Mexican Rice
  YIELD: 4 Cups
Amount Measure Ingredients 
Cups  Long Grain Rice
1/2 ea White Onion, minced
Clove  Garlic, minced
Tablespoons  Tomato Paste
1/2  Teaspoon  Ground Cumin
1/2  Teaspoon  Ground Coriander
ea Celery Rib, whole center of stalk with leaves 
Cups  Chicken or Vegetable Stock or Water 
  to taste Salt
Tablespoons  Vegetable Oil
 
Preparation

In a hot sauté pan with tight lid, heat pan and add oil and rice; stir and cook until rice has begun to brown. Add onion; cook until all of rice has turned light brown. Add garlic and tomato paste to rice; cook for about one minute; add the stock; stir and add cumin and coriander, along with the whole leafy celery rib. Bring to a boil; cover well and place on low heat for 20 minutes.

In Southwestern cooking and throughout Mexico, rice is made in a pilaf manner. The rice is lightly sautéed in a vegetable oil or lard, until all the grains have swelled slightly and have turned from white to a light toasted color. The rice is flavored with various herbs, spices, meats and vegetables. Also along the coasts, they may add seafood.