Really Simple Rice Food

REALLY SIMPLE RICE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a non-stick saucepan over medium-high heat nearly to smoking. Cook and stir rice in the hot oil quickly to toast the rice, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir the onion into the rice; cook and stir 1 minute more. Pour chicken broth over the rice mixture, season with garlic salt, and bring to a boil; reduce heat to low, place a cover on the saucepan, and cook until the broth is absorbed and the rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to rest 5 minutes before lifting the lid.

MEXICAN RICE

Steps:

• Adjust rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350.
• Process tomato and onion in processor or blender until pureed and thoroughly smooth. Transfer mixture to measuring cup and reserve exactly 2 cups. Discard excess.
• Remove ribs and seeds from 2 jalapenos and discard. Mince flesh and set aside. Mince remaining jalapeno. Set aside.
• Place rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water until water runs clear- about 1 1/2 minutes.Shake rice vigorously to remove excess water.This step removes the starch from the rice so it will not stick. IF YOU OMIT THIS STEP YOUR RICE WILL NOT BE DRY AND FLUFFY.
• Heat oil in heavy bottomed ovensafe 12 inch straight sided sautee pan or Dutch oven with tight fitting lid over low-medium heat about 2 minutes. (The recipe is very specific about this but I used a 10 inch dutch oven and it worked out fine.) Drop a few rice grains in and if they sizzle then it is ready. Add rice and fry stirring until rice is light golden and translucent, about 6-8 minutes. Be careful that the oil doesn't get too hot too fast or the oil will splatter.
• Reduce heat to medium, add garlic and 2 minced jalapenos and cook , stirring constantly until fragrant, about 1 1/2 minutes.
• Stir in broth, pureed mixture,tomato paste, and salt. Increase heat to medium high, and bring to a boil.
• Cover pan and transfer pan to oven to bake until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 30-35 minutes.Stir well after 15 minutes.
• Stir in cilantro, minced jalapeno to taste, and pass lime wedges separately.
• Edited to add 6-15-05: If you can't get good fresh tomatoes you are better off using canned tomatoes. Don't use those awful hard and underipe tomatoes that are at most supermarket chains. Just be sure that the processed tomatoes and the one onion equals 2 cups. One the other hand- if you find that after processing your tomatoes and onions that you have less than 2 cups- simply add enough bottled salsa to make up the difference.
• Edited 8-21-06: Do not skip any of the steps. It may seem stupid- but rinsing the rice to remove the starch is very important if you want fluffy rice. It will only take two minutes of your time but it makes the difference.
• Edited 8-15-08: Leftovers are just as delicious the next day so this is a perfect dish to make ahead time for potlucks. This rice also freezes well. For Freezing Ahead: Cool, portion and freeze in a ziploc bag. To reheat from frozen: Place in a pyrex dish and warm in the microwave, stirring every 2-3 minutes until heated through.
• You'll love this rice! Money back guarantee.

EASY HOMEMADE YELLOW SPANISH RICE

Steps:

• Bring a medium size pot to medium high heat and add oil. When hot, add onions and carrots and cook ~ 4-5 minutes at a lower heat or until veggies are soft and translucent. Stir in ground turmeric to the mixture.
• Add rice and stir to coat. Add broth or water after the rice is coated with the oil/spice mixture.
• Bring rice to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and cook covered ~ 20 minutes (or according to package instructions). Don't stir rice during this process. Just let it do it's thing undisturbed.
• Remove rice from heat and add peas (after rice is cooked) and keep rice covered to steam them ~ 8 minutes (this keeps their vibrant color).
• Remove lid and fluff rice before serving.
• Add salt to taste. Happy Eating! Beckie

CRISPY RICE BAKE WITH SHRIMP AND PEAS

Steps:

• Stir together mayonnaise, lemon zest and juice, and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or shallow Dutch oven over medium-high. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add remaining 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder, chili powder, turmeric, and 1 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add rice; cook, stirring occasionally, until toasted and beginning to turn golden, 2 to 3 minutes
• Add tomatoes and 1 1/2 cups stock. Spread rice in an even layer in skillet. Bake until all liquid is absorbed and some rice is crusted around edges of pan, about 20 minutes.
• Remove skillet from oven and add remaining 1 cup stock. Stir rice in center of skillet, leaving rice on perimeter stuck to edges. Return to oven. Bake until rice is mostly tender and continues to crisp around edges, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven. (If rice is not yet mostly tender, add up to 1/2 cup more stock.) Stirring only in center of skillet, stir in peas and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Nestle shrimp in rice; return to oven.
• Bake until shrimp are just cooked through and peas are bright green and tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and sprinkle with parsley. Serve with mayonnaise mixture and lemon wedges.