Rice Side Dishes

[oranges]

While PS is on a cooking kick, I was wondering if anyone had any ride side dish recipes that they would like to share. I have been making the pre-packaged "rice sides" and while they are delicious-- I think that it would probably be better to branch out a little bit and learn how to make flavorful rice dishes the real way-- and eliminate all of those nasty chemicals and preservatives.

Any thoughts?

 

[Deactivated member 42515]

What do you mean by rice side dishes? Like side dishes you eat with rice or side dishes made from rice?

 

[webdiva]

Once I reorder my pressure cooker, I'm going to try to my hand at making risotto in it. Apparently, it eliminates the stirring! yay!

 

[oranges]

What do you mean by rice side dishes? Like side dishes you eat with rice or side dishes made from rice?

Sorry I was unclear! Side dishes made from rice. For some reason I got completely addicted to those Knorr 'rice sides' packets from the grocery store and now I want to eat rice with like every meal

 

[oranges]

Once I reorder my pressure cooker, I'm going to try to my hand at making risotto in it. Apparently, it eliminates the stirring! yay!

I've never even had risotto. I would love to try it. Do you have a favorite recipe? I heard that risotto is super creamy and delicious!!!!!

 

[JulieN]

I basically do this kind of recipe, subbing an veggies I have on hand, and chicken bouillon cubes if I don't have stock. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/health/nutrition/21recipehealth.html?_r=0

If you want extra creamy and fluffy, you rinse the rice with water, save the water! and use that some of that water in your risotto. And then use whipped heavy cream to mount at the end off the heat, it will lighten the texture. Details here: http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/10/the-food-lab-the-science-of-risotto.html

 

[tuffyluvr]

While PS is on a cooking kick, I was wondering if anyone had any ride side dish recipes that they would like to share. I have been making the pre-packaged "rice sides" and while they are delicious-- I think that it would probably be better to branch out a little bit and learn how to make flavorful rice dishes the real way-- and eliminate all of those nasty chemicals and preservatives.

Any thoughts?

Hi Oranges! Here is a suuuuper simple one that i make and everyone always loves--and it's as easy as one of the packet sides:
spanish rice
2 c rice
3.5 c water or broth (get the natural kind without MSG or you might as well eat the pre-packaged rice--it's shockingly full of chemicals! Trader Joe's brand is great, and so is the Pacific Organic) The liquid concentrated broth packets are great too--I use 1 packet.
1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
1/2 c salsa

Add the butter and salsa to the water/broth. Bring to a boil. add the rice, stir, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer til water is absorbed--about 20 min. if you're feeling fancy you can toss in some chopped cilantro or frozen corn or diced frozen veggies at the end. fluff with a fork, and voila!

 

[Puppmom]

Oranges, quinoa is a super tasty (and healthy) option to replace rice. This is a great recipe. I usually throw some asparagus in it:

2 cups chicken (or vegetable) broth/stock
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
1 tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
salt (sea salt or Kosher)

Bring the broth/stock to a boil over medium heat. Stir in the quinoa. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes (until quinoa absorbs the liquid). Stir in the basil, garlic, cheese and salt until fully combined. Serve immediately.

 

[webdiva]

Once I reorder my pressure cooker, I'm going to try to my hand at making risotto in it. Apparently, it eliminates the stirring! yay!

I've never even had risotto. I would love to try it. Do you have a favorite recipe? I heard that risotto is super creamy and delicious!!!!!

I haven't tried making it but loooove it! Here's the next recipe I'm trying!
http://www.hippressurecooking.com/2010/07/risotto-in-7-minutes.html

 

[oranges]

Thank you thank you! I'll be trying these recipes in the next week. I'll be definitely trying my hand at risotto this weekend and the other rice recipes I'll try during the week. It looks SO GOOD! Definitely a like a sunday comfort food. Salsa rice is intriguing-- I always have salsa so that one would be so easy to throw together on a weeknight!!! I love the idea of trying quinoa-- to mix things up a little bit .... Now that I have some ideas, I better get cookin!!!