A tasty and healthy way to use left-over chicken, beef, salmon, or shrimp.  Add whatever vegetables you have on hand to create your own unique dish.  Serve it with our favorite Nordstrom dressing – link provided below.

Print

Versatile Rice Bowls

Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb cooked chicken, beef, salmon or shrimp
• 1 1/2 cups brown rice, cooked according to directions Jasmine Brown Rice gives a great nutty flavor
• 1 avocado, cubed
• 3/4 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• Kosher and fresh ground pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds Trader Joe's carries good spiced pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup Lime Cilantro Dressing or any dressing you prefer We like the Nordstrom dressing recipe*

Instructions

• Set Oven to 400°
• Spread sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil and salt & pepper
• Bake for about 40 minutes, until potatoes are cooked.
• Divide rice among the 4 bowls. Next divide remaining ingredients. Top with dressing and pumpkin seeds.

Notes

* Nordstrom's Dressing

This dish is perfect for picnics – it can be made the day ahead and it is best served room temperature.

Print

Mediterranean Rice Salad

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 6

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tsp salt divided
• 1 1/2 cup jasmine rice
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice about 2 lemons
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano or 1 tsp fresh oregano
• 1 tsp fresh chives or mint
• 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 2-3 cups spinach leaves chopped
• 1 red bell pepper finely chopped
• 1 cucumber peeled, seeded and diced
• 1/2 cup green onions sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped kalamata olives optional
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

• Bring 2 1/2 cups of water to boil in a medium saucepan.  Once boiling add rice and 1/2 t. salt.  Turn heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let sit, still covered, for 5 minutes.  Fluff with a fork and put in large bowl.
• While rice is cooking, make the dressing by whisking together the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, oregano, chives/mint, 1 tsp salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes.
• Add the dressing to the rice, mix, and immediately add the spinach and toss.  Let this sit until the dish is no longer steaming, about 15-20 minutes.  
• Add remaining ingredients and stir.  Serve at room temperature.

Notes

To make this dish a meal, sprinkle 1 1/2  pounds of shrimp (deveined and shelled, tails on) with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.  Sauté in a tablespoon of hot oil until shrimp curls and turns pink.  You can also use sautéed chicken breasts instead of shrimp.

Need a quick side dish and have no time to run to the store?  Keep a can of seasoned black beans (we like Bush’s) and rice in the pantry, and a tasty side dish is on the table in 20 minutes.  Left over chicken, shrimp, or pork?  Add it to the dish and it becomes a meal!

Print

Rice with Seasoned Black Beans

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Caribbean

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups jasmine or basmati rice
• 3 cups water
• 1 cube chicken bouillon
• 1 can Bush's Seasoned Black Beans  undrained
• 1/4 cup sliced green onions

Instructions

• Heat the olive oil in a medium sauce pan over medium heat.          
• Add rice and stir for 30 seconds.
• Add water and bring to a boil.
• Once water boils, add the bouillon, turn heat to simmer and cover.
• Cook rice for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until all water is absorbed.
• Add black beans and stir until heated through.
• Top with green onions and serve immediately.

This yummy side dish is a fantastic addition to any meal over and over again.  The chives, cheese, and pine nuts are optional, but “step up” this rice dish into something special for your simple celebration.

Print

Rice Pilaf

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Ingredients

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 1/2 cup Basmati or Jasmine rice
• 3 cups water
• 2 cubes chicken or vegetable bouillon
• salt & fresh ground pepper
• 1/4 cup snipped chives optional
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese optional
• 1/3 cup roasted pine nuts optional

Instructions

• Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan. 
• Add rice and stir constantly for about 1 minute.
• Add water and bullion cubes, stir.
• When water boils, turn heat to low and cover saucepan.  Cook about 15 minutes on gas stove (20 on electric), stirring occasionally until water is absorbed. 
• Remove from heat and add salt and pepper to taste (you can make rice up to this point and leave covered for about 15 minutes). 
• Stir in chives, parmesan cheese, and pine nuts if desired.