Air-Fried Mexican Rice: A Quick, Easy, And Healthy Treat!

Air fryers are a great way to cook rice, and you can definitely make Mexican rice in one. It's a simple, hands-off method that delivers perfect, fluffy rice with minimal clean-up. While some people prefer using a rice cooker or the traditional stovetop method, an air fryer is a good option if you don't have access to those.

To make Mexican rice in an air fryer, you'll need to cook some ingredients first and then let the rice simmer in the air fryer until it's done. This method traps the steam inside, cooking the rice evenly. You can also add spices and vegetables to give it a Mexican flavour.

So, if you're looking for a new way to cook Mexican rice, give your air fryer a try! It's a convenient and effective option that might become your new favourite way to prepare this dish.

How to cook Mexican rice in an air fryer

Ingredients

• 1 cup of Basmati rice
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 1½-2 cups of vegetable stock or water
• ½-¾ cup of tomato sauce
• ½ teaspoon of chili powder
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1-2 tomatoes, diced
• 2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 scallion, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon of cumin
• ½ of a small jalapeño pepper, deseeded and chopped (optional)
• Salt, to taste

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) with a cake barrel inside for 3 minutes.
• While the air fryer is preheating, prepare your vegetables by dicing the tomatoes and finely chopping the onion and garlic. Thinly slice the scallion and boil some water for the vegetable broth.
• Open the air fryer and add the oil and onion to the cake barrel. Stir the onion, close the air fryer, and leave it for 2 minutes. Then, add the garlic.
• Stir again to coat the garlic with oil, and add the diced tomatoes. You can rinse the rice before adding it to the cake barrel.
• Stir to combine the rice with the onion and garlic. Add the tomato sauce while stirring the rice.
• Add boiled water to the vegetable stock or add plain water to the cake barrel.
• Add the cumin, chili powder, and scallion. Stir to combine.
• Wrap the cake barrel with tin foil and return it to the air fryer. Set the timer to 30 minutes.
• When the timer goes off, remove the cake barrel from the air fryer and take off the foil.
• Fluff the rice with a fork and serve immediately.

Tips

• If your rice is still wet, extend the cooking time by 5-10 minutes, or open the tin foil a little to let excess water escape.
• If your rice is still hard, it hasn't absorbed enough liquid and needs to be cooked for longer. Use boiled water to speed up the cooking process.
• You can make this Mexican rice ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

What ingredients are needed for Mexican rice in an air fryer

Making Mexican rice in an air fryer is simple and requires just a few ingredients. Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients:

• Rice: For Mexican rice, it is recommended to use long-grain rice, such as Basmati or Jasmine rice. This type of rice has a lower starch content, preventing the grains from sticking together and resulting in fluffy, separate grains.
• Liquid: You can use either vegetable stock or water for cooking the rice. The amount of liquid will depend on how mushy or firm you like your rice. For mushier rice, use more liquid (around 2 cups of water or stock), and for firmer rice, use less (around 1 3/4 cups).
• Spices: To add flavour to your Mexican rice, you'll need spices such as cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder. You can also add chicken bouillon powder or salt to taste.
• Vegetables: Dice tomatoes and finely chop onions and garlic. You can also add jalapeño peppers, scallions, or peas to enhance the flavour and add some colour to your dish.
• Oil: Vegetable oil or cooking oil is used to coat the garlic and onion and prevent them from sticking to the pan.

Optional Ingredients:

• Tomato Sauce: Adding some tomato sauce will give your rice a nice red colour and a slightly tangy flavour.
• Tin Foil: Covering the cake pan with tin foil helps to trap the steam and ensure even cooking. However, this is optional, and you can simply use a lid for your cake pan if it has one.

With these ingredients and an air fryer, you're ready to start making delicious Mexican rice!

Step-by-step instructions for cooking Mexican rice in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Basmati rice
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 1½-2 cups of vegetable stock or water
• ½-¾ cup of tomato sauce
• ½ teaspoon of chilli powder
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1-2 tomatoes, diced
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 scallion, thinly sliced
• Cumin
• Salt, to taste

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) with a cake barrel inside for 3 minutes.
• While the air fryer is preheating, prepare your vegetables: dice the tomatoes, finely chop the onion and garlic, and thinly slice the scallion.
• Boil some water for the vegetable broth.
• Open the air fryer and add the oil and onion to the cake barrel. Stir the onion, close the air fryer, and leave for 2 minutes.
• Add the garlic and stir again to coat with oil.
• Add the diced tomatoes and stir to combine with the onion and garlic.
• Rinse the rice and add to the cake barrel.
• Pour in the tomato sauce and stir to combine.
• Add the boiled water to the vegetable stock, or add plain water to the cake barrel.
• Add the cumin, chilli powder, and scallion. Stir to combine.
• Wrap the cake barrel with tin foil and return it to the air fryer.
• Set the timer for 30 minutes.
• When the timer goes off, remove the cake barrel from the air fryer and take off the foil.
• Fluff the rice with a fork and serve immediately.

Tips:

• If your rice is still wet, extend the cooking time by 5-10 minutes.
• If your rice is a little moist, open the tin foil slightly to let excess water escape. Return the cake barrel to the switched-off air fryer and leave for 10 minutes before fluffing the rice.
• If your rice is still hard, it hasn't absorbed enough liquid and needs to be cooked for longer. Use boiled water to kickstart the cooking process, as the air fryer will take a long time to boil water.
• You can make this Mexican rice ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

How to store leftover Mexican rice

Storing leftover Mexican rice is simple. If you want to keep it in the fridge, place it in an airtight container and it will stay fresh for 3-4 days. For longer-term storage, you can freeze leftover Mexican rice in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag for up to three months.

When you're ready to eat your leftover Mexican rice, there are several options for reheating it. You can use the air fryer, a cast-iron skillet or wok, or a microwave. If using the air fryer, place the leftover rice in a cake barrel and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. For a cast-iron skillet or wok, preheat and add a little oil, then continuously stir the rice until it is hot. To reheat in the microwave, place the rice in a microwave-safe dish and heat on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.

There are also plenty of creative ways to repurpose leftover Mexican rice into new meals. Here are some ideas:

• Quesadillas
• Burritos
• Soup
• Salad
• Enchiladas
• Tacos
• Stuffed bell peppers
• Breakfast hash
• Stuffed zucchini
• Casserole

How to reheat Mexican rice in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook Mexican rice in an air fryer. But how do you reheat it?

• Transfer the leftover Mexican rice to an oven-friendly cake pan or bakeware.
• Cover the pan with aluminium foil.
• If you prefer softer rice, sprinkle a few drops of water over the rice before air frying.
• Reheat the rice in the air fryer at 320°F for 5 minutes.
• Check the rice and stir it. If it's not heated through, return it to the air fryer for another 3-4 minutes.
• Repeat the process until the rice is heated to your desired temperature.

Tips for Cooking Rice in an Air Fryer:

• Rinse the rice before cooking to remove dust, debris, and excess starch. However, if you are using enriched rice, skip the rinsing step.
• Use long-grain rice, such as Basmati or Jasmine, as it has a lower starch content and is less likely to become gummy or stick together.
• Use room temperature water instead of hot water to avoid unevenly cooked rice.
• The ideal rice-to-water ratio is 1:1.25, but you may need to adjust this slightly based on your air fryer model.
• Cover the dish tightly with aluminium foil or a compatible lid to trap the steam and moisture, which is crucial for cooking the rice evenly.
• Cook at a moderate temperature of around 300°F (149°C) for 30 minutes, and then let the rice rest for 15 minutes before fluffing it with a fork or spoon.

Frequently asked questions