Mama Chuy’s Buttery White Rice

Leticia
Dec 7, 2022
2 min read

Updated: Dec 1

Welcome back food family!

There are recipes that fill the stomach, and then there are recipes that fill the soul. Mama Chuy’s buttery white rice belongs to the second kind. It’s not just food—it’s a memory, a tradition, and a hug from Mexico served on a plate. This dish, rich with butter, queso fresco, and the warmth of family kitchens, is a reminder that the simplest ingredients can carry the deepest love.

Roots of Flavor

Unlike the classic Mexican red rice toasted in oil, Mama Chuy’s version takes a softer, richer path—rice toasted in butter until golden and fragrant. This was her signature twist, a way of honoring tradition while adding her own touch of cariño. She would prepare it in her kitchen in Mexico, where the aroma of butter and milk mingled with laughter and family stories. For my father, it was always his first request when visiting her, a taste of home that carried generations in every spoonful.

Inspiration in the Kitchen

Cooking this rice is more than following a recipe—it’s reliving a moment. I remember standing beside Mama Chuy, watching her stir with patience and pride. That day, I learned not only how to make rice, but how food can be a language of love. The butter melts into the grains, the milk adds creaminess, and the queso fresco crowns it with joy. Every time I make it, I feel her presence guiding my hands, reminding me that food is family, and family is forever.

A Legacy Served Warm

Mama Chuy’s buttery white rice is more than a side dish—it’s a story of heritage, love, and pride. It reminds us that traditions live on when we cook them, taste them, and share them. So, tie on your apron, gather your loved ones, and let this rice bring Mexico’s warmth into your home.

Because in the end, every grain carries a memory, and every bite is a celebration of family. #LetsGoaCocinar

Servings: 8 to 12

Ingredients:

3 cups RICE
12 tbs UNSALTED BUTTER
3 cups WHOLE MILK
3 cups WATER
CHICKEN BOUILLON powder to taste (approx 2 tbs)
1 to 2 cups QUESO FRESCO
1/2 cup CILANTRO (optional)

Instructions:

Melt the BUTTER in a pan over medium heat.

Add the RICE to the pan and sauté with the butter for approximately 5 minutes or until the rice is fully coated with the butter and has turned a golden brown. Keep stirring.

Add the MILK, WATER and half the QUESO FRESCO, CHICKEN BOUILLON powder to taste and stir with the rice. You can also add the optional CILANTRO here if you'd like.