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We are convinced that anyone in the world is able to guess the common denominator referring to the following series of words: America, sea, pyramids, tourism, holidays.

Do you know the answer? We are talking about Mexico, a destination for trips that combine relaxation and culture, particularly if we look at the Riviera Maya that joins the blue waters of the Caribbean with the gigantic archaeological sites of the pre-Columbian ruins.

However, our list of keywords lacks an essential element: gastronomy.

A rich culinary tradition

When it comes to eating, Mexicans usually say barriga llena, corazón contento, which translates to “full belly, happy heart”, and says a lot about how much care and love Mexicans put on their food.

Rich in spices, on the border between indigenous and Spanish tradition and characterized by strong and marked aroma, Mexican cuisine is one of the most varied and appreciated in the world. Everything in Mexico “speaks” of chili, tortillas, corn, beer, tequila, and beans.

The intense, typical smell, always ready to awaken the appetite, comes from almost every household, from the restaurants, the huge markets, always rich in specialties and unique dishes. You don’t have to worry about the place, Mexicans do know how to enjoy delightful traditional dishes anywhere, anytime.

The basic ingredients of local cuisine, including those which came from Spain, have become an integral part of everyone’s diet. Foods like beans, corn, pumpkin, pepper, avocados, even chocolate, amaranth and chia have been mastered in this country.

Origins of Mexican cuisine

Mexican cuisine is the result of a crossbreeding of cultures and you can appreciate the vision that Mexicans have of the world in it.

We owe the credit to the ancient civilizations that have prospered over the millennia, since their origins go back 10,000 years ago when corn was first cultivated to become the food base of the Mesoamerican peoples.

By that time, vegetables, corn and chili were part of the main diet for the people living in the region. Nevertheless, several ingredients of equal significance were added, such as avocado, tomato, pumpkin, chocolate and even vanilla.

After the discovery of America, Spanish settlers brought from Europe many new components to Mexican cuisine, from different types of meats to vegetables unknown to locals. And among all those new ingredients, one of the stars is undoubtedly rice, which is now proudly considered Mexican.

Rice as a part of Mexican culture

Rice has been and continues to be a staple in the diet of the Mexicans, it has become so important within the culture and traditions of this country that there are many typical dishes that are prepared with this food everyday.

The properties, health benefits, and versatility that characterize rice are just some of the many reasons that have made this element part of Mexican gastronomy.

Just as there are many varieties of rice around the world, there are also in Mexico, and each of them has been used to create different dishes with different flavors, ingredients, preparations, and nuances.

Next, you’ll see the recipe for the most typical and traditional dish made with rice mahatmarice.com/recipes/traditional-mexican-rice/ from the Mexican culture. So it’s an invitation to surprise your beloved ones with this delicious dish.

Traditional Mexican Rice with jalapeños

Ingredients:

• 2 tomatoes, cut into 4 pieces.
• 1 small onion, cut into large pieces.
• 1 jalapeño pepper.
• 2 tablespoons of oil.
• 2 cloves of garlic.
• 1 1/2 cup white rice.
• 1 1/2 cup chicken broth (you can also use warm water).
• 1 tablespoon of tomato paste.
• Salt to taste.
• Chopped cilantro to decorate.

Preparation:

1. Put onions and tomatoes in a blender. They must be ground completely.
2. Remove the seeds from the jalapeno and cut them into small squares.
3. Then heat a pot with the two tablespoons of oil for a minute. Add the rice and let it cook for a while, stirring it to avoid sticking. When the rice takes another color, taste if it’s ready, this takes about 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Then add the finely chopped garlic cloves, the jalapeno, stir for about a minute. Add the tomato and onion mixture, the chicken broth or water, as well as the tablespoon of tomato paste. Finally, add the salt to taste.
5. Cover the pot and cook over medium-low heat for 25 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed by the rice. Make sure the rice doesn’t overcook.
6. Once ready, serve with chopped fresh cilantro on top, and enjoy.

In every corner of the world, you can find international restaurants offering the most popular dishes from global cuisine. These food establishments usually have in their menu the most recognizable international meals. So, you can try at least one typical meal from, say Italy, Greece, Japan or Spain right in the same place.

However, if you want to taste specific international dishes, the best choice is to visit a specialty restaurant. These restaurants are frequently family-owned and specialize in traditional food from their countries.

In these places, you will discover a vast range of traditional meals that you would probably never tasted before.

For example, when you refer to Spanish cuisine, maybe you always remember any delicious Paella you have enjoyed and believe this is the only way Spanish people eat rice. But you are wrong.

Rice is also a staple food in Spain, and the dishes prepared with this versatile grain are endless. So, get ready to know different and delicious rice dishes branded in Spain.

Spanish rice specialties

Spanish cuisine’s basic ingredients are olive oil and garlic. Almost all dishes include these two components paired with vegetables, sausages, meats, seafood, pork, eggs, legumes, and strong herbs.

Apart from Paella, they create mouthwatering dishes like brave potatoes, gazpacho, fideua, pisto, tapas, Spanish tortillas, and so much more.

As for rice, Spanish cuisine expresses its native flavor in meals such as chicken and rice, oven-baked rice, rice and beans, Arròs a Banda, Arròs Negre, and others. They can be eaten as a complete dish or an accompaniment for beef, lamb or poultry.

• Chicken and rice: This is a well-known dish, and maybe you have a Spanish chicken and rice recipe. This is a quick and easy dish. It consists of a one-pot meal with chicken thighs, red peppers, onions, and peas.
• Oven-baked rice: It is fluffy and tender rice full of onions, garlic, and some kind of meat. Some versions include peas, vegetables, or mushrooms.
• Rice and beans: It is a nutritive and delightful one-pot meal. It varies from region to region because people use different types of rice and beans.
• Arròs a Banda: It is flavored rice cooked with fish broth and seafood.
• Arròs Negre: A tasteful rice colored with squid ink.

Cooking Spanish rice

As you can see, Spanish cuisine is much more than Paella. If you are trying to get familiar with other Spanish meals, enjoy cooking various rice recipes.

Start with these Spanish chicken and rice recipes and be surprised with all newly discovered Spanish flavors.

Spanish rice and chicken (4 servings)

Ingredients:

• 6 chicken thighs.
• 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
• 1 cup of white rice.
• 2 ¼ cups of chicken broth.
• 1 lemon juice.
• Chopped cilantro to taste.

For making a Spanish seasoning:

• 1 teaspoon of coriander.
• 1 teaspoon of ground cumin.
• 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika.
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
• 1 teaspoon of salt.
• 1 teaspoon of chili powder.

Preparation:

1. Prepare the Spanish seasoning, mix in bowl coriander, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and chili powder. Reserve.
2. In a bowl, place chicken thighs, and season with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and half of the Spanish seasoning. Make sure the seasoning covers the entire chicken.
3. In a saucepan, add vegetable oil and cook chicken until it is browned on both sides.
4. Incorporate rice, chicken broth, lemon juice, and the remaining Spanish seasoning. Stir very well.
5. Put a lid on the saucepan, and cook until the broth is absorbed completely.
6. Serve with lemon slices and cilantro.

Baked chicken, chorizo, and rice (4 servings)

Ingredients:

• 8 small skinless chicken thighs
• 1 1/3 cups of white medium-grain rice.
• 1 chopped onion.
• 1 diced red capsicum.
• 1 sliced chorizo.
• 25 grams of butter.
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
• 2 crushed garlic cloves.
• 1 tablespoon of paprika.
• 1 can of crushed tomatoes.
• 1 1/4 cups of chicken broth.
• 1/2 cup of lemon juice.
• 1 cup of frozen peas.
• Salt to taste.
• Chopped parsley leaves to serve.
• Lemon slices to serve.

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven at 200 °C.
2. In a baking tray, add onion, capsicum, and chorizo. Try to distribute them evenly in the tray.
3. Drizzle butter and olive oil all over them, and bake for 20 minutes.
4. Then, take out the baking tray and incorporate garlic, paprika, and chicken. Bake again for 10 minutes.
5. Now incorporate rice, tomatoes, broth, lemon juice, and salt. Stir very well. Cook for 30 minutes, until chicken is browned.
6. Incorporate peas and bake for 5 more minutes.
7. Serve with parsley and lemon slices on the top.

Don’t let the exotic name scare your palate: riz bi haleeb simply means “rice and milk”. Add some sugar to it, and you have your regular rice pudding. 

But the search for the best rice pudding recipe has taken people to discover culinary traditions from all around the globe. Luckily for us, different countries give a particular twist to this easy-to-make and affordable sweet treat, and in this case, we have brought flavors from the Middle East for you to try. 

Not just rice and milk either

What makes this version of rice pudding so singular it’s the use of orange blossom water. Rosewater is another Lebanese spin you can add to it in order to enhance its sweetness and its aromas. And don’t forget to top it with some pistachios to make it just perfect!

If you’ve never thought of orange blossom or rosewater as possible ingredients, you will be surprised to learn that their amazing properties pair lovely with this special rice pudding and you can enjoy its benefits as you taste a delicious bowl of pudding from your sofa. Besides, its soothing and nerve-calming aroma that you can smell while cooking, orange blossom water is good for indigestion and against gases. On the other hand, rosewater’s floral flavor helps balance spicy and mellow flavors, and it’s perfect to combine with pistachios. Both types of water are typical of Middle Eastern cuisine, but if you’re not used to the taste we recommend you try with small amounts first: the perfume can be quite intense for a novel palate.

Perfect at any time

Riz bi haleeb can be enjoyed as a dessert, as a snack and even for breakfast. As a matter of fact, Muslim people have it for Suhoor during the holy month of Ramadan because it’s very nutritious and filling, and so it allows them to sustain fasting from dawn to dusk, when they are allowed to break their fast and have Iftar.

Give it a go to this versatile delight and you’ll feel you have travelled to the Arab world without leaving your house. 

Ingredients (5 servings)

• ½ cup of white short-grain rice.
• 4 cups of milk (regular or non dairy).
• ¾ cups of sugar.
• 2 tbsp of orange blossom water.
• 1 tbsp of cornstarch.
• pistachios or cinnamon for decoration.

Preparation

1. In a saucepan, parboil your rice with some water. Be careful not to overdo it, since parboiling is only necessary to “open” the rice grain and make it ready to better absorb the milk later. This takes approximately 10-12 minutes at low heat. 
2. When you see the rice is precooked and the water is gone, add your milk and sugar. 
3. Turn your stove to high heat and bring the rice to a boil. 
4. Dissolve the cornstarch in some cold milk. This will prevent it from creating lumps in your preparation. ¼ cup of milk is enough for a tablespoon of cornstarch, which will increase the creamy effect of the short grain rice.
5. Turn your stove to medium heat. Add the dissolved cornstarch and your orange blossom water. Rose water is another good option if you need a replacement or if you fancy combining both scents.
6. Stir continuously and you’ll see your milk getting thicker. When you reach this point, switch the heat off.
7. You can add your pistachios now and stir a bit more to help the pudding cool down to room temperature.
8. Serve your portions and add crushed pistachios or cinnamon for decoration, if you fancy. 

As with all rice pudding variations, you can have it warm or chilled. And of course, the amount of sugar is up to taste, as well as the amount of orange blossom or rose flavoring. Don’t restrict yourself with these measures, follow your heart and discover the perfect taste for you. In the same way, you can have your pudding without any nuts if you’re allergic or if that’s your preference.

If you’re worried your pudding is too much to have on a single day, relax: this Lebanese rice pudding lasts up to four days in the fridge. Remember to cover it with a silicone lid or plastic food wrapper to preserve it fresh and prevent flavors from mixing with other meals in your fridge.

Regardless whether you are an expert or amateur cook, you can make this typical Greek dish at home. Giouvetsi includes orzo pasta as one of the ingredients, so it not only has an incredible aroma and delicious texture, it is also quite healthy.

An essential ingredient

One of the basic and traditional staple foods in Greek cuisine is orzo, which falls into the category of dried pasta, and is perfect for preparing this casserole called Giouvetsi. If you decide to prepare any orzo recipe to surprise the palate of your diners, this casserole is the ideal choice, since it combines one of the essential ingredients in Greek cuisine with a traditional lamb or beef stew.

Orzo pasta is made from wheat semolina, and during its elaboration process its grains take a rice-like shape. It can also be dry or fresh, with a neutral aroma and flavor, although there are some flavored and colored varieties, for example with spinach, beets or carrots. Its ability to absorb water or broth while it is being prepared makes orzo pasta one of the best ingredients to combine with any recipe. That’s part of its well-known gastronomic value.

The preparation of this traditional ingredient in Greek cuisine is very simple: just cooking the pasta, adding butter or olive oil, and it will be ready to serve as a accompaniment to meat- or poultry-based meals, and even for fillings. 

Now, to surprise the palate of your family, you can prepare this somewhat more elaborated Giouvetsi casserole with orzo. No too much cooking experience needed, though.

Ingredients

• Boneless lamb ribs or a lamb leg (beef will also be ok). You should trim the fat, and then cut into small pieces.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• High quality extra virgin olive oil.
• Canned tomatoes.
• Chopped onions and garlic.
• Assorted spices, such as paprika, nutmeg, bay leaf and ground cinnamon, which bring different flavors to the dish.
• Herbs such as oregano and fresh parsley should not be lacking.
• Red wine.
• Orzo pasta.
• Feta cheese, although optional, since it is only used for decoration.

Method of preparation

1. The first thing to do is to brown the meat, you can start with a pound of lamb meat, cut into small, cube-shaped pieces. Let it dry and season with salt and ground pepper.
2. Cook them over medium-high heat with some olive oil. When golden brown, put the lamb pieces into a large plate and reserve.
3. In the same skillet add the onions and chopped garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook until brownish.
4. Next, simmer the lamb in the pan, with red wine, bay leaf and the other spices: a teaspoon of dried oregano and paprika, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg.
5. Cook until the red wine loses its volume by half, then add water and the canned tomatoes with their juice.
6. When it starts to boil, cover the pan and lower the heat. Simmer until the meat is cooked, which will take about 45 minutes.
7. Then add the orzo, allowing the preparation to cook until the orzo pasta is tender and absorbs as much moisture as possible. About 15 minutes will be fine.
8. Use the cheese to decorate the preparation, you can sprinkle some parsley.

Tips and variations

The good thing about Giouvetsi casserole is that it has some variations that you can use depending on your tastes, without affecting taste nor aroma of the final dish. Instead of lamb you can use beef, like the chuck of beef, which is a very economical cut and is perfect for use in stews. Be sure to cut the meat into small pieces, as well as to cook it properly to satisfy your taste.

Instead of feta cheese you can use grated Parmesan cheese, in case you don’t like the first option. The decoration with grated cheese is equally attractive, suffice is to say that in Greece you can find this dish decorated with kefalotyri, Parmesan or pecorino cheese. A very useful tip when serving is to let the orzo pasta and meat rest for about 5 to 10 minutes before serving it, which will allow the pasta to continue absorbing the sauce.