This post has been sponsored by RiceSelect.
Have you guys seen the viral TikTok salmon rice bowl recipe by Emily Mariko? Mashing up leftover salmon in rice is a super common practice in many Asian households, so it’s funny to me when a video like that goes viral. However, there’s also many other easy and delicious ways to use leftover rice as well! For a twist on the salmon rice bowl, I like using some Mexican and Latin American flavors instead. This pico de gallo rice bowl is unbelievably easy, using just rice, butter, sesame oil, and store bought pico de gallo and rotisserie chicken. It’s perfect for a weeknight meal. Give it a try!
What is Latin Asian Fusion Food?
Yes, Latin Asian food is a thing. I’m serious. This mish mash of culture came as a result of Asian immigration to Central and South America.
I can sense some of you readers narrowing your eyes in skepticism. Have you ever had Wahoo’s Fish Tacos in southern California? The Lee brothers started Wahoo’s with food that represented their Chinese culture while growing up in Brazil. And it also inspired Chrissy Teigen to include a fish taco recipe in her first Cravings cookbook. Give fusion a chance, people! (Caveat: as long as it’s an authentic evolution of culture and not a forced ploy to make money off Asian ingredients.)
For those of you in the Seattle area, I also like Ta Joia, which is run by a Korean family who lived in Latin America. It’s like a 40 minute drive from my house, so I don’t really get out there that often. But if you get the chance, you should definitely try it.
What Rice to Use
For this recipe, I used RiceSelect’s Texmati white basmati rice. I like using basmati rice for this, since I like my pico de gallo rice bowl to be fluffy and light – not dense and sticky. But in the spirit of easy leftover meals, you should definitely use whatever rice you have on hand. RiceSelect also has a great selection of other types of rices, including jasmine, sushi, and wild rice. You can buy RiceSelect on Amazon or use their store locator to find retailers near you. If you’re in Seattle, many QFCs carry them!
And I gotta be honest – this RiceSelect basmati rice is GOOD. Even my husband commented upon first bite, “This is really good rice.” And if you know my husband, he does NOT get excited about food, much to my eternal chagrin.
I could spend hours making the most amazing desserts – chiffon cakes, salted caramel tarts, choux au craquelin… and the most I get is a monotone, “It’s good.”
On the other hand, if I make something absolutely horrendous (there was a time where I accidentally set a salmon ON FIRE in our oven and had to call the fire department), he’ll still say, “it’s not bad.” If you were wondering, yes, we ate that salmon after the firemen left our house. Yes, my husband said it was not bad.
So all this to say, the fact that Mochi Husband spontaneously commented on the quality of the rice means it must’ve blown his dang mind. I agree with him too, by the way. The rice was really good!
Other Mix-ins for Pico de Gallo Rice Bowl
The point of this recipe is to have an easy way to use up leftovers, so I only list the bare minimum ingredients. Rice, butter, pico de gallo, shredded rotisserie chicken, and sesame oil is all you need. However, if you do have a few spare minutes, here are some fun ideas for other ingredients to spruce up this rice bowl:
- shredded cabbage
- crunchy ramen noodles
- fried wonton strips
- green onions
- shredded pork
- flaked cooked fish
- toasted sesame seeds
Remember, this recipe is supposed to be EASY, CONVENIENT, and FUN! So use whatever you like! I hope you give this recipe a try. If you come up with a genius combination, make sure to let me know.
Pico de Gallo Rice Bowl (Viral Rice Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 batch RiceSelect Texmati Rice made from 2 cups uncooked rice
- 1.5 tbsp butter
- 1.5 cups pico de gallo
- 1.5 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1-2 tsp sesame oil
Instructions
- Make fresh rice in a rice cooker or heat up leftover rice in the microwave. If making fresh rice, be sure to account for an extra 20 minutes time to cook the rice.
- Add in butter and mix to melt.
- Add in pico de gallo and shredded chicken. Mix.
- Drizzle sesame oil to taste and mix.
