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Mexican Fried Rice in a bowl

Mexican Fried Rice

This Mexican fried rice has quickly won over my heart. It's fast (uses leftover rice) and the flavors are SO delicious. We love to serve it as a side dish along with any Mexican-type main course.

Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican Inspired
Keyword Fried Rice, Mexican Rice, rice
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6
Author Heather @ thecookstreat.com

Ingredients

  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • cup diced white or yellow onion about ½ small onion
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 cup shredded or chopped matchstick carrots from about 1 medium carrot
  • 3 cups cooked long grain rice cooled, see note
  • 2 ½ cups shredded green cabbage from about ¼ of a medium head
  • 1 teaspoon dried cumin
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 roma tomato diced
  • 1 4-ounce can green chilies drained
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • chopped fresh cilantro if desired

Instructions

  1. Heat a large cast iron skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat until hot. Add frozen corn kernels and cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring often until blackened. Remove from pan and set aside.

  2. Turn heat down to medium low and add diced onions, minced garlic, and shredded carrots. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often until onions are translucent and carrots are softened.

  3. Add rice and cabbage and stir well. Stir in cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until rice is warmed through and cabbage is starting to wilt.

  4. Add blackened corn, diced roma tomato, and drained green chilies and cook for 1 minute until just barely heated through. Stir well and add salt and pepper, to taste. Serve garnished with chopped fresh cilantro, if desired.

Recipe Notes

1. I normally use leftover refrigerated rice in this recipe. If you do want to cook the rice just for this dish, it takes about ¾ to 1 cup of uncooked long grain white rice. Make sure to refrigerate it after cooking for a little while. I usually cook rice in the electric pressure cooker for 6 minutes on HIGH Pressure. I add a 3:5 ratio of rice to water and a little salt. I've never tried it, but I think cooked long grain brown rice would work great too.