Spanish rice

Spanish rice, also known as Mexican rice, red rice, or arroz rojo, is a flavorful Mexican side dish or ingredient made from white rice, tomatoes, garlic, onions, and various seasonings. The preparation typically involves sautéing the rice in oil until it turns golden brown, followed by adding water or chicken broth and chopped tomatoes or tomato sauce.

Interestingly, despite its name, Spanish rice is not commonly found in Spain or Spanish cuisine. In Spain, rice dishes usually achieve their yellow color from saffron. In contrast, Mexican Spanish rice is red due to the tomato sauce or paste, and it's often called "red rice" or arroz rojo in Mexico.

A similar dish exists in Iranian and Persian cuisine known as Istanbolea Poloe, which dates back to the Qajar period in Iran. In the Western world, this dish is often referred to as Persian tomato rice.

The term "Spanish rice" is not widely used by Mexicans or those familiar with Mexican cuisine. They typically refer to the dish as arroz or arroz rojo. In English, the classic Spanish rice dish, paella, might be referred to as yellow rice or Spanish yellow rice due to the saffron that gives it its distinctive yellow color.