Is Rotel different than Hunts?

So I was shopping the other day, and I see this can of Ro*tel in a 10oz can.  It seems a lot different than Hunts or Del Monte.   I never used Rotel before.  What do you use Rotel for vs Hunts?  Why is Rotel better for that recipe? Does the 10oz size matter?

Ro-Tel tomatoes include chiles.

Ist post here used to start a thread??? Are U yonkers Boom?

Michael, green chilies. And some other stuff not found in reg maters.

Boomer, do a Google search for Ro-Tel and U will learn much.

Now for some Ro-Tel recipes. Shoot, I put them in almost everything. I have made many mentions of them for recipes here at Roadfood.
Joe

Oh 5/10 posts here before you can start a thread. Is that a possible tweek? It would sure clean things up some. Maybe everywhere but in the "where to eat" section?
Joe

boom 182


So I was shopping the other day, and I see this can of Ro*tel in a 10oz can.  It seems a lot different than Hunts or Del Monte.   I never used Rotel before.  What do you use Rotel for vs Hunts?  Why is Rotel better for that recipe? Does the 10oz size matter?

Rotel is finely-diced tomatoes, along with green chilis to give it some kick, but the Rotel can labled "Milder" really is not very spicy at all.  I think the reason for the 10 oz. can (rather than a 15-16 oz. can) is two-fold: one, so the spiciness won't overwhelm the recipes you use it in, and two, so the higher cost per ounce compared to diced tomatoes is not quite so obvious.  I use it in a lot of recipes where I like to add some tomatoes, some of which some of the people here would have a fit about, since they are no longer "authentic".  Examples: added to red beans and rice or to hoppin' John; used in place of regular stewed tomatoes in Johnny Marzetti (macaroni, ground beef & tomato).  It is more commonly used in many southwestern recipes.  Their website has a number of recipes on it: http://www.texmex.net/Rotel/main.htm

I miss the original Rotel with whole tomatoes.

This weekend I used a store brand "rotel-type" can of tomatoes in making an easy black bean recipe: saute a clove of garlic in olive oil in a saucepan; add one can of black beans and 1 can (10 oz.) of Rotel diced tomatoes with green chiles or similar brand; to your taste, add some chili powder (I added 1/2 t.), ground cumin, and a little taco seasoning if you have it; bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes or so; serve warm as a side dish to tacos, enchiladas, and other Tex-Mex or Mexican dishes.

I have to say that the Harris Teeter canned tomatoes were very good and I will buy them again. Were they much less expensive than the Rotel brand? If they were it wasn't by much.

My sons fixed grilled fish for fish tacos on Sunday for a nice Mother's Day dinner and I provided the sides.

boom 182 -
 
One of the simplest recipes using Ro-Tel is to use the contents of a big can (not a 10 ounce size) of with the original seasoning and a big box of processed cheese - Velveeta - and heat them together in a double boiler after cuttng up the cheese.   Make sure the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
 
Serve warm with big corn chips to dip with.
 
It makes a lot of cheese dip.  Don't use the small can or the mild variety of Ro-Tel or the small box of Velveeta.  The result will be too mild to be of interest in the first two cases and too highly seasoned  in the last.
 
Kroger's has a store brand that is much like Velveeta.
 
Quite possibly you have seen this recipe on a box or can but it is a good result for not too much trouble.

Thanks for the cool recipies.  I saw the Rotel commercial with Velveeta last night while watching Top Chef Masters.  Coming from the North East I only know Hunts and Red Pack.  Both these guys also have tomatoes with green chilies, and there is more product.  I was just wondering if Rotel is better.  I'll have to pick up a can next time and try it out.

I buy Rotel specifically to make a quick chili with, can of Rotel and a can of black beans or pinto beans and add some spices. Easy and quick when I don't have time to soak beans.

boom 182


Thanks for the cool recipes.  I saw the Rotel commercial with Velveeta last night while watching Top Chef Masters.  Coming from the North East I only know Hunts and Red Pack.  Both these guys also have tomatoes with green chilies, and there is more product.  I was just wondering if Rotel is better.  I'll have to pick up a can next time and try it out.

Ro*tel was simply the original, created by a small cannery, Carl Rottelle, in Elsa, TX, near the King Ranch, in the 1940s.  That bit of trivia is interesting since Ro*tel is often mentioned in recipes for King Ranch Chicken.

Anyway, it's made by ConAgra now with lesser quality tomatoes and the original version with whole tomatoes is no longer available. 

I've read that all versions, branded and generic, are now made by ConAgra but I don't know if that's a fact.  They do seem to vary especially in terms of wateriness vs. density of ingredients.  I like the Parade brand best as a generic substitute for the name brand.

Ro-tel is a big advertizer on the Big Ten Network. Ro-tel and Velvetta is now standard fare for watching Penn State games. Althought, ro-tel in black beans with cumin is pretty darn fine too.

I've also used rotel in ground beef for an added kick in the beef that voers my nachos and used on tacos. Again, all quick easy Saturday college football food that I can have ready for a noon-time game.

For afternoon and night games, I have time to make my famous truly Buffalo wings. (unless I'm off judging a marching band show)

Try poaching eggs in Rotel and serve over an English muffin. It make a good eye-opening brunch dish. 

They show Penn State games on the Big Ten Network? Odd.

PapaJoe8


Ist post here used to start a thread??? Are U yonkers Boom?

Michael, green chilies. And some other stuff not found in reg maters.

Boomer, do a Google search for Ro-Tel and U will learn much.

Now for some Ro-Tel recipes. Shoot, I put them in almost everything. I have made many mentions of them for recipes here at Roadfood.
Joe

Oh 5/10 posts here before you can start a thread. Is that a possible tweek? It would sure clean things up some. Maybe everywhere but in the "where to eat" section?
Joe

Are you guys that darn picky here, maybe  this is not the forum for me

I use the extra hot rotel in queso, chili, and tomato sauce. Gives them a great kick.
For those that don"t know queso, it's a hot, usuallyvelveeta, cheese dip with tomato and pepper chunks .     I add chopped onions and hot Italian sausage to mine.

KurtSara

PapaJoe8


Ist post here used to start a thread??? Are U yonkers Boom?

Michael, green chilies. And some other stuff not found in reg maters.

Boomer, do a Google search for Ro-Tel and U will learn much.

Now for some Ro-Tel recipes. Shoot, I put them in almost everything. I have made many mentions of them for recipes here at Roadfood.
Joe

Oh 5/10 posts here before you can start a thread. Is that a possible tweek? It would sure clean things up some. Maybe everywhere but in the "where to eat" section?
Joe

Are you guys that darn picky here, maybe  this is not the forum for me

I take it you are not familiar with kidding.
 
By the way, welcome to Roadfood.

Rotel, either the regular or the hot, is so handy for so many things.  I usually dump a couple of cans into my spaghetti sauce.  Also for making a quick black bean salsa.

If you have an Aldi Store nearby they feature a 14.5 ounce can of Diced Tomatoes and Green Chiles at considerable savings and comparable taste to Rotel. Their black beans are also priced lower than the national brands. So is their version of Velveeta
 
On the can of maters and peppers I grabbed from the pantry to verify the net weight  I noticed this one is bannered "Traditional Style" (bit of a kick like Rotel) could be these are now also offered in mild or hot. Have to check next visit.
 
I don't use plain diced tomatoes in anything anymore.

Michael... :~) That thread about making nice here made me do it. :o)

KurtSara, welcome to Roadfood. Was that Kurt or Sara? Some do get kinda picky here but it's usually not me. Just try suggesting that there might be some kind of celery seasoning in xxxxxxxxx xxxxx. Anyway, I hope you make a 2nd post. :~)

Boomer, welcome to Roadfood and glad to see you made a 2nd post. I see you caught my "are you yonkers" clue. :~) Your 1st post sounded like you wanted to know if Ro-Tel was different from Hunt's or Del Monte regular tomatoes. But... what was "that recipe" you were refering to in your 1st post. I am bettin it was a dip recipe of some kind.

Jeeper, I thought I might be the only one who missed tha Ro-Tel whole tomatoes. They had a different flavor than the dices and I would just dice up the whole ones when diced were needed. Sooo sad they are gone.

I do like the kinda new Mexican Ro-Tel though. It, along w/ some chopped onions, S&P & carlic, makes a meen guackamole.

Red Gold makes good Ro-Tel style tomatoes. And they have Tomatoes w/ jalapenos.
Joe

OK, who's tha smart A%# that X'd out parta my post?&^%#@ :~)

I damn sure stay away from that Rotel extra hot version.  Just as hot both ways; if you know what I mean.  

Adj, that Hot Ro-Tel mixed w/ a small pak of Hot Mexican Velveeta makes a REAL good dip! You can't eat it to fast though.
Joe

And oh, a cold one sure helps to wash it down.

 I tried the Walmart version of Rotel once and that stuff was so hot we needed many cold ones to cool us off - we like hot & spicy but it was really tough.

Went back to the original Rotel after that.

Baileys, the Great Value brand of some things varies by the batch. I bet you would like the jalapeno Red Gold. It is not REAL spicy in my book. It does have a kik though.

The Rotel Mild is good for things you don't want spicy hardly at all. I make a chicken tortilla soup for the small Great Zillas w/ it. The Mild Mexican Velveeta is good also. It goes good in the tortilla soup. Doritoes on top and they eat it up and make a BIG mess. :~)
Joe

Boom -
A lot of Rotel products show up in Big Lots stores. Some I have not seen in local supermarkts. If Conagra did not own Rotel, we might not see any of their products up here.

No Rotel have I seen at Big Lots down here in Texas. That's because it's so popular here.

Rotelhas been a staple in Texas crocery stores since I can remember. Like Ranch Style Beans it took a while to travel north.

The "whole" was the only Rotel for quite a while. Then came the "diced". Then they took the "whole" away. It had a way better taste than the "diced". Bad Con Agra. :~(

The "hot" is kinda new even in Texas.

The "Mexican" has been out for 6+ years or longer. It has Celantro and lime.

The "mild"  has been around for a while. I think it came out about the same time as tha "Mexican".

Oh, and they have a "chili" fixin flavor. I am not a fan of that stuf yet.

I think the popularity of Rotel / Velveta cheese dip has allowed Rotel to now travel north.

And Oh, we put Jimmy Dean Sausage, hot or mild, in out Velveeta Cheese Dip here in Texas. Kids are known to make a meal of that stuff in my neck a tha woods. Kids of all ages maybe?
Joe

Ro-tel is great in taco soup!

What in the world is taco soup?

Michael, it's like tacos w/o the shell and more juice. We have talked about taco soup around here some. And your right Tusti... Taco Soup and Rotel go good.
Joe

PapaJoe8


Adj, that Hot Ro-Tel mixed w/ a small pak of Hot Mexican Velveeta makes a REAL good dip! You can't eat it to fast though.
Joe

And oh, a cold one sure helps to wash it down.

 
Oh.  No wonder.  I thought it was soup.