Side of seasoned Mexican rice.
Mexican rice — arroz rojo — is not just a side dish but a technical foundation of the Mexican kitchen. Long-grain rice toasted in oil until golden, then cooked in a tomato-based liquid with garlic and chicken stock until each grain is separate and deeply flavored. The toasting step is the technique that separates Mexican rice from plain steamed rice: the fat coats each grain, the grain structure sets, and the rice absorbs the tomato base without becoming mushy.