Inside: Find out how to make arroz verde, or Mexican green rice, which is an authentic Mexican side dish that you will love.
Rice is an important staple in cuisines all around the world, but especially in Mexican cuisine. There are so many different varieties that you can make, and they are a perfect side dish since it is filling, inexpensive, and delicious. The most well-known Mexican-style rice is probably the Mexican red rice variety, which you can find here.
It is definitely a great option, but today I want to share this arroz verde recipe. It is also known as “arroz a la poblana,” because it is made with poblano peppers and has a vibrant green color.
What is Mexican Arroz Verde?
Mexican arroz verde (or Mexican green rice recipe) is a simple side dish that goes great with your favorite Mexican dishes. It gets its green colors from the combination of poblano chiles and cilantro, which are a couple of the tasty ingredients that you will need to make it.
The poblano pepper is a dark green, medium sized chile that is pretty mild compared to other chiles in Mexico. It gets its name from the city of Puebla in Mexico and is used in so many different recipes.
What you may not know, is that when the poblano pepper is dried, it takes on a dark red color and is known as chile ancho, which is also used in a lot of Mexican food and that you can even buy online here.
What kind of rice should you use for Mexican rice?
The best kind of rice to use for Mexican rice (arroz verde or rojo) is the kind that you have available! That said, it is most common to use white rice for this recipe. It is usually pretty easy to find and it absorbs the flavors of this recipe quite well to make sure that you have a good result.
With that said, if you don’t have it available, you can use one of the many varieties of rice that are available at most stores like basmati rice, jasmine rice, brown rice, or something else.
How do you make Arroz Verde?
To make arroz verde, you simply fry the rice in oil or butter and then add green purée that I will show you how to make below and let it continue to cook over low heat until it is fluffy. There are a few other steps and ingredients as well, but that is the basic process.
The ingredients that you will need are the following:
- White long grain rice
- Butter
- Corn
- Poblano peppers
- Fresh cilantro
- Onion
- Garlic Cloves
- Chicken broth or chicken stock
- Chicken bouillon
Start by washing the rice well with hot water until the water starts coming out clear. This is important to make sure that you get rid of any debris from the cultivation process.
For the poblano puree, wash the poblano peppers and cut one of them into thin strips and set them aside for later. Next, take the other poblanos and cut them into larger pieces and add to a blender or food processor with the cilantro, onion, one clove of garlic, bouillon, and chicken broth. Strain this mixture and then set it aside.
To make the rice, melt the butter in a large saucepan or a large pot and add the poblano pepper strips that you set aside earlier, and the other garlic clove and cook for about 2 minutes. Next, add the rice and fry for about 3-4 minutes, moving constantly. Next add the corn and let cook for 2-3 minutes before adding the poblano mixture from above and cooking over medium high heat until it comes to a boil.
Once it starts to boil, lower the heat and let it cook for 20 minutes uncovered or until all of the liquid has evaporated. At this point, you should have a nice fluffy rice that you can serve with your next Mexican meal.
What do you serve with Arroz Verde?
Arroz verde can be serve in many different ways, but my favorite way is as a side dish for a main meal that has a tasty sauce. That way, the rice can help absorb some of the sauce and it just tastes great. Some great options are barbacoa, birria, and Mexican meatballs.
You can also use this recipe in a burrito bowls, or alongside your favorite tacos. Some people will just eat it on its own as a main dish, which is a great option as well.
However you decide to serve it, it is sure to be a hit. Let me know in the comments below how it turns out.
Arroz Verde (Mexican Green Rice Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cups White Rice
- 1 Stick Butter
- 1 Can Corn
- 3 Poblano Peppers
- 1/2 Bunch Cilantro
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 1/4 White Onion
- 2 Cups Chicken Stock
- 1 Tbsp Chicken Bouillon
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Start by washing the rice well with hot water until the water starts coming out clear. This is important to make sure that you get rid of any debris from the cultivation process.
- Wash the poblano peppers and cut one of them into thin strips and set them aside for later. Next, take the other poblanos and cut them into larger pieces and add to a blender or food processor with the cilantro, onion, one clove of garlic, bouillon, and chicken broth. Strain this mixture and then set it aside.
- To make the rice, melt the butter in a large saucepan or a large pot and add the poblano pepper strips that you set aside earlier, and the other garlic clove and cook for about 2 minutes.
- Next, add the rice and fry for about 3-4 minutes, moving constantly. Next add the corn and let cook for 2-3 minutes before adding the poblano mixture from above and cooking over medium high heat until it comes to a boil.
- Once it starts to boil, lower the heat and let it cook for 20 minutes uncovered or until all of the liquid has evaporated. At this point, you should have a nice fluffy rice that you can serve with your next Mexican meal.
Nutrition
Kara
Tuesday 12th of September 2023
This was very easy to make and soooo delicious! Thank you for the recipe!