[365-day streak] My Most Effective Recipe

RyanTahiti

Hi pals! I just passed the 365-day mark for logging every bit of food and exercise, and it's been a successful year.

I want to share the recipe I've come up with that is my favorite for three reasons: (1) it actually tastes good, (2) it's efficient for the amount of calories in a serving, and (3) it keeps me full for longer than any other meal of equal calories. And it's practical: it's easy to make a huge batch, and it freezes well and reheats well. I've made it public in the recipe database. Hopefully someone else out there might find this useful in their calorie-counting battle

Ryan's Mexican Rice & Beef

1 cup Brown Rice (dry)
1 cup Beef Broth
1 lb 91% Lean Ground Beef
1 tsp Olive Oil
1/2 large Yellow Onion, diced
1 tbsp Minced Garlic
1/2 can Diced Tomatoes
1/2 can Tomato Sauce
1 can Corn
2 cups Salsa
1 tsp Seasoning Salt (like Tony Chachere's)
1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
1 tsp Paprika

In a large pot, bring simmer rice in 1 cup beef broth and 1 cup water for 45 minutes.
While rice is cooking, brown beef in a large pan, then remove beef and set aside. In the same pan, heat olive oil and sautée onions for 8 minutes; add garlic, and cook 2 more minutes. Combine with beef and set aside.
When rice is finished, add the beef, onions, tomatoes, tomato sauce, corn, salsa, and seasonings. Mix and simmer in the large pot for 15 minutes.

Makes about 8 cups, each about 225 calories. Freezes and reheats well. Tastes great with melted cheddar cheese on top.

emmy3111

This sounds really good - thanks for posting

rachelguy

:drinker: great recipe!

lizzardsm

sounds delicious!

any idea approx where the macros are per cup?

RyanTahiti

Thanks!
I'm not sure how to share the actual recipe link, but here's a copy and paste of the data per 1 cup serving:
Calories 225
Carbs 30
Fat 7
Protein 15
Sodium 790
Sugar 8

Rebamae

Thanks so much! I love trying new recipes

Reba

stephanieluvspb

I'm going to try this weekend. Thanks

momof2boyz832

Bumping..sounds delish and definitely going to try this next week!
Thanks!

RyanTahiti

Great - if you guys make it, let me know what you think and what adjustments you'd make.
I added bacon once and it was great, but of course more calories.
I usually put some Frank's Red Hot sauce on top. Love that stuff.
And it seems like this recipe would be perfect with chorizo added (or half beef half chorizo), but a pound of that stuff has about as many calories as the rest of the ingredients combined...maybe that'll go in the "restaurant version"

vegan4lyfe2012

I am totally going to try this - going to sub vegan broth and tvp in place of the ground beef

freckly3321

Bump! Sounds great

fowlerly

bump

seashell709

you had me at Mexican rice lol. I will be trying this soon.

Mangopickle

I think I would like this with quinoa instead of rice.

chatnel

sounds good. Would add: Jalapenos and Coriander/Cilantro

Sandyslosenit

Yummy :drinker:

foss44

Bump

bedot

Sounds great! Thanks!

as124

bump

MizMimi111

Sounds yummy!

wendyksucha

Got more and how about snack ideas? 1200 Cal a day is going to be hard to stay with for 5 weeks!

teriafobes

Love trying new things. Also glad that you can freeze it since it sounds like it makes a lot and I cook for one. I think I'll use ground turkey or veggie crumbles instead of the ground beef. Will let you know.

liltarn

Definitely a recipe I'll be trying. Thanks for posting.

tudazies

Sounds great thanks!

kellyj5201

gonna add this to my menu for next week ! thanx

warriorprincessdi

BUMP! for later - Thanks for sharing this!

robergebsr

Going to try this. Thanks for the recipe~

867Jen5309

That sounds delicious!! Definitely going to give it a try! Thanks for sharing!

SamanthaJo1027

Added it to my menu for next week, I'm going to mix ground turkey and chorizo. Yum!

BalmyD

It sounds good. I'll try it! This recipe reminds me of one of my most effective recipes (for the same reasons). This is copied and pasted from some other thread so the "I" in the instructions is not me:

Barley Beef Skillet
Source: Slightly adapted from Taste of Home

Ingredients:
1 pound 95% lean ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 can (14.5 oz) Beef Broth
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 cup water
2 small carrots, chopped
1 small tomato, seeded and chopped
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 cup medium pearl barley
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
1. I put my carrots and zucchini in my food processor to finely chop them and I liked the results so I recommend doing that first. I did chop the tomatoes and onions by hand with my awesome new Paula Deen knives (thanks Santa!)
2. Bring a large skillet to medium heat and cook ground beef and onion together, breaking up meat until it is browned. Drain if necessary (it was for me). Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add the broth, tomato sauce and water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir in the vegetables, barley and seasonings.
3. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 45-50 minutes until barley is tender.

Yields 4 (1-½ c) servings. Weight Watchers Points Plus: 9 per serving
Nutrition Info per serving calculated by myfitnesspal.com: 382 calories, 7 g fat, 49 g carbs, 32 g prot

SHINDY12

thanks, bump