Fast And Easy Rice Pilaf Recipe

 (It Saves My Life Twice A Month)

By Michelle Alcon

As a mother of two and a woman on a quest for ways to make healthy food (and fast!), this recipe is a lifesaver! 

I make this rice dish every other week it seems, and for good reason. It's so versatile and makes a fair amount so I can use it for days to come. "Cook once and eat many times" is the key to this gal’s healthy meal prep. 

Here are the ingredients I usually prefer, but feel free to be creative with the whole grains and vegetables you choose to add:

Easy Oven Rice Pilaf

Ingredients

• 1 cup long grain brown rice, rinsed
• 1 cup wild rice, rinsed
• 1 can mushrooms (with juice) or 2 cups fresh chopped mushrooms, any kind
• 1 Tbsp onion flakes
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• 2 Tbsp tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) or soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 3 cups boiling water

Preparation

Mix all ingredients in a casserole dish, cover and bake for 1 hour (to 1 hour, 10 minutes) at 350° until cooked.

Makes about 6 to 8 servings.

Wanna know what else is cool about this dish? 

Once it’s made, the sky’s the limit for simple, healthy meal creations! Here are some of the ways I transform this dish into a different meal each night:

Make it a stir-fry. Add some pea pods, bean sprouts, broccoli, and other vegetables you have on hand. Add your favorite condiment like a low-sugar teriyaki or tamari and you’re all set.

Burger night! 

Pulse together a can of (no-salt) beans, some of the rice, a wet ingredient like salsa, BBQ or tamari, and vegetables (if desired) in a food processor. Stir this mixture with some oatmeal to bind it all together and form into patties. Bake at 375° for 12-15 minutes, flipping once. Option: fry them in a nonstick pan or put them on the grill.

Throw together easy burritos! 

Mix some of the rice with black or pinto beans, add some frozen corn, can of tomatoes with green chilies, and a little taco seasoning in a saucepan. Heat and serve on tortillas with some fresh cilantro and salsa. Delicioso!

Jambalaya anyone? 

Put 1 28-ounce can diced (no-salt) tomatoes, 1 14-oz. can (no-salt) kidney beans, a package of frozen vegetables (ie: corn, carrots, zucchini, or squash), 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 bay leaf and spices (such as onion flakes, paprika, chili powder, thyme and cayenne) in a big soup pot and simmer for 15 minutes. Add some oven rice and heat through.

Of course, the oven rice is delicious just the way it is. Bake some marinated tofu at the same time, add a big, green salad and voilà, dinner is served.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com

Published January 28, 2013 at 6:49 AM

About Michelle Alcon Michelle Alcon is a health coach, wife, mother of 2, and advocate for self-care and the power of plant-based nutrition. She teaches her clients ways to upgrade their lives through small changes to their diet and lifestyle, emphasizing an easy integrative approach for busy parents on the go. Michelle was trained at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and is certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Michelle is a proponent for living the experiment: continually trying new things and creating changes that lead to living the rich life that you imagine.
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