Best Annato Rice Recipes

CUBAN-STYLE YELLOW RICE

Steps:

• Place the rice in a sieve and rinse under cold water until the water runs clear. Shake sieve to remove excess water from rice.
• Place rice in a large saucepan with a tightly fitting lid and add water. Stir in the onion, salt, annatto powder, paprika, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover pan, and simmer. After cooking for 10 minutes, gently stir the peas into the rice. Cook until all the water is evaporated and the rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Serve garnished with pimento slices.

EASY ARROZ AMARILLO (SPANISH YELLOW RICE)

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or saucepan with a lid, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, green pepper, and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes.
• Add sliced pimentos and tomato sauce. Sauté for 1 minute. Add rice, water, bouillon cube, Bijol, bay leaf, salt and pepper to taste (start with 1/4 teaspoon and adjust later). Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 15 minutes. DO NOT OPEN THE LID. The steam is what cooks the rice.
• Remove from heat. Keep the lid on for another 5-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork, never a spoon. The rice should be moist and delicious. Enjoy!

MEXICAN YELLOW RICE

Steps:

• Place the rice in a heat-proof bowl and pour enough boiling water to cover. Let rice stand 20 minutes. Drain, then rinse under cool water. Drain again.
• Heat the oil in a saucepan on medium heat. Add the achiote powder and cook for about 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add the minced onion and garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
• Stir in the rice, toss to coat and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. (The rice will want to stick to the bottom of the pan, so scrape it up using a metal spatula.).
• Pour in the broth, mix well and bring rice to a boil.
• Lower the heat, cover the pan and simmer 25-30 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed.
• Just before serving, add the minced jalapeno if using, season to taste with salt. Transfer the rice to a serving dish and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.

RED ACHIOTE MEXICAN RICE

Steps:

• Rinse rice and drain well.
• Set apart.
• Process in blender the onion, garlic and achiote in some of the chicken broth (about a cup).
• Heat oil in a skillet and fry rice on medium heat until lightly brown.
• Add the processed liquid and let it reach boiling point.
• At this point add half of the broth (hot) Simmer covered until broth is consumed.
• Fluff rice with a fork from the edges to the center.
• Add the other half of the hot broth, the lime juice, and season with salt or powdered bouillon.
• Lower heat, cover and cook for about 15 more minutes.
• Fluff it again from the edges to the center.
• Uncover just to add the cilantro sprig.
• Cover again and let it stand to finish steaming and absorb the cilantro's flavor.
• Garnish with poblano strips.

YELLOW RICE (ARROZ AMARILLO)

Steps:

• Heat annatto seeds and oil in a very small saucepan over low heat, swirling pan frequently, until oil turns bright red-orange and begins to simmer, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl, discarding seeds.
• Cook onion, bell pepper, garlic, and cilantro in 1 1/2 tablespoons annatto oil in a 2-to 3-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until vegetables are softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, until most of grains are opaque, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in water and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Stir rice again, then reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is just tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes.
• Fluff rice with a fork before serving.

YELLOW RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan, with a tight-fitting lid, over medium-high heat. Add the onion, pepper, and annatto, and cook, stirring, until somewhat soft, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until toasted, about 2 minutes more. Add water, salt, and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Wrap the lid tightly with a kitchen towel. Cover the rice, lower the heat to a simmer, cook for 20 minutes.
• Remove the rice from the heat and set aside, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve with the black beans.
• Put the beans in a large saucepan, add the water and bay leaf, and bring to a boil. Set aside, covered, for 1 hour.
• Return the beans to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer, cook uncovered, for 1 1/2 hours.
• Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and peppers and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, oregano, and coriander and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add the onion mixture to the beans and continue simmering until the beans are very tender and the liquid has thickened, about 1 1/2 hours more.
• If the beans seem too thick, adjust the consistency with a little bit of water. Stir in the vinegar, season with the salt, cayenne, and pepper to taste. Serve.
• Yield: about 4 side dish servings