The things you learn! TIP: an addendum to Arroz a la Mexicana, or the Mexican Rice Recipe in T&T

M

michael-in-phoenix

Well-known member
After years of having inconsistent results from this favorite rice dish, I have now prepared three times in a row, perfect rice.

Now, don't get me wrong. Even when the Mexican Rice is sticky and not exactly perfect, my family still inhales it, and I'm the only one who notices. But, every now and then the rice comes out great. I have no idea why this happens.

I've tried a number of tips. I've rinsed the rice in a sieve before cooking. I've wrapped towels around the rim of the stock pot. I've increased/decreased the liquid component. I've increased/decreased the temperature and increased/decreased the cooking time. Still, no definitive way to achieve the end result I desire: fluffy, un-sticky, delicious Mexican Rice. Can you feel my pain?

One day I wanted to make Mexican Rice. The 10 qt. stock pot I usually make it in was in the fridge, full of chicken soup. I had to sub another cooking vessel. I chose a 5 qt. saute pan with 4" straight sides. It had a tight fitting lid. It had a thick, sandwiched aluminum pad on the bottom. It was a good quality stainless steel pan. I proceeded, but not without a bit of trepidation.

Silly huh? It's a dear recipe, and one I really want to perfect, and not mess up.

Guess what? I didn't rinse the rice. I didn't wrap towels around the edges and I made the recipe just as it is written (with my changes, in T&T) -no adjustments to time, temp., liquid, etc.

It came out great! Best rice I've ever made. And the second time. And the third!

All I did was stir the rice in the 10th to 15th minute, and again in the 25th minute. Just enough to re-distribute the contents well. I checked it at 35 minutes and let it go a few minutes more (maybe 3 minutes more) and it was awesome. Fluffy, flavorful and exactly what I wanted all these years.

Am I a kook?

Michael

http://www.finerkitchens.com/swap/forum13/46_ARROZ_A_LA_MEXICANA_MEXICAN_RICE__Michael

 
nope, you're not a kook!

Delia Smith (goddess of British cooking), in her How to Cook series, teaches that the way to make rice is in a large saute pan.
cheers, Bonnie

 
I'm beginning to see why the word, "cook" is so close to the word, "kook". I spend too much time...

...stressing over stuff that means little or nothing to my family and friends, in the pursuit of an ideal I have sticking in my mind.

Sure, I admit there's a substantial perfectionistic streak in my personality -at least where food prep is concerned, but it scares me a little when I stress over something as simple as a rice dish.

This tendency toward perfectionism peaks at the holidays. I have learned to make a strong effort to not let it get to me, and I've been successful, I think. Perhaps some of the success I've had keeping my head in the game at the holidays might work well the rest of the year, in some measure.

Well, at least the rice will be good.

Michael

 
Michael, I'm a perfectionist too and I consider it a disorder, lol. Not that there's anything wrong

with wanting things as good as possible, it's accepting the "as possible" part that we have trouble with. In reality, on your worst day, you're a better cook than most.

Are you old enough to remember those Minute Rice commercials, "Perfect rice every time, because it's NEVER BOILED!" They convinced an entire generation that 1) perfect rice existed, and that 2) cooking rice was difficult. After growing up with Minute Rice, which tastes like the cardboard box it comes in, anyone would be lining up for imperfect Arroz a la Mexicana.

I never understood why Mexican Rice recipes call for washing the rice first. I started having success when I skipped the rinse, but as you said, it always got eaten no matter what.

 
I do remember those commercials, and I think you've nailed it, Dr. Joe.

My Mom never cooked real rice, only Minute Rice. Ick. With margarine. Ick again.

Even drowned in brown gravy and beef tips it still tasted like styrofoam pellets.

I do remember the ads suggesting that no anglo mortal could ever cook rice properly, and they really beat that into our heads (tv addicts that we are). That must be it!

Good job,

Michael

 
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