Mexican Fried Rice: A Hearty Meal in a Bowl Rich In Nutritions

Mexican fried rice or Spanish Rice as it is called in the United States was actually invented in a Mexican port city called Veracruz. Mexican Fried Rice like the North Indian or Punjabi cuisine is spicy i.e has red and green chillies, a bit of Rajma/kidney beans and loads of vegetables as is put in veg pulao - for that extra fibre. The slight difference lies in its use of olives and jalapenos. Both are equally delicious though and both are hearty meal in a bowl. 

The origin of Mexican cuisine goes back to 7000 BC when the nomadic tribes’ survival was dependent on hunting and gathering plants – the most commonly available being chili pepper. The cuisine that evolved eventually thus uses, even today, the freshest ingredients and minimal oil. Like Indian food, it uses spices and has lots of mouth watering flavours.

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Servings: 2

Mexican rice | Unsplash

Fried Rice

• 3 cups – Boiled Rice (made starch free by draining the water it was boiled in, after cooking)
• 2 tbsp – Oil 
• Salt to taste
• ¼ cup – Rajma (pre boiled) 
• 2 tbsp – Cloves Garlic (chopped)
• 1/4 cup – Carrot (chopped)
• 1/3 cup - Onion (chopped)
• ¼ cup – Corn Niblets 
• ¼ cup – Capsicum and red and yellow peppers (chopped)
• ½ tsp - Oregano 
• ½ tsp – Coriander Powder
• ½ tsp – Cumin Powder
• 1 tbsp – Kashmiri Chilli Powder 
• ½ cup - Fresh Tomato Puree 
• ¼ cup - Tomato (chopped)
• ½ tbsp – Coriander (chopped) 
• ½ tsp – Sugar 
• Handful – Olives 
• 1 tbsp – Jalapenos (chopped)
• handful - Coriander (chopped) 
• 1 tbsp – Lemon Juice

Mexican Tomato Salsa 

• 1 tsp – Green Chilli chopped 
• ¼ cup – Onion (Chopped) 
• ¾ cup – Tomato Puree (Chunky)
• ½ tsp - Salt
• 3- 4 tbsp – Tomato Ketchup 
• 2 tbsp – Lemon Juice
• Handful – Coriander leaves 

Method 

• In a large wok / kadai heat oil, and put in garlic cloves, onion, corn, carrot and Rajma (red kidney beans) and stir fry 
• Add the capsicum, red and yellow peppers and stir fry on high flame. But do not fully cook these 
• Add oregano, cumin seeds, coriander powder and Kashmiri Red Chilli powder
• Add Fresh Tomato puree and mix well until the moisture in the puree has dried up 
• Add a bit of salt and the cooked rice 
• Add fresh chopped tomato pieces and fresh coriander leaves and stalk 
• Add a pinch of sugar, some olives (optional) and jalapeno to add some spice
• Add lemon juice and toss without breaking the rice
• Add pepper and a bit of salt and stir fry for a 3-4 minutes
• And the Mexican rice is ready
• Take the chopped onion, green chilli, chunky tomato puree, salt, lemon juice, coriander leaves and mix them all together and your dip / sauce is ready

Mexican Fried Rice is a great choice of vegan diets as well because the regular refined oil can be replaced with plant based oils like - olive oil or coconut oil also.