Red Rice Recipe: Easy, Flavorful Spanish-Style Side Dish 2026

Red rice stands out from plain white rice thanks to its firmer texture and more intense flavor, with subtle nutty notes. Like most whole-grain rices, it generally needs a little more water and cooking time to reach that perfect doneness.

Versatile and delicious, it is the perfect complement to a wide range of dishes, from exotic recipes like curry or fried rice to very familiar ones like arroz con pollo. You can even use it in salads or mix several types of rice together; combined with brown rice and black rice it makes a rather striking tricolor.

In this recipe we prepare a simple red rice that works as a side dish or as an ingredient in other preparations. We start with an onion and garlic sofrito to build a flavor base, then cook the rice in water with bay leaf. You can also use other herbs or broth, whether vegetable, chicken or meat, if you prefer a deeper flavor. For red rice, remember that the amount of liquid needed is between 2.5 and 3 times the amount of rice, though always follow the package recommendations.

Ingredients for Red Rice

For 4 servings

• 300 g red rice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 750 ml water
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt

How to Make Red Rice Step by Step

1. Wash the rice

Start by washing 300 g of red rice under plenty of water, rubbing the grains so they clean better. Repeat the washing 2 or 3 times until the water runs clear.

2. Drain and rest the rice

Once ready, drain it and let it rest until the moment you use it.

3. Make the sofrito

Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add 1 finely chopped onion and sauté it, stirring from time to time, until it softens and turns tender and translucent. Then add 2 finely chopped garlic cloves to the pot. Stir well and sauté for one more minute, just long enough for the garlic to cook without burning and lend its characteristic flavor to the dish. While the sofrito cooks, also heat 750 ml of water so it is ready in advance.

4. Add the rice and bay leaf

When the sofrito is ready, add the red rice along with one bay leaf. Mix well so the rice absorbs the flavors of the sofrito.

5. Add the hot water and season

The next step is to add the hot water to the pot and season to taste with salt. Raise the heat to maximum until the water comes to a boil.

6. Cook the rice

Once it starts boiling, immediately reduce the heat to medium and let the rice cook for about 40 minutes. If it dries out too quickly, add a little more water, always hot.

7. Fluff, rest and serve

To finish, after the 40 minutes of cooking, stir the rice so it stays loose and let it rest covered for about 5 minutes. This final rest helps the rice absorb the last of the liquid and reach the perfect texture.

Tips for the Best Red Rice

Respect the liquid ratio

Red rice typically needs between 2.5 and 3 times its volume in liquid, more than white rice, so the grains cook through and turn tender. Always check the package recommendations and keep a little extra hot water on hand in case the pot dries out too fast.

Build flavor with the sofrito

The onion and garlic sofrito gives the rice its savory base, so let the onion soften fully and cook the garlic just one minute so it flavors the oil without burning. If you want a deeper taste, swap the water for vegetable, chicken or meat broth, or try other herbs in place of the bay leaf.

Serve it with almost anything

This red rice shines as a side for curry, fried rice or arroz con pollo, and it also works in salads or mixed with brown and black rice for a colorful tricolor. Stir it after cooking and let it rest covered for 5 minutes so it turns out loose and fluffy.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to rotation that covers cozy comfort plates, well-known dishes from around the world, and sweets that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, my picks are usually this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

Tapas and Mediterranean cooking are a mood I return to often, and I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, these crackly Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This chilled Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also makes the table when I feel like something a bit more elevated.

Come lunch or a slow dinner at home, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When hunger runs bigger, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, golden Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also work nicely as a light starter or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a jug of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or ending with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of trying, tweaking, and remaking dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the ones that stick around are built on straightforward steps, methods you can trust, and serious flavor.

What follows is the set of recipes I keep circling back to—whether it's a fast plate just for me or a bigger spread for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something that feels fancy without much 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 texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and uncomplicated, I'll usually reach for the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for heavier comfort plates, my usual picks are the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm just as happy sharing dishes with roots in other countries, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's own Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I use all the time, since it cuts down on effort while still giving you excellent results. The ones I make most are 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 baked pasta classic can still be creamy, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

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