What's a good spice to put on rice to match it with Mexican food?

[Tweed]

I don't want to do a lot, I just want to put one of my spices from my spice rack of 20 on the rice so it can go with a quesdila(sp?) I have left over. Suggestions?

[Polly Glot]

1. I am so NOT a cook but I would think cumin would work!

[chefgirl]

2. Chili Powder?

I agree with cumin too.

Also, cinnamon is always a nice compliment to Mexican food, if you want to go in a different direction.

-chef-

[yellowdogintexas]

3. cumin definitely, or a nice chili powder

but you should also try some minced cilantro (use like parsley)
It will pep up anything.

[vajraroshana]

11. you beat me to it

I was going to say cumin also. For a really nice flavor use about a half teaspoon of whole cumin seeds and first add butter and oil to the pan until hot, then add the seeds and let them sizzle for about a minute or until they're fragrant and darken a shade or two, then add uncooked rice and stir until all the grains are coated and they make a bit of a crackling sound then add water or stock.

And yes, once it's finished add a bit of cilantro.

Actually this is a classic technique from Indian cuisine, but it tastes wonderful with any Mexican or Tex-Mex food, or any Middle-Eastern food as well.

Cumin is such a wonderful versatile spice.

[supernova]

4. Chipotle chili peppers

You can get them already smoked, dried and reconstituted in a small can in the mex section at the grocery story. I would add that too, along with the fresh cilantro.

[XanaDUer]

5. Do your local stores sell Goya products? They are good and inexpensive.

They have a great and inexpensive all-purpose seasoning called Adobo. It has salt, granulated garlic, oregano, black pepper, and turmeric.

[mrbassman03]

6. Heck yeah! Goya stuff is amazing...

oh, and use cumin.

[XanaDUer]

7. Did you see my recipe for easy chicken curry in the other thread?

It's easy to make and tastes great. :hi:

[mrbassman03]

9. Yeah! I actually made it with friends tonight!

It was great. We added a little green and red peppers and some potatoes. I dunno if that is unorthodox, but it tasted great. Will do again. Thanks a ton for that recipe!

[XanaDUer]

13. Great!

YOu can pretty much add what you like. Glad you enjoyed it. Don't forget my easy chicken gyros recipe, either. :hi:

[NamVetsWeeLass]

20. Goya sazon with annato, but watch out it turns everything

(your skin included) BRIGHT ORANGE

[FuzzySlippers]

8. I really like tumeric.

It's the poor woman's saffron.

[curlyred]

10. lime, juice, chopped fresh cilantro and salt

I know none those are dried spices that would be on your rack, but this is my all time most favorite rice. :)

[pauliedangerously]

21. YUMMM!!!

I second that...also, cilantro is really easy to grow yourself.

[bearfan454]

12. comino and garlic powder n/t

[BlueHandDuo]

14. Turmeric, if you have it...

...it's called the "poor man's saffron" and it's just the little extra touch you're looking for. You'll have enough spiciness in the other food; you don't want the rice to be overpowering.

[HereSince1628]

15. Jalepeno isn't a spice but its flavor is right and

jalepeno goes fine with cheese.

Cilantro is an herb that I frequently put in my salsa fresco.

[franmarz]

16. Another good spice to add to the Mexican flavor

If you can find a spice called CHILI ANCHO POWDER it is a red powder, looks like chili powder, but definitely is not. It is the powder of dried chili ancho peppers, commonly called poblamo peppers when green in the stores, and ancho peppers when they are dried.
I use these dried peppers to make tamales every christmas. Instead of drying them, I soak them in water, and deskin them, making a paste. This is the sauce in tamales and is definitely a mexican taste. I have found it in bottles in the spice section of some grocery stores, but it is difficult to find sometimes.

[bearfan454]

17. Hi franmarz !

:hi:

Can you post your tamale recipe ?

[lukasahero]

18. Surprised no one's mentioned

saffron. I thought it was a rice/mexican staple?

[bearfan454]

19. Saffron is from Spain

It's the most expensive spice in the world.

[lukasahero]

23. My humblest apologies. eom

[Baja Margie]

22. Try

draining a can of Ortega green chiles, and add them to the cooked rice. Top with sprigs of cilantro.

Here is an authentic Mexican Rice recipe:

Red Rice

1 cup rice
2 TBLSP lard or
3 TBLSP corn oil
1 tomato pureed with 1/2 onion,
1 garlic clove, and salt & pepper
1 celery stalk
1 parsley sprig
1 & 1/3 cups chicken broth
Juice of 1/2 lime

Soak the rice in very hot water for 15 minutes. Drain it; rinse it in cold water; then drain very well. Saute the rice in the lard or corn oil until it sounds like sand when stirred in the pan. Add the tomato puree and saute until thickened. Add the celery, parsley, broth and lime juice. when the mixture comes to a boil,cover, reduce the heat and cook until tender - about 20 minutes. Discard celery and parsley before serving.

*********************************************************************

You can double it too !

[Frogtutor]

24. You could just stir in some salsa n/t