Description
A hearty dish with tender sirloin steak strips layered over fluffy, tomato-seasoned rice and topped with creamy white queso and fresh cilantro.
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain white or basmati rice, rinsed
- 2 cups chicken broth (or 1 bouillon cube)
- ~14 oz crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, chopped (optional)
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp dried cilantro
- 1 lb sirloin steak, sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- Montreal steak seasoning to taste
- White queso (store-bought or homemade)
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Flour tortillas (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear to keep it fluffy.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil and sauté the onion and garlic until translucent. Add rice and toast for a couple of minutes.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, and dried cilantro. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 18–20 minutes until the rice is tender.
- Remove rice from heat and let it rest, covered, for 5–10 minutes to finish steaming.
- While rice cooks, heat olive oil and butter in another pan over medium-high heat. Season the steak strips with Montreal seasoning and sear for 4–5 minutes per side (or to preference).
- Fluff the rice, transfer it to a serving dish or keep it in the skillet, then layer the steak strips on top.
- Drizzle generously with warm queso, sprinkle with fresh cilantro, and serve with warm flour tortillas if desired.
Notes
- Use jasmine or ready-pack cilantro-lime rice to speed things up.
- Swap sirloin for strip steak, skirt steak, chicken, shrimp, or tofu as desired.
- Add jalapeños or chili flakes for extra heat.
- Monterey Jack or cheddar melted with milk can replace queso.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat rice and steak gently in a microwave or skillet, adding a splash of broth or water to keep the rice from drying out. Reheat queso separately before drizzling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
