Arroz con Achiote (Yucatan Annatto Rice)
Fluffy long grain rice tinted a warm sunset orange and scented with garlic and a spoon of achiote paste.
Made with Recado rojo (achiote paste). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.21 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Rinse the rice in a sieve until the water runs mostly clear. Drain well.
- 2
Heat the oil in a lidded pan. Fry the onion for 4 minutes until soft, then add the garlic for 30 seconds.
4 min - 3
Stir in the rice and fry for 2 minutes until the grains look glossy and slightly toasted.
2 min - 4
Whisk your ready made recado rojo (see the base recipe) into the hot water until dissolved, then pour it in with the salt. Bring to the boil.
- 5
Cover, turn the heat right down and cook for 12 minutes without lifting the lid. Scatter the peas on top for the last 3 minutes.
12 min - 6
Off the heat, keep covered for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
Tips
- Dissolve the paste in the water before adding it so the rice colours evenly with no red specks.
- Rinsing the rice removes surface starch and keeps the grains separate.
- Do not lift the lid while it cooks. The steam finishes the rice.
Storing and freezing
Cool quickly within 1 hour, keep in the fridge and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once until steaming hot all the way through. Do not freeze if it has sat out.
Questions
Is this the same as Mexican red rice?
No. Arroz rojo gets its colour from tomato and chilli. This rice is coloured and flavoured by achiote, which is earthy and mildly peppery rather than tomatoey.
Is it vegan?
Yes, with plain water and the recado rojo base, which contains no animal products.
Is it safe to reheat rice?
Only if cooled within 1 hour and kept in the fridge for no more than 1 day. Reheat once until steaming hot all the way through.
More made with recado rojo (achiote paste)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.