A lot of people think that Mexican and Spanish rice are the same. They are similar but they are not the same. Spanish rice gets its yellow color from saffron which is a delicious spice that can be very costly. However, the flavor that saffron gives to the Spanish rice is worth it. Spanish rice is also known to be firmer, while Mexican rice seems like it basically melts in your mouth. Mexican rice, like this one, gets its beautiful color from cumin and other ingredients in the seasonings. It also uses tomatoes and tomato powder for the bright red color. All of this comes together in this along with the beef to make it a full meal.