Mexican rice—sometimes called Spanish rice—is that vibrant, tomato-flecked side dish you get alongside burritos and tacos, and it's easy to recreate at home using your rice cooker. Traditionally the rice is toasted in oil before the liquid goes in, which builds a nutty, deeper flavour than plain white rice. With one extra step before you set the machine going, you can bring that same flavour to a completely hands-off rice cooker method.
What Makes Mexican Rice Different
Rather than simply simmering rice in water, Mexican rice is cooked in a seasoned liquid built from tomato, onion, garlic, and stock, with cumin and chilli powder giving it warmth and depth. The rice itself is usually toasted lightly in oil first, which firms up the outside of each grain so it holds together and picks up flavour rather than turning gluggy in all that liquid.
If your rice cooker has a sauté or browning function, you can toast the rice directly in the pot before adding the rest of the ingredients. If it doesn't, simply toast the rice in a frying pan on the stovetop for a few minutes, then transfer it straight into the rice cooker's inner pot.
Ingredients
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
- 1/2 brown onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup tomato passata or puree
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Fresh coriander and lime wedges, to serve
Method
- Toast the rice. Heat the oil in a frying pan (or your rice cooker's inner pot, if it has a sauté function) over medium heat. Add the rice and stir constantly for 3-4 minutes, until the grains turn slightly opaque and take on a light golden colour and a toasty aroma. Don't let it brown too far or catch on the bottom.
- Add the onion and garlic and cook for another minute or two, stirring, until the onion has softened slightly and everything is fragrant.
- Transfer the toasted rice mixture to your rice cooker's inner pot if you toasted it separately in a pan.
- Add the tomato passata, stock, cumin, chilli powder, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt. Stir everything together so the rice is evenly coated in the liquid.
- Close the lid and select the white rice setting. Let the cycle run through without lifting the lid.
- Once it switches to "keep warm," let it rest for 5-10 minutes before opening the lid. This allows any remaining liquid to be fully absorbed.
- Fluff with a rice paddle, taste, and adjust the salt if needed.
- Serve topped with fresh coriander and a squeeze of lime.
If you're toasting the rice in a separate frying pan, let it cool slightly before adding it to your rice cooker's inner pot, and take care transferring hot oil—especially if your inner pot has a non-stick coating that could be affected by a very hot pan being set down on it.
Getting the Liquid Ratio Right
Because you're using a combination of stock and tomato passata rather than plain water, keep your total liquid at roughly the same ratio you'd use for regular white rice—around 1:1.5 (rice to total liquid). If your passata is particularly thick, you may want to add a splash of extra stock or water to keep the consistency close to what your rice cooker expects for a normal cook cycle.
Serving Suggestions
- As a side dish alongside grilled chicken, carne asada, or any Mexican-inspired main
- Stuffed into burritos along with beans, cheese, and your protein of choice
- Piled into tacos as a base layer under the filling
- Topped with avocado, sour cream, and extra lime for a simple rice bowl
- Toast the rice in oil first—either in the cooker's sauté function or a separate pan—for deeper flavour
- Use tomato passata and stock in place of plain water, keeping the total liquid ratio close to 1:1.5
- Cumin, chilli powder, and a touch of smoked paprika give the dish its classic warmth
- Let the rice rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking before fluffing and serving
- Serve as a side, or use as a base for burritos and tacos
This tomato-rich, gently spiced rice is a simple way to bring a Mexican-inspired meal together without extra stovetop juggling. Once the ingredients are in the pot, your rice cooker takes care of the rest, leaving you free to focus on the rest of the meal.
Ingredient Swaps and Variations
Canned Tomatoes Instead of Passata
If you don't have passata on hand, a can of diced or crushed tomatoes works well as a substitute—just blitz it briefly with a stick blender or fork-mash it for a smoother texture, and reduce the stock slightly to account for the extra liquid in the tin.
Adding Vegetables
A handful of frozen corn kernels or peas stirred through before cooking adds colour and texture without any extra effort. Diced capsicum sautéed alongside the onion and garlic is another popular addition that brings a little sweetness and crunch to the finished dish.
Making It Spicier
If you like more heat, add a finely diced jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne pepper along with the other spices, or stir through a spoonful of chipotle in adobo for a smokier, deeper heat.
Why Toasting the Rice Matters
Skipping the toasting step is tempting when you want a truly hands-off dish, but it makes a noticeable difference to both flavour and texture. Toasting coats each grain in a thin layer of oil and lightly seals the surface, which helps the rice hold its shape through the longer cooking time needed to absorb all that tomato-based liquid. Untoasted rice cooked the same way tends to turn softer and can clump together more than you'd like in a proper Mexican rice.
If you're short on time and want to skip the toasting step entirely, the dish will still taste good—just expect a slightly softer texture. It's a reasonable trade-off on a busy weeknight.
Pairing Ideas
This rice is a natural side for grilled or shredded chicken, beef mince tacos, or a simple bean and cheese quesadilla. For a heartier one-bowl meal, top it with black beans, grilled corn, diced avocado, a dollop of sour cream, and a scattering of fresh coriander—essentially a burrito bowl built straight from your rice cooker.