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pressure cooker spanish rice
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4.89 from 9 votes

Instant Pot Spanish Rice (Arroz Rojo)

This Instant Pot Spanish Rice (Arroz Rojo) is a quick and easy way to make the classic Mexican side dish with bold, comforting flavors. Made with long-grain white rice, tomatoes, garlic, and spices, it turns out perfectly fluffy and flavorful every time.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: arroz rojo, instant pot mexican rice, instant pot spanish rice
Diet: Gluten-free, Vegan
Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
Servings: 8
Author: Meeta Arora

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 cup White Rice uncooked, rinsed, and drained
  • 1 tablespoon Oil or butter
  • 1 Jalapeño Finely diced
  • 1 1/2 cup Onions
  • 4 cloves Garlic peeled and minced
  • 1/2 cup Corns
  • 2 1/4 cup Vegetable broth or water
  • 2/3 cup Tomato sauce canned, or salsa
  • Cilantro to garnish

Spices

  • 1 teaspoon Cumin Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Chili powder adjust to taste 
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode and wait for it to heat up.
  • Add the oil, onion, jalapeño, and garlic. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes. until onions soften and turn translucent.
  • Now add rice, spices, broth, corn, and mix it well. Press cancel to turn off saute mode.
    steps image on how to make Spanish rice in instant pot
  • Add the tomato sauce (or salsa). At this point, do not stir the pot!
    Add all the ingredients to the Instant pot
  • Close Instant pot lid with the vent in sealing position. Cook for 4 minutes on high pressure.
  • Once the Instant pot beeps, wait 10 minutes for the pressure to naturally release before manually releasing it.
  • Open the lid. Fluff rice with a fork and garnish with cilantro. Enjoy!
    pressure cooker spanish rice

Video

Notes

Rice: Make sure your rice is properly washed or rinsed in cold water before cooking. To make the rice fluffy and tasty, you want to eliminate as much starch as possible.
Brown Rice Variation: This dish may be made with both long-grain brown rice and white rice. The measurements are the same regardless of the type of rice used. However, the cooking time may vary. The cooking time for white rice is 4 minutes, while the cooking time for brown rice is 22 minutes.
Spices: You may also eliminate the chili powder, cumin, and oregano and substitute 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning instead.
Instant Pot Tip: Whenever you add in the salsa or tomato sauce, do not stir the pot. To avoid the Instant Pot giving you a burn warning, keep the tomatoes away from the bottom of the pot.
Garnishes: You can also garnish Spanish rice with cilantro, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, and sliced avocado.
Mexican Rice & Beans Variation: To make this recipe, Mexican beans, and rice. You can add a can of black beans or pinto beans along with the rice while cooking.

Nutrition

Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 375mg | Potassium: 191mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 497IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg