Arroz negro (Mexican cuisine) facts for kids
.jpg)
Arroz negro means "black rice" in Spanish. It is a special dish from Mexico. This rice gets its dark color from a broth made with black beans.
To make this tasty dish, cooks first prepare a dark broth. They cook black beans with onion and a little butter in water. Then, rice is lightly fried with garlic. After that, the black bean broth is added to the rice. Other ingredients like epazote (a herb), serrano pepper, and salt are also mixed in. The rice then gently cooks until it is soft and ready to eat.
It's important not to confuse Mexican Arroz negro with other types of "black rice." Some rice varieties, like Indonesian black rice or Thai jasmine black rice, are naturally black. But Mexican Arroz negro gets its color from the black bean broth, not from the rice itself.
Where Does Arroz Negro Come From?
This traditional dish comes from the southern parts of Mexico. You can find it especially in regions like Oaxaca and Campeche. Each family might have their own special way to make it. However, the main ingredients are always rice, black bean broth, onion, epazote, serrano pepper, and salt.
Other Similar Rice Dishes
There are other dishes around the world that are similar to Arroz negro. For example, there's risotto nero from Venice, Italy. This dish often gets its dark color from squid ink. You might also find dishes like octopus with black rice and shrimp in other places.
See also
In Spanish: Arroz negro (cocina mexicana) para niños
