🇵🇹 Arroz de Tomate Malandrinho (Saucy Portuguese Tomato Rice)
A traditional Portuguese tomato rice made malandrinho style, loose, saucy, and full of rich tomato, garlic, and vinho verde flavour. Simple ingredients come together to create a comforting classic dish that pairs perfectly with fish or meat or can be enjoyed on its own.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 28oz can tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon pimenta moida (adjust to taste)
- ½ cup vinho verde
- 1 cup Carolino rice
- 3-3 ½ cups boiling water
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a pot or sauté pan over medium heat.
- Add chopped onion and cook until soft and fragrant.
- Stir in crushed garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add tomato paste and cook for 1–2 minutes to deepen flavour.
- Add crushed tomatoes and pimenta moÃda. Mix well and season with salt and pepper.
- Let the tomato base cook down slightly.
-   Pour in vinho verde and simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Add rice directly into the tomato mixture and stir to coat.
-  Pour in 3 to 3½ cups of boiling water and mix gently.
- Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low.
- Cover the pot halfway (lid slightly open) and cook slowly.
- Stir occasionally until rice is tender and the texture is loose and saucy.
Notes
-  Cooking time may vary depending on heat level — aim for 20–30 minutes
-  Texture should be malandrinho — loose, glossy, and slightly saucy
- Â If rice thickens too much, add a splash of hot water and stir
- Â Make sure to rinse your rice until the water runs clean, always!
