Mexican food has its distinctive flavor and appeal.
Some Mexican dishes are comfort foods and waistline-friendly, whereas others dribble in fats and calories.
There are plenty of healthy Mexican recipes you can count on for fiber, vitamins, minerals, and energy boosts.
But few know about Mexican or red rice’s health and nutrition value.
Novice eaters may not know the composition of Mexican rice.
Tomatoes, garlic, onions, white rice, and broth are the main ingredients that give it a softer and melt-in-your-mouth taste.
In Mexico, the rice is addressed as Arroz(rice) or Arroz Rojo(red rice).
This Mexican dish can be a good option for health-conscious souls.
Here are some health benefits of red rice for your knowledge and curiosity.
Rich In Fiber
Although fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, Mexican rice is also a source of dietary fiber.
One serving of Mexican rice gets you 1.4 g of dietary fiber that plays an essential role in maintaining healthy digestion and bowel movements and prevents severe ailments like heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer.
A balanced intake of fiber-rich Mexican rice promotes good health and well-being.
To cook a zesty and flavorful recipe for Mexican rice, you need long-grained rice, sauteed tomatoes, lots of veggies, seasonings, salt, and water to make the rice tender and fluffy.
Serve the home-cooked red rice all by itself or with your favorite side dishes like fresh salad and quesadilla.
Put lemon wedges or sprinkle cilantro for added taste.
Vitamin C Source
Most of us usually associate lemons and oranges with vitamin C. Expand your horizon as Mexican rice is a healthy and surprising addition to vitamin C-rich foods.
In one serving of Mexican rice, you get about 26.7 mg of vitamin C. Brilliant, isn’t it?
The vitamin C in red rice helps you achieve a healthier body. It also protects your body against infections and boosts your immunity.
Include Mexican rice as a weekly staple diet and for parties and celebrations to help your guests benefit from this classic and easy-to-make recipe.
You may further add green peppers and tomato sauce to Mexican rice cooking to get an added benefit.
Plenty Of Minerals
That Mexican rice has a stable source of minerals may seem hard to believe. In reality, red rice has calcium, potassium, and iron in impressive quantities.
It has 28.5 mg of calcium and 239.3 mg of potassium.
These minerals help promote body function.
Calcium mineral takes the lead in encouraging strong bones formation and ideal bone density. Potassium does its part in supporting cardiovascular health.
Iron is elementary in promoting red blood cells in the body. Isn’t this a valuable benefit of Mexican rice?
Put your picky children on a diet of red rice and see how their body’s mineral count and overall health improves.
Weight Loss Aid
White rice is a refined grain with starch and carbohydrates that add to the waistline.
Mexican rice can be a promising option for those who are on diet plans.
Red rice has no fat and cholesterol in it. Besides, it has fiber that helps control the appetite and reduces hunger pangs.
So, you can count on this low-fat dish for everyday consumption.
To eat a balanced diet, consider eating equal portions of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Try to include zero-calorie foods like cucumber, watermelon, green tea in your diet to help you optimize weight loss.
You may nibble dry fruits like almonds before meals to control your hunger.
Prevents Anemia
Apart from health-promoting vitamins and minerals, Mexican rice is rich in iron.
This contributes to the body’s red blood cell (RBCs) production.
As a result, it can avert anemia. Iron foods consumption is essential for people of all ages as lack of this nutrient can cause fatigue, weakness, and anemia.
Aside from natural foods available, you can also consume iron supplements prescribed by your doctor whenever you suffer from iron deficiency and anemia.
Excess iron supplements can cause side effects such as upset stomach, dark stool, heartburn, constipation.
If you have mild anemia, your doctor will prescribe you animal-based iron foods like red meat, poultry, and seafood.
Tips For Consuming Mexican Rice
Here are the ingredients to consider to make light, fluffy, and flavor-infused Mexican rice.
Basmati rice: Basmati grains commonly available at grocery stores are long and slender and have a nutty flavor. When cooked, the individual grains remain distinct instinct of sticking together or getting clumpy. Basmati rice also reheats well and remains fluffy on Day 2.
Olive oil: The right cooking oil can enhance the red rice flavor. Olive oil is best for this recipe.
Onion: Go no further than a half onion (medium-sized) in Mexican rice preparation. You can also choose onion powder as a substitute.
Jalapenos: Use 1-3 jalapenos, preferably minced, to bring in a spicy tinge. If you want to make it spicier, add jalapeno seeds after tasting the finished Mexican rice. You can substitute fresh jalapenos with cayenne pepper.
Chicken broth: Use low-sodium chicken broth to control the salt in the recipe.
Tomato sauce: To get the signature tomato flavor, use one cup of sauce made from ripe tomatoes instead of tomato broth.
Garlic cloves: Three minced garlic cloves would be ideal. You may substitute fresh garlic cloves with one teaspoon garlic powder.
Seasonings: Round out the flavor profile with ground cumin, ground coriander, dried oregano, chili powder, smoked paprika, and salt.
Fire-roasted tomatoes: They give a wonderful smoky flavor to the side dish and are sweeter with less acidity than regular tomatoes.
Canned green chilies: You may explore canned green chilies instead of raw to lessen the spiciness in the final dish.
Consider adding tomato bouillon available in cubes or powder form for added taste.
The Bottom Line
Rinse and drain Mexican rice thoroughly to remove excess starch and stickiness.
Toast the rice with onions and jalapenos to develop a nutty flavor.
Tomato bouillon turns the rice into characteristic orange color so buy it from a grocery store.