jalapeño to the blender, for more heat and flavor.
- Use a pan that fits the rice in a layer about 1½ inches deep. A pan that's too wide makes the rice cook unevenly.
- Storage. Refrigerate in a covered container up to 4 days. Freeze up to 2 months. Reheat with a splash of water, covered, in the microwave or a skillet.
Questions, answered
the questions my cousins text me
What is the difference between Spanish rice and Mexican rice?
In the US the names are used for the same dish: rice toasted in oil and cooked with tomato. This version is the tomato-orange rice served at Tex-Mex restaurants.
Why is my Spanish rice mushy?
Usually too much liquid, too much stirring, or lifting the lid. Measure the broth, stir once, cover, and leave it alone. Toasting the rice also helps.
Can I use fresh tomatoes?
Yes. Use 2 medium tomatoes, quartered, in place of the canned tomatoes and blend as written. The color will be a little paler.
Can I make Spanish rice in the oven?
Yes. Use an ovenproof pot, and after adding the broth, cover and bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes, then rest 5 minutes.
Can I use tomato sauce instead?
Yes. Use ½ cup tomato sauce and skip the blending. Use 1½ cups broth and keep the rest the same.
How do I keep Spanish rice from sticking to the pan?
Use enough oil, a pan with a tight lid, and low heat once the broth goes in. Don't stir after covering.
From the table
Made it? Tell me everything. Especially if somebody said it was better than their mother’s. I’ll keep your secret.
Made it?
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Published October 29, 2026.