Arroz Rojo con Chorizo y Elote (Red Rice with Chorizo and Sweetcorn)
Leftover Mexican red rice crisped in chorizo fat with sweetcorn and peppers, a fast and filling one pan supper.
Made with Mexican red rice (arroz rojo) and Homemade Mexican chorizo. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.30 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
Make sure your Mexican red rice (see the base recipe) was cooled within 1 hour and kept chilled. Break up any clumps with your fingers.
- 2
Put your homemade Mexican chorizo (see the base recipe) into a cold large frying pan and cook over a medium heat for 8 minutes, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through.
8 min - 3
Add the oil and red pepper and fry for 4 minutes until softening. Add the sweetcorn and garlic for 2 minutes.
6 min - 4
Tip in the rice and stir fry over a high heat for 5 minutes until piping hot all the way through and slightly crisp in places.
5 min - 5
Take off the heat, stir through the spring onions, lime juice and coriander, and serve at once.
Tips
- Use rice cooked and chilled the day before. Fresh, warm rice turns soggy in the pan.
- Reheat rice only once, and make sure it is steaming hot throughout.
- A fried or poached egg on top makes it a complete brunch.
Storing and freezing
Eat straight away. Cool leftovers within 1 hour, keep in the fridge for 1 day only, and do not reheat rice a second time.
Questions
Can I use plain white rice?
Yes, but arroz rojo gives a richer tomato flavour. If using plain rice, add 2 tbsp of tomato purée with the garlic.
How do I keep rice safe?
Cool cooked rice within 1 hour, refrigerate and use within 1 day, and reheat only once until steaming hot all the way through.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. The rice, chorizo and vegetables contain no wheat, dairy, egg or nuts.
More made with mexican red rice (arroz rojo)
Albóndigas al Chipotle con Arroz Rojo (Chipotle Meatballs with Red Rice)
GFNFHPPescado al Mojo de Ajo con Arroz Rojo (Garlic Fish with Red Rice)
GFDFEFBurritos de Carnitas con Arroz Rojo (Pork Carnitas and Red Rice Burritos)
DFEFNFMilanesa de Pollo con Arroz Rojo y Pico de Gallo (Mexican Breaded Chicken)
DFNFDouble 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.