Skillet Tex-Mex rice with black olives, red bell peppers, corn, chili powder and sharp cheddar cheese. The moment I set eyes on this I had to have it but the technique, at first, totally scared me off. I kept coming back to it until I finally caved from wanton food lust.
The original recipe from the Kitchn tells you to crank the heat up to medium so the cheese can caramelize a.k.a. burn so you have charred black bits of cheddar cheese floating throughout your rice. Which, by the way they swear is “this side of heaven”.
I didn’t trust the recipe. I have no problem admitting it. I wasn’t feeling brave, only hungry. Every fiber of my being wanted to eat Tex-Mex rice for dinner. Unburnt.
So, instead, I cranked the heat up to medium-low and got crusty, golden brown bits of flavor off the bottom of my cast-iron pan instead of burnt ones.
If you’re feeling brave enough to try the burnt cheese method let me know how it goes. I want you to go first. Then maybe, just maybe I’ll have the courage to try it too. . .
Because this is insanely good rice. Rice I want to eat for breakfast, second breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Rice I could eat every day of my life and still crave for more.
Rice that totally rocks my taste buds.
Rice so completely unforgettable that I will be making it every chance I get. Over and over again.
For the rest of my entire life.
Hope it’s a long one.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet heat the oil over medium low heat and saute the pepper with a dash or two of salt and pepper until tender. Allow to cool.
- In a large bowl mix together all the ingredients lightly mashing the tomatoes against the bowl and starting with one teaspoon of chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few cracks of black pepper.
- Heat the same skillet over medium-low heat and lightly grease. Add the rice mixture and cook 20 - 25 minutes scraping the rice up off the bottom with a metal spatula every 5 minutes or so. The goal is to get some crusty, brown (but not burnt) bits. Taste and season if needed halfway through.
- Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Adapted from The Kitchn
Great rice recipe Reeni, you know I love rice, this is on my do list.
swathi recently posted..Pain au chocolat
I will definitely have to try this. I love Texmex food. The butterscotch pie above also would be fun to try. I have never had butterscotch pie.
Melissa recently posted..Happy Wednesday!
i can’t wait to try this, i love mexican rice!
teresa recently posted..Banana Chocolate Chip Baked “Donut Holes”
What a fabulous rice recipe – chock full of great flavors :))
Mary x
Mary recently posted..Chicken Pot Pie
Yum! This look delicious! I have been craving rice lately so I know this dish would totally hit the spot.
Nutmeg Nanny recently posted..Frozen Cherry Crisp