Rice Goes From Bland To Bam When You Mix In One Tiny Canned Vegetable

Are you looking for a simple way to heighten the flavor, texture, and color of basic stovetop steamed white rice? While you can still follow your favorite tips for adding more flavor to plain rice, such as toasting the grains before boiling and swapping out the usual water for chicken or vegetable broth, there is also one unexpected canned vegetable you can use to elevate the flavor of this popular side. Sure enough, a small 4-ounce can of Hatch diced green chiles is all you need.

Whether you choose mild or hot, the primary ingredients in these tiny cans are chiles, water, and salt. What makes the flavor of Hatch chiles one-of-a-kind is partly due to their unique growing conditions, including the high-altitude climate and mineral-rich soil of the Hatch Valley in New Mexico. These regionally specific canned goods range from bright to nutty to spicy, depending on the variety you choose. Better yet, their complexity is the perfect counterpoint to plain white rice, and adding them is easy and takes only a small amount of prep work.

To upgrade your next batch, saute a can of Hatch green chiles plus your rice in a small amount of cooking oil. From here, simply add your water or broth, bring it to a boil, and then simmer the rice on low heat until most of the liquid is absorbed.

While a solo can of Hatch green chiles may be all you need to upgrade steamed rice, there are other tasty ingredients you can add to the mix for a more significant flavor upgrade. For instance, when sauteing your rice and chiles, feel free to add some chopped white or red onion plus a small amount of minced garlic. If you enjoy spicy flavors and are already using a hot can of chiles, consider adding a fresh, chopped jalapeño for extra heat.

If you enjoy the taste of several aromatic ingredients but don't necessarily enjoy their crunchy texture, you can also blend the sauteed chiles, onion, and garlic. Then, simply pour this smooth mixture back into your pot with the rice and water before boiling. This ensures each grain of rice is coated in an equal amount of zesty, chile-infused flavor. Or, you can skip the blending and try another way to make extra flavorful rice with another canned vegetable, like Ro-Tel, which contains canned tomatoes and green chiles.

Either way, when it comes to last-minute toppings, adding one or two fresh-tasting ingredients can be a much-welcomed finishing touch. Feel free to enhance your green chile rice with a squeeze of fresh lime juice or a sprinkle of chopped cilantro. Other tasty options include finely diced radishes and sliced green onions.