Mexican Rice | Baked Cheese & Mince Mexican Rice

Mexican rice is a complete meal on its own with the goodness of vegetables, cheese, meat and rice all cooked in one single pot. Ideal dish for your weeknight dinner, when you crave for some rice and no mood to make any curries.  

This Mexican Rice has two versions - with cheese and without cheese. So it is your choice to have it either way.

For all my vegetarian friends, this dish can be made without adding mince...and trust me, it tastes equally good. 


Also try my other rice recipes: Tomato Rice, Prawn Rice, 
Chicken Rice and Pineapple Rice

Serves 3 - 4
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour (approx)


Ingredients:

• 2 cups basmati or long grain rice
• 200 gms mince (optional)
• 1 medium onion
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 2 medium ripe tomatoes
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp black pepper power
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp tomato puree
• 1 small red capsicum chopped ( keep some for topping)
• 1/2 green capsicum chopped
• 1 green chili with slit
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander leaves.
• 5 tbsp of cooking oil

For baked rice version:

• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese or pizza cheese Or (half cup cheddar & half cup mozarella) 
• 1/2 cup chopped green capsicum
• 1/2 cup chopped red capsicum
• 1 tsp dreid oregano
• 1 tsp dried red chili
• 1 tbsp olive oil or butter

Preparation:

• Wash rice and soak for 15 minutes
• Keep the mince ready
• Chop vegetables: (4 cloves garlic, 1 onion, 2 tomatoes, red capsicum, green capsicum, 1 green chili, some coriander leaves)
• Measure and keep 4 cups of water ready.

Method:

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan, and fry chopped garlic. When it changes color slightly, saute onion till soft.
2. Add mince and fry well with the onion along with 1 tbsp chili powder, 2 tsp cumin powder, 1 tsp black pepper powder, 1 tsp dried oregano.
3. Cook for 2 minutes and then add chopped tomatoes, 1 tbsp tomato puree and 1 green chili. Cover and cook till mince is fully done.
4. Now add 4 cups of water and salt. When water starts to boil add soaked rice, chopped capsicum red and green. 
5. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add chopped coriander and cook for another 5 minutes.
6.  When rice is fully cooked, switch off the gas and let it remain covered for another 15 minutes. Serve hot.

For Cheese Baked Mexican Rice

1. Pre heat oven to 250 degrees C.
2. Take a baking dish and place some cooked rice, sprinkle grated cheese on top, and also chopped red capsicum and green capsicum, red chili flakes and dried oregano. Drizzle olive oil on top and bake in the oven till cheese melts for 10 minutes. 
3. Serve hot with Peri Peri Chicken as a side dish.

Recipe: Peri Peri Chicken

Step by step method

• Heat oil in a large saucepan, and fry chopped garlic. When it changes color slightly, saute onion till soft.

Add mince and fry well with the onion along with 1 tbsp chili powder, 2 tsp cumin powder, 1 tsp black pepper powder, 1 tsp dried oregano.

Cook for 2 minutes and then add chopped tomatoes, 1 tbsp tomato puree and 1 green chili. Cover and cook till mince is fully done.

Now add 4 cups of water and salt. When water starts to boil add soaked rice, chopped capsicum red and green. 

• Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add chopped coriander and cook for another 5 minutes.

• When rice is fully cooked, switch off the gas and let it remain covered for another 15 minutes. Serve hot.

For Cheese Baked Mexican Rice

1. Pre heat oven to 250 degrees C.
2. Take a baking dish and place some cooked mexican rice, sprinkle grated cheese on top, and also chopped red capsicum and green capsicum, red chili flakes and dried oregano. Drizzle olive oil on top and bake in the oven till cheese melts around 10 minutes. 
3. Serve hot with Peri Peri Chicken as a side dish.

Recipe: Peri Peri Chicken