Suggestions on how to jazz up brown rice?

ninjakowski
ninjakowski Posts: 158
in Recipes
Have been trying to switch out the potatoes my husband loves to eat with dinner for brown rice occasionally. I enjoy it with stir frys or meals that include some kind of sauce, but am finding it a bit plain as a side to, say, chicken breast and veggies. Its just a bit dry on its own.

Does anyone have any ideas on simple, low calorie 'improvements' that would make it a bit more interesting?
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Replies

  • Chadomaniac
    Chadomaniac Posts: 1,785 Member
    i am no chef and need tips aswel lol
    Good post
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    i like it cooked with a herb like mint or rosemary in the water as well as a bit of salt, or used in stirfries, or cold in a salad with veges and a little feta.

    It's also nice with hummus and chicken in it. sounds weird, but i like it
  • EmmaKarney
    EmmaKarney Posts: 690 Member
    Make it into egg fried rice?
  • Ejwelton
    Ejwelton Posts: 331 Member
    I sometimes stir in a spoon of pesto.
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    I sometimes stir in a spoon of pesto.

    YUM

    soooo trying that.

    also, you can get brown jasmine and brown basmati now, theyre a bit less dense tasting and easier to eat, i find
  • kellehbeans
    kellehbeans Posts: 838 Member
    I agree with the poster who said about the pesto. I really like having brown rice, a can of boneless and skinless salmon, cucumber and some pesto. It is yummy!

    My usual yet though is probably quite boring, but I like brown rice, a few tins of tuna, cucumber, tomato or instead of tuna - some chicken or turkey breast. Keeps me nice and full!
  • susannahsutton1
    susannahsutton1 Posts: 372
    Chilli, low fat Creme fraiche and spinach leaves
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    Chilli, low fat Creme fraiche and spinach leaves

    okay, you people are now officially writing my new supermarket shopping list/menu. YUM
  • chooriyah
    chooriyah Posts: 469 Member
    Once it's a day old, fry with a teeny bit of oil, some green onions, chopped kimchee and a splash of soy sauce. Serve with egg on top. Can add chopped chicken, baked tofu etc etc to make more substantial...
  • SRH7
    SRH7 Posts: 2,037 Member
    I rarely use it as a side dish and usually incorporate it into the rest of the ingredients.

    Chop up the chicken and broccoli and stir through the rice with something to make a sauce (so less dry) - try pesto, chicken stock, garlic, herbs, creme fraiche, Greek yoghurt, tomatoes etc etc.

    Use it as the basis for fried rice (use one-cal oil spray) with soy sauce, chillies, fish sauce, rice wine, stock , garlic, sesame seeds etc etc.

    Make a biryani - stir through curried meat and/or veg.

    Use cold as the basis for a salad - stir through tuna, spring onions, chopped cherry tomatoes, black pepper, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, feta cheese, olives etc etc.

    I love brown rice!
  • __Aid__
    __Aid__ Posts: 72 Member
    I used to make this all the time, but i'd add green onions and chilli to spice it up a little

    Brown rice bowl per Insanity Nutritional Guide

    1/2 c cooked brown rice
    2 oz. grilled chicken breast
    1/3 c corn niblets
    1/3 cooked peas 1/2 c cooked brown rice
    2 oz. grilled chicken breast
    1/3 c corn niblets
    1/3 cooked peas
    Minutes to Prepare: 10
    Minutes to Cook: 45
    Number of Servings: 1

    Ingredients
    cook the brown rice prior to creating the dish to save time.
    /2 c cooked brown rice
    2 oz. grilled chicken breast, diced
    1/3 c corn niblets
    1/3 cooked peas

    Directions
    this serves one person:
    cook the brown rice per instructions
    heat up the corn and peas via stove top or microwave
    heat up the chicken, I use the tyson ready chicken strips

    Combine the rice, chicken, corn and peas.

    Nutritional Info

    Servings Per Recipe: 1
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories: 357.3
    Total Fat: 4.7 g
    Cholesterol: 50.0 mg
    Sodium: 773.1 mg
    Total Carbs: 87.5 g
    Dietary Fiber: 5.3 g
    Protein: 32.8 g
  • benol1
    benol1 Posts: 867 Member
    I'm not sure how you are cooking the rice. However, my suggestion is to cook brown rice using the absorption method. Any quantity of brown rice and just add cold water to one inch (2.5cm) above the level of the rice. Add a pinch of salt. Cover, bring to boil and then reduce the heat to a very gentle simmer. Keep an eye on it and test the rice now and then by tasting it. Add more water if it looks like its going toboil dry before its finished cooking. Brown rice cooked using this method is far superior to brown rice boiled in copious water and then drained.
    A good condiment is gomashio: dry pan roast any quantity of sesame seeds and when they go golden brown - add salt. You want a sesame seed to salt ratio of 10:1. Grind together in a mortar and pestle or in a spice grinder. You can also add roasted nori (seaweed) to your gomashio.
    I hope that helps.
    kind regards,

    Ben
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    I'm not sure how you are cooking the rice. However, my suggestion is to cook brown rice using the absorption method. Any quantity of brown rice and just add cold water to one inch (2.5cm) above the level of the rice. Add a pinch of salt. Cover, bring to boil and then reduce the heat to a very gentle simmer. Keep an eye on it and test the rice now and then by tasting it. Add more water if it looks like its going toboil dry before its finished cooking. Brown rice cooked using this method is far superior to brown rice boiled in copious water and then drained.
    A good condiment is gomashio: dry pan roast any quantity of sesame seeds and when they go golden brown - add salt. You want a sesame seed to salt ratio of 10:1. Grind together in a mortar and pestle or in a spice grinder. You can also add roasted nori (seaweed) to your gomashio.
    I hope that helps.
    kind regards,

    Ben

    I buy my gomashio at the japanese import store, it's cheap as :) mmmm gomashio
  • Kymmu
    Kymmu Posts: 1,650 Member
    I like this thread- Sometimes I like to put honey on wild rice for a little snack.
  • SRH7
    SRH7 Posts: 2,037 Member
    A good condiment is gomashio: dry pan roast any quantity of sesame seeds and when they go golden brown - add salt. You want a sesame seed to salt ratio of 10:1. Grind together in a mortar and pestle or in a spice grinder.

    That sounds amazing :)
  • Ejwelton
    Ejwelton Posts: 331 Member
    I've also made a stir through sauce with some greek yoghurt, tomato puree, cumin or whatever spices I fancy!
  • Laura_beau
    Laura_beau Posts: 1,029 Member
    Buy some pastes to mix through, it will jazz up the rice in a second! I'm pretty sure most supermarkets stock them (They do in the UK anyway) but if not try an international supermarket or online.

    -Morroccan Harissa paste (spicy tomato paste) & serve with lamb/ grilled chicken/ fish & lemon juice.

    - Indian Curry Paste (Like balti paste or jalfrezi paste) and serve with grilled meat/fish/veggies and fresh coriander (cilantro) and lime juice.

    - Ditto with pesto. You can buy so many different types of pesto nowadays like Aubergine (eggplant) pesto, sundried tomato pesto, chilli pesto....

    - Make your own 'greek' paste with about 20 pitted black olives, 2 tbsp sundried tomato paste and oregano/dill.

    - Thai sweet chilli sauce, chopped spring/green onions and chopped cilantro/coriander.

    - teriyaki sauce & mushrooms

    - Sesame oil & soy sauce with egg & spring/green onions.
  • harric88
    harric88 Posts: 82 Member
    I have brown rice, tuna / salmon, carrots, peas and brocolli (chop the brocolli into little bits) in a bowl for my lunch easy to make at work :) not bored of it yet either!!
  • pyrowill
    pyrowill Posts: 1,163 Member
    Make it into egg fried rice?

    This! It add's up the protein macro too.
  • paruls86
    paruls86 Posts: 188 Member
    stirfry in a bit of oil with garlic and onions sprinkle a bit of soya sauce (check sodium) and its done ...
    i find it the easiest...
  • rainghirl
    rainghirl Posts: 203 Member
    Again for leftover cold rice, or even just cooked rice, you can fry some chopped onion witi a little bit of oil, add the cooked rice and chopped coriander , I think it's called cilantro in the US. Make sure all is warmed through and serve.
  • ThriftyChica12
    ThriftyChica12 Posts: 373 Member
    add any of the following:

    -dried seaweed flakes
    -nutritional yeast (tastes like man n cheez)
    --salsa
    -beans
    -hot sauce
    -garlic powder
    -nuts
    -chopped apples
    ANYTHING :)
  • paulahunter3
    paulahunter3 Posts: 27
    last night I made gorgeous brown rice.

    Cooked my rice in the morning then when I came in from work I stir fried it with red pepper, veg stock powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, soy sauce and a little sesame oil, it was sooo good!

    When I am just normally boiling it, i add in veg stock powder (for me builion is best) and then depending what I am having I might add in garlic powder, curry powder, soy sauce, sesame oil etc.
  • O2BFatNoMore
    O2BFatNoMore Posts: 19
    I generally eat mine plain, after making about a week's worth in the rice cooker. I add a little onion powder and a touch of canola oil. This keeps it kind of flavor-neutral so I can do other stuff. My favorite is baking salmon fillets on top of the brown rice in a baking dish with a little butter and seasoning on the salmon. The rice gets a little cruchy and absorbs the flavors from the salmon. Party in my mouth.
  • beautyimthebeast
    beautyimthebeast Posts: 28
    MORE BROWN RICE just kidding. Carrots ( small dice ) , green peas and ham or bacon( small pieces ) and of course sprinkle whey protein just kidding. Carrots,peas and ham.trust me im an asian haha lol
  • damiannikodem
    damiannikodem Posts: 77 Member
    chickpeas and lentils
  • Bronx_Montgomery
    Bronx_Montgomery Posts: 2,284 Member
    hahaha...I read Jazz up too quickly so I read it a different way and laughed like a little boy.


    I tend to put a little season salt in mine, sometimes add some carrots and also eating it with Avocado. That tends to help
  • Ninatoots
    Ninatoots Posts: 192 Member
    I think short grain brown organic rice tastes better. I like to add a few cashews like in Cashew-chicken & rice. It has other things in it like soy sause, celery, bell pepers, onions, baby corn, water chestnuts maybe.
  • rcc1988
    rcc1988 Posts: 125 Member
    If you have a "spicy tooth" and you're feeling lazy, try plain ol' cooking it and stirring in several drops of your favourite hot sauce. :) Gives it a nice kick.
  • NeverGivesUp
    NeverGivesUp Posts: 960 Member
    I cook it with sprouted beans, carrots, onions, garlic and veggie broth. It tastes super yummy.

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