Arroz con Rabo de Toro Recipe: Hearty Andalusian Rice Dish 2026

Arroz con rabo de toro is one of the most flavorful homemade rice dishes you can make, and the best part is that it comes together surprisingly easily. Tender braised oxtail gives the rice an incredibly rich, savory depth, while the vegetables and red wine build a sauce you will want to soak up with every spoonful.

This is a classic from Andalusia, where slow-cooked oxtail is a beloved staple. The meat braises for hours until it falls apart, then the rice cooks right in that deeply flavored broth, absorbing every bit of goodness. It is the kind of dish that feels like a celebration but is really just good, honest home cooking.

For this version, beef oxtail is used because it is much easier to find than bull's tail and is in fact the most common choice for this kind of dish. Ask your butcher to cut it into 5 cm pieces for the best result, though larger pieces simply need a little more cooking time.

Ingredients for Arroz con Rabo de Toro

This recipe makes 2 generous servings.

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 500 g oxtail or beef tail
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon wheat flour
• 1 onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 red bell pepper
• 2 ripe red tomatoes
• 100 ml red wine
• Water (enough to cover the meat)
• 500 ml beef broth (can be the oxtail cooking broth if enough remains)
• 150 g short-grain rice
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

How to Make Arroz con Rabo de Toro Step by Step

1. Brown the Oxtail

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a cazuela and brown 500 g of oxtail or beef tail, cut into pieces, seasoned with salt and pepper and dusted with flour, for 7 minutes. Getting a good sear here builds the base of flavor for the whole dish.

2. Sauté the Vegetables

Add to the same cazuela 1 chopped onion, 1 crushed garlic clove, 1 seeded and chopped red bell pepper and 2 washed tomatoes cut into small pieces. Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat, until the vegetables take on color.

3. Braise the Meat with Wine and Vegetables

Pour in 100 ml of red wine, cover with water until the ingredients are just submerged and cook covered for 3 hours. If you use a pressure cooker, this time is cut in half. The goal is for the meat to shred effortlessly once the cooking time is up.

4. Shred the Meat

Once the cooking time has passed, remove the meat from the pot and shred it. Set the vegetables aside to use later, and reserve the broth as well for cooking the rice, which will make it even more flavorful.

5. Mix the Meat and Rice

Place the meat in a cazuela, add 150 g of short-grain rice, stir to combine everything and cook for 1 minute. This quick toast helps the rice start absorbing flavor right away.

6. Add the Vegetables and Hot Broth

Add the reserved vegetables, pour in 500 ml of hot beef broth from cooking the meat and cook the whole thing for 18-20 minutes, until the rice is done and perfectly cooked. If you did not have that much broth left from the oxtail, simply top up whatever you have with more beef broth.

7. Rest and Serve

Turn off the heat, let the rice rest for 5 minutes and serve sprinkled with 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley. The short rest lets the grains settle and the flavors come together beautifully.

Tips for the Best Arroz con Rabo de Toro

Cook the Meat a Day Ahead

When making this rice, it is a good idea to cook the meat the day before and keep it in the fridge once cooked. That way, the next day you can put the rice together in no time. In that case, just warm the vegetables with the broth before you start cooking the rice.

Use the Cooking Vegetables and Broth

To get a very flavorful rice, use the vegetables from cooking the meat, as they give a magnificent flavor to the whole dish. Beef broth is listed among the ingredients, but you will use it or not depending on how much broth is left over from cooking the oxtail.

Get the Rice Just Right

Once the meat and vegetables are ready, all that is left is to cook the rice until it is just right, which takes about 18-20 minutes. This is a very rewarding dish because by making the most of every ingredient, you end up with an exquisite flavor.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a rotation that covers cozy classics, dishes from around the world, and sweets that make everyone happy.

Some nights I want something luxuriously rich, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I'm after something fruity and soothing, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For mornings that call for something easy and for lighter plates, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever I need a gluten-free staple for the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

When tapas and Mediterranean cooking are calling, I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion feels a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and comforting suppers? These are the ones I'm always recommending: this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually lead me to this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crackly Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a quick appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and putting together drinks alongside a full menu, I'll often serve dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring the whole table together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for Your Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes boil down to three things: straightforward methods, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more celebratory for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually make the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, more filling meals, I frequently point people to the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots in other countries, such as the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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