Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Quick and healthy Spanish rice!

Looking for an easy side dish?  Looking for something healthy?  Looking for something "authentic" Mexican but bastardized beyond belief?  Look no further!

(One caveat - this recipe may be a little "busy" for some, but I like a wide variety of flavors in my dishes, and seized this opportunity to clear out the pantry.  Omit ingredients as desired.  You should probably keep rice in the dish, though)

I'll try this with a new format, too - mostly illustrated.  This recipe made me six very hearty portions, so it could easily be served as 8 or 10 side dishes:

Heat & oil pan

 Add diced onion, salt & pepper
Make way for seeded & diced jalapenos!
 Now a diced green pepper
Festive spices - I added toasted cumin and garlic
 Frozen corn and rinsed canned black beans
 I use brown minute rice - this is approximately 3 cups of dry rice.  You can use regular rice, just be sure to pay attention to the instructions for cooking the rice!  Also, hold back on just a little bit of the chicken stock (recommended) or water for cooking the rice, because:
 You'll add salsa.  I started with 1/2 of a 16 oz jar, but I wound up having to use the whole thing.
Stir, cover and simmer until the rice is done and water is absorbed.  If you cook like I did here, you might want to check and make sure you have enough water, so you don't wind up with a pan full of scorched rice.  I decided I didn't have enough tomato-y goodness, so:
 I added a can of diced tomatoes in tomato sauce, stirred, and
 Viola!
Be sure to enjoy with
Grill-roasted veggies and. . .
 Chipotle & pineapple marinated chicken!
  
For those who need amounts of ingredients - this recipe included:
1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 onion
4 jalapenos 
1 green pepper
salt & pepper
maybe a teaspoon or two of cumin & granulated garlic
1 can black beans
1 cup frozen corn
3 cups minute rice
water according to rice instructions (minus a little bit)
1 - 16 oz jar of salsa
1 can of diced tomatoes




9 comments:

  1. That looks really good. I'd go nuts on it with additional spices, but that's how I roll.

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  2. That looks delicious! Nice dude, you should send me some!

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  3. Damn that looks good, I've been missing your blog!

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  4. I can't describe how much this just made me hungry. I have some spanish friends and i always eagerly await my next invite for dinner!

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  5. I like your style, good sir! But, like EpitomeofStrange said: I'm really hungry now.

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  6. Wow, this looks delicious! I really love your posts.

    Please, don't ever give up posting :)

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  7. dayum that looks insane. i bet it would also be great with some grilled wahoo.

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