In Cindy's Kitchen: Veggie Rice: Cooking for a Crowd

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Veggie Rice: Cooking for a Crowd

Veggie Rice

Hi everybody :)

Today I would like to share my favorite rice recipe with you. One day while eating Chinese take-outs (which I love). I decided to come up with my own version of veggie rice. How hard could it be... vegetables and rice ...Voila ..veggie rice. So, I went into the kitchen to create and this is what I came up with. Now, I get asked to make this at every family get-together. Once I had to make enough for about 150 people, when one of my sisters renewed her wedding vows.

Veggie Rice

For the Rice:
6 cups water
3 cups rice (I use a combination of Uncle Ben Converted Long Grain Rice and Par Excellence Yellow Rice)
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon butter

Cook rice according to directions on package. (I cooked mine for 20 minutes) Set aside.

For the Vegetables:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 large onion, diced
1 cup carrots, shredded ; about 1 1/2 carrots (dry off excess liquid with paper towels)
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 cup bell pepper, chopped; (I used 4 mini peppers) (dry off excess liquid with paper towels)
3 cups broccoli, chopped; (I used 2 broccoli crowns)
Salt, Pepper, & Butter to taste

In a very large frying pan over medium high heat add oil, butter, onions, carrots, and celery. Cook for about 2 -3 minutes,

add bell pepper and broccoli and cook until broccoli is tender but still firm about 2 minutes.

Remove from heat. Add rice, stir well to mix. Season with additional salt, butter and pepper to taste.

Serve. Yield: about 14 cups or 21 (2/3 cup) servings

This is great like it is or meat can be added to it for a main course meal. Beef, chicken, pork, or fish I love it served with grilled salmon. I like to make a lot, so I can freeze some for later. For detailed information on how to freeze and reheat cooked rice go here.

This can also be downside easily and the vegetable can be adjusted to your choice. So if you're entertaining, cooking for a crowd, or a family of four give this a try, I'm sure you'll be please with the results. Now, get out your cutting boards and get to chopping :)