This Arroz Primavera (Mexican White Rice) pairs deliciously with all your Mexican food favorites. It’s full of flavor and I’ll show you how to make it perfectly fluffy each and every time!
**This post was originally published on August 2020. It has been updated to be more helpful.
White Mexican Rice
This simple Mexican side dish makes great use of pantry staples to create delicious flavors with minimal work. A liquid mixture of onion and garlic is used to flavor the rice, and it’s added during the sautéting process. It results in a delightfully fluffy and savory steamed white rice.
If you need a break from Mexican Red Rice or Arroz Verde this is the recipe for you!
Why you’ll love it!
Let me show you how to make this delicious Arroz but also learn the key to making it fluffy each and every time! I swear this is the Best Mexican Rice Recipe!
The Ingredients
- The Rice – Use any long-grain rice you have handy. You can also use Basmati or Jasmine rice as they’re considered long-grain rice.
- White onion & garlic blended pureed in water – This is where the flavor comes from so don’t skip them!
- Vegetable oil – Other oils like avocado, grapeseed and canola will work too. Use any mild flavored oil.
- For the seasoning we use kosher salt and vegetable stock. Homemade is best but store bought will work as well. Buy the ones that come in the cartoon as they taste more natural vs. the canned stuff.
- Frozen or fresh mixed vegetables (corn, peas & carrots). For these you can use all 3, just two of them or just 1. Pick your favorites!
Reader’s comment:
This was a super easy and very flavorful rice! Followed instructions to the letter and it was PERFECTLY cooked. Do not skip the last 5 min step. That is the secret to AMAZING rice! ~ Michelle
How To Make Arroz Primavera
- Rinse rice: Place it in a small hole colander and rinse well with cold water. Drain to make sure it does not have any water residue.
2. Puree: In a blender or small food processor, puree the onion and garlic with the 1/3 cup of water. Set aside.
3. Heat: In a medium saucepan, add the 2 tablespoons of oil and heat on medium high.
4. Saute rice: Once the oil is hot, add the rice and sauté until opaque. Note: Don’t let it turn golden since we want to keep the white color.
5. Add: the onion & garlic mixture to the rice and mix well. Turn the heat to medium low and let the rice absorb the onion/garlic liquid. About 2 minutes.
6. The broth: Add the salt to the broth and mix well this will ensure that the salt is distributed well on throughout the rice. Then add the broth to the sautéed rice.
7. Add the frozen vegetables but don’t mix them into the rice yet. Just leave them on top.
8. Bring it to a gentle simmer then cover saucepan with lid. Reduce heat to very low and let cook undisturbed 15 minutes.
9. Now here is the key to make sure the rice stays fluffy: Remove rice from the heat, leaving the lid on, and let rest for another 15 minutes. Remove lid and cool for 5 minutes before mixing it.
10. With a large fork gently fluff the rice and evenly disperse the vegetables.
Worth noting again: The key for perfectly cooked rice is simmering it for 15 minutes covered with a lid to catch the condensation, then steam the rice for 15 additional minutes more. Don’t worry; it won’t be overcooked. It will be fluffy perfection!
Serving Suggestions for Arroz Primavera
Serve this rice warm as a side dish or a healthy main dish by adding any grilled meat. Here are some recipe pairing ideas:
FAQs
Transfer your Mexican white rice into an airtight container, and store in the fridge for 4-6 days. Just be sure it is room temperature before you place it in the fridge.
Generally, the best rice for Mexican recipes is long-grain white rice. Its characteristics lend themselves a spongy texture that is perfect in Mexican cuisine.
MORE delicious…
Mexican Side Dishes Recipes
If you make this recipe be sure to leave a rating in the comments below. You can also tag me on Instagram at @anafriasb.
Arroz Primavera (Mexican White Rice)
Equipment
- Blender or small food processor
- Heavy bottom medium pot.
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain rice
- ⅓ cup white onion chopped
- 1 large garlic clove (or 2 smaller ones)
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups vegetable stock hot
- 1 cup frozen or fresh mixed vegetables (corn, peas & carrots) See note
Instructions
- Rinse rice: Place it in a small hole colander and rinse well with cold water. Drain to make sure it does not have any water residue.1 cup long grain rice
- Puree: In a blender or small food processor, puree the onion and garlic with the 1/3 cup of water. Set aside.⅓ cup white onion, 1 large garlic clove (or 2 smaller ones), ⅓ cup water
- Heat: In a medium saucepan, add the 2 tablespoons of oil and heat on medium high.2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- Saute rice: Once the oil is hot, add the rice and sauté until opaque. Note: Don’t let it turn golden since we want to keep the white color.1 cup long grain rice
- Add: the onion & garlic mixture to the rice and mix well. Turn the heat to medium low and let the rice absorb the onion/garlic liquid. About 2 minutes.
- The broth: Add the salt to the broth and mix well this will ensure that the salt is distributed well on throughout the rice. Then add the broth to the sautéed rice.1 teaspoon kosher salt, 2 cups vegetable stock
- Add the frozen vegetables but don’t mix them into the rice yet. Just leave them on top.1 cup frozen or fresh mixed vegetables (corn, peas & carrots)
- Bring it to a gentle simmer then cover saucepan with lid. Reduce heat to very low and let cook undisturbed 15 minutes.
- Now here is the key to make sure the rice stays fluffy: Remove rice from the heat, leaving the lid on, and let rest for another 15 minutes. Remove lid and cool for 5 minutes before mixing it.
- With a large fork gently fluff the rice and evenly disperse the vegetables.
Muy Delish Notes:
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Nutrition
The nutritional information and US conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data. If this is important to you, please verify with your favourite nutrition calculator and/or unit conversion tool.
When u say bring to medium simmer after adding veggies, only place to look is the edges for bubbling. Guess it wasn’t hot enough cause after all done, rice was raw. Also one large clove of garlic is too much. Very disappointed in recipe. Did not turn out at all.
This recipe was so easy to follow, this is the first time I see a recipe that tells me amount to use while doing the cooking instructions. It was very convenient not go click up to the list of ingredients to see how of this or that I needed. Thank you, GRACIAS
This came out so great! Loved how easy it was and the flavor was so yummy.
Such a delicous and easy recipe! Perfect side dish! Thanks for sharing!
This rice dish turned out perfectly and was a great side dish for taco night tonight!! My kids gobbled up this rice and asked for seconds too!
I love how a few simple things can make a boring rice dish into a tasty and moreish side dish! Love how versatile this is too! Will certainly make rice this way to accompany other dishes, not only the Mexican cuisine!
I made this Saturday, and it was both easy and delicious. If I double the recipe, do need to cook it longer?
This is great Janet!! I’m so happy you liked it! If you double the recipe you don’t need to cook it longer. Just use a bigger pot and follow the same method. Thanks for the feedback!
Thanks! Turned out just right.
Thank you for the receipt I made for my family and they loved it! ?
Very very tasty. Mine came out a little wet but I think I could have just increased the simmer heat very slightly to fix. I had it very low.
Great staple! Made this the other day and it was exactly the same flavor as my Nina’s rice ♥️
Was I supposed to use vegetable stock or chicken broth?
Hi Mari, Either or! Your preference 🙂 Did you make it?
This was a super easy and very flavorful rice! Followed instructions to the letter and it was PERFECTLY cooked. Do not skip the last 5 min step. That is the secret to AMAZING rice!
Delicious Arroz!!! It was very easy to make and I loved that it was very fluffy and flavorful.
Filled with flavor. Great side dish. Thank you!
This looks like a delicious Mexican rice!