Spanish Rice

I first discovered this unique dish from my brother. He took culinary classes in high school, and was always learning new recipes that he would bring home to my mom, and she would turn them into a delicious meal for our family. The following ingredients are sure to liven up your average rice dinner!

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound of ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons of vegeatable oil
  • 1 green pepper, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • One 1 pound can of tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons of parsley
  • 1 cup of diced celery
  • 1 cup of raw rice (I use Minute Brown Rice)
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder

Directions:

  1. Brown the ground beef in oil.
  2. Add pepper and onion and cook until the onion is transparent.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients, mixing well.
  4. Pour the mixture into a greased 1 1/2 quart casserole.
  5. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.
  6. Serves 4.

Notes:

If you'd like to spice up the dish even more, there are a few more things you can do. Sometimes when my mother makes it, she'll sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese on top and let it melt. This gives the meal an extra hint of flavor, and really makes it even more delicious. Another thing you can do, just to change things up, is mix in a pasta with the rice. I was recently turned onto this idea by my mom, who decided she wanted to try something different with the dish. You do everything else the same, but just divide the recipe, so that you use half rice and half of a pasta (we used mini bow ties, but you can use anything your heart desires.) It was rather interesting, as it created a whole new texture and taste.

Something else, that was recently recommended to me by my doctor, was to use whole wheat rice. A lot of people who hear the words 'whole wheat' will immediately think that means dry and tasteless. Admittedly, I thought the same, but it actually tastes the exact same, especially with all the other flavors you have going. It's really a win-win situation: you get the taste, and you also get a healthier diet.

If anyone has any questions regarding this dish, don't hesitate to ask. To anyone who tries this, enjoy!

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