Peppered Brown Rice Recipes

MEXICAN BROWN RICE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a food processor or blender, combine the tomatoes, onion and garlic, and blend until smooth. In a liquid measuring cup, measure out 2 cups of the tomato mixture and discard the rest.
• Warm the olive oil in a medium Dutch oven* over medium heat until shimmering. Add the rice and jalapeño and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the vegetable broth (watch out for splatters), tomato mixture, tomato paste (add a little extra if you're using fresh tomatoes that aren't super flavorful), and salt. Stir to combine, then increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil.
• Cover the pot with the lid and carefully transfer it to the oven. Bake until the liquid is absorbed (the rice will look dry when you take off the lid, but don't worry) and the rice is tender, about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking.
• Stir in the cilantro and season to taste with additional salt, if necessary (I often add another 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon). If you'd like spicier rice, add a pinch of red pepper flakes and stir again. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

BROWN RICE BOWLS WITH STEWED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut tops off peppers, then cut lengthwise into sections along creases. Remove seeds and membranes. Slice sections crosswise.
• Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add sweet peppers and, if using, chiles. Cook, stirring often, until peppers have softened slightly, about 5 minutes. Add salt to taste and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, until peppers are tender.
• Add tomatoes, sugar, basil sprig and black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring from time to time, until tomatoes have softened and cooked down, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Cover skillet, reduce heat and simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thick and fragrant. Stir in slivered basil. Taste and adjust seasonings. Keep warm.
• Make Parmesan crisps: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 1 or 2 baking sheets with silicon mats or parchment. Spoon heaped tablespoons (about 1/2 ounce) grated Parmesan onto silicon mat or parchment, then use a spoon to flatten rounds until they are about 4 to 4 1/2 inches in diameter and very thin. They should be about 2 inches apart. Bake 9 to 10 minutes, switching pans front to back, until the cheese is brown and lacy. Remove from heat and allow the rounds to cool. Once cooled, they should be crisp all the way through.
• Spoon rice into bowls. Top with peppers. Garnish with torn leaves of fresh basil and a Parmesan crisp.

SWEET BELL PEPPER RICE

Steps:

• Bring water and rice to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onion in the hot oil until tender, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and continue to cook and stir until onion is translucent, 2 to 3 minutes more. Stir green bell pepper and red bell pepper into onion mixture; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Season with basil, oregano, black pepper, and salt.
• Pour wine into vegetable mixture and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer until liquid is reduced, about 5 minutes. Stir rice into vegetables. Top with Parmesan cheese before serving.

PEPPERED CILANTRO RICE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute the onion, peppers and garlic in oil until crisp-tender. Add the water, rice, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until rice is tender, 18-22 minutes. , Remove from the heat; fluff with a fork. Stir in cilantro.

PEPPERED BROWN RICE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring water and bouillon to a boil.
• Stir in rice.
• Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until water is absorbed.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the vegetables in oil until tender.
• Stir in the tarragon and rice; heat through.

BROWN RICE STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut off the top 1/3 inch of each pepper, remove and discard the seeds. If needed, cut a small amount of the bottom off each pepper so that they sit flat. Season the insides evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Nestle the peppers inside an 8-inch baking dish and set aside.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat another minute. Add the plant-based meat and use the back of a wooden spoon to break apart the meat into small pieces. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is browned, about 5 minutes. Add the shallots, fennel, oregano and 1 teaspoon salt and cook another 4 minutes or until fragrant and the vegetables begin to soften. Stir in the rice, tomatoes, spinach, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, basil and pepper and cook until the spinach is wilts and the cheese is melted. Divide the mixture among the peppers. Top with the Provolone piccante. Add 1/2 cup of water to the bottom of the pan. Bake the peppers for 40 minutes or until the cheese is melted and peppers are soft but not falling apart. Serve hot.

CUMIN BEEF PEPPER STEAK AND BROWN RICE

Steps:

• Cook the rice using chicken stock according to the package directions. Wait to heat the pan for the stir-fry until the rice is 10 minutes from being ready to eat.
• Cut the meat lengthwise into 2 thin steaks, then wrap in plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 10 minutes to firm it up for thin slicing.
• Toast the cumin and peppercorns in small skillet then grind in a spice mill.
• Very thinly slice the meat on an angle, against the grain into bite-size pieces.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat with the stir-fry oil. When the oil ripples and smokes, add the meat and cook until browned. Remove the meat and add the garlic, chiles, peppers, cinnamon, ginger, mushrooms, onions and toasted spices. Stir-fry until tender-crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sherry. Add the scallions to the skillet with the beef, then toss with the soy sauce and cilantro. Serve with rice.

PEPPER FRIED RICE

Steps:

• Put peanut oil in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, and turn heat to medium high. A minute later, add peppers and raise heat to high. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add rice, separating it with your hands as you do so. Cook, stirring and breaking up the rice lumps, until it is hot and begins to brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the soy sauce and sesame oil, taste and adjust seasoning, and serve.

SWEET PEPPER RICE

Steps:

• In a small skillet or saucepan, saute the rice and garlic in butter until rice is browned. Add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; add the peppers, oregano, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until rice is tender. Fluff with a fork. Sprinkle with parsley.