Mexican Red Rice

In Mexico, rice means medium-grain Asian-style rice, not Spanish-style rice. Rice was first brought to Mexico by the Spanish from their colony in the Philippines. Though some rice is cultivated in Mexico, the country still imports its rice.

The goal when cooking Mexican rice is to end up with a light, fluffy dish in which the grain is imbued with flavor but still perfectly dry—not soupy or gooey. The technique used to achieve this result is not difficult, though it does call for a l