Take This Extra Step For More Flavorful Mexican Rice

Rice is an often overlooked aspect of Mexican cuisine. While rice is the base for many dishes in several cultures, its texture and taste makes it a great ingredient for making really good Mexican food. Plus, the addition of extra ingredients like salsa and cilantro adds more flavor to plain rice; these unique flavor combinations are part of what makes Mexican rice so delicious.

To further capitalize on the strong flavors of Mexican rice, there is one additional step you can add to your cooking routine: roasting the tomatoes. This process gives depth to the tomatoes' flavor overall. When added to the rice, the tanginess of the tomatoes will be richer with a slight caramelization effect. The result is a bolder tasting Mexican rice.

Generally speaking, the tomatoes should be roasted first before being combined with other ingredients and finally being incorporated into the rice. As for the precise roasting method, there are several options out there.

One of the most popular methods for roasting tomatoes is using an oven. To roast tomatoes in an oven, first cut the tomatoes, either in half or in slices depending on the size. After that, place the tomatoes onto a baking sheet and place the baking sheet in the oven for about a half hour. Generally speaking, the oven should be set at 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you're short on time, using a grill instead will help. To roast tomatoes on a grill, cut the tomatoes then drizzle the cut sides with olive oil, as well as any seasonings you prefer. Place the tomatoes on the grill set at medium heat with the cut side up for a few minutes, then flip and grill the cut side for about three minutes. Overall, the grilling method should take about eight minutes or less.

It is also possible to fire roast tomatoes using a broiler. For this method, follow the same preparation process as if you were using an oven, but instead use a broiler set on high for 10 minutes; the temperature should then be set to low for an additional five minutes. Last but not least, if you don't have the time to roast the tomatoes yourself, you can always buy fire-roasted canned tomatoes, a canned tomato variety known for its flavor.