Mexican Inspired Brown Rice with Salsa

The salsa brown rice recipe only requires four simple ingredients.  Just throw everything in a pot and cook covered, which makes it perfect for an easy meal.  This is not an authentic Mexican rice recipe, but inspired by.  The recipe calls for salsa and fresh cilantro to give plain brown rice more flavor.

Pair the easy salsa rice with lentil walnut tacos, fajitas, vegan refried beans, or add it to a vegan burrito bowl.  Enjoy the brown rice in an easy grain bowl by adding pinto or black beans, fresh veggies, and cashew lime crema.  If you're looking for more ideas on adding flavor to brown rice, try my cilantro lime brown rice recipe.

Recipe features

• Easy and flavorful side dish!
• The recipe uses simple ingredients!
• It's budget-friendly and great for meal prep!

Ingredient notes

The Mexican brown rice with salsa recipe uses simple ingredients, but please see the recipe card below for a full list and exact measurements.

Brown rice - I use long-grain brown rice for this recipe.  The whole grain has a chewy nutty flavor and takes longer to cook than white rice.  I haven't tested with white rice, so I can't say for sure if it works.  

If you try with white rice, you'll have to adjust the cooking time since it doesn't take as long as brown rice.  The recipe is not for quick cooking or instant brown rice.

Salsa - Use your favorite salsa.  If your salsa is very thick, you may need a couple of extra tablespoons of water.  The salsa I typically use isn't very salty, so I add ½ teaspoon of salt to the rice while it cooks.  I’ve only tested with store-bought shelf-stable salsa, so I can’t say for sure that fresh salsa will work.

Ground cumin - Adds a little more flavor to this easy side dish but can be left out if needed.

Salt - Season the rice and salsa to taste.  How much you use depends on how salty your salsa is and your personal preference.

Fresh cilantro - This herb gives the rice tons of fresh flavor!  If you’re not a fan of cilantro it can be left out.  Use the leaves and only the tender parts of the stem.  Finely chop the stems and discard the woody ends.

Tips

• The cilantro adds a lot of flavor, so if you omit it the rice dish will have a milder flavor.
• Use a tight-fitting lid to keep moisture in.
• Once the rice comes to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer. The rice doesn’t need to be stirred while simmering, so resist the temptation and keep it covered. Otherwise, you’ll release the heat that’s needed for cooking.
• When the rice is done, keep the lid on, turn off the burner, and let the rice rest undisturbed for 10 minutes.  This lets the moisture redistribute and helps with a fluffier texture.
• After letting the rice rest, fluff it with a fork or rice paddle.

How to make Mexican-inspired rice with salsa

Start the brown rice by adding the uncooked rice, water, salsa, cumin, and salt to a medium saucepan.  How much salt you add will depend on your preferences and how salty the salsa is.  

Bring everything to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook covered for 40-45 minutes or until the rice is done and the liquid is gone. If your salsa is very thick, you may need a couple of extra tablespoons of water.

When the salsa brown rice is cooked, remove it from the heat and keep the lid on to steam for 10 minutes.  Then fluff the rice with a fork or rice paddle and garnish the rice dish with fresh cilantro for more flavor.

Storage 

The Mexican brown rice recipe can be made ahead of time and used for meal prep.  If you make it for meal prep, wait to add the cilantro.  Store leftover brown rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 4-5 days.  Reheat leftovers in the microwave until warmed through, stirring occasionally.

Serving Suggestions

The salsa brown rice can be used in a variety of ways but here are a few options:

• Enjoy it in a vegan burrito bowl with vegan guacamole
• Add it to a vegan taco bowl
• As a side to oil-free refried beans
• A side to refried bean taquitos
• Add vegan black beans and use as a burrito filling
• As a side to walnut lentil taco meat
• Enjoy it as a side to fajitas, tacos, or quesadillas
• Use it instead of plain white rice in a vegan fajita bowl

Related recipes

• Vegan burrito bowl
• Oil-free fried rice
• Chickpea vegetable rice bowl

I hope you enjoy this recipe for an inspired dish of Mexican rice made with salsa.  If you like it, feel free to rate it and leave a comment.