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Rice with a rainbow of colors! Perfect side for any meat or fish dish.
Rice Side Dish For All Occasions
This is a side dish I’ve been making for a long time. And when I say a long time, I mean since I was 12 years old!
I can remember all those years back when I had to get dinner started because my mother was delayed somewhere. At the tender age of 12 I was hardly a kitchen expert but I knew what I liked and worked with it.
Fish was on the menu that night and all I knew about making fish at that time was simply broiling it with butter. However what could be the side? Well, there were bits and pieces and leftovers. And that’s what this rainbow rice is made from–leftovers and bits and pieces. Hey, lots of times this stuff didn’t exactly work out, but sometimes it did and this rice proves it.
Change The Seasoning To Suit
The beauty of my rainbow rice is you can change the seasoning packet to go with whatever you make it to go with.
My mom was a big fan of G. Washington’s Brown Seasoning. That’s what I used, but I realize this may not be something available in all areas in the US. I’m pretty sure you can’t get it in Europe either. G. Washington’s is available from Amazon in bulk and I am now getting it from there. However, you don’t have to use that. Many dry broths are available nationwide, such as Herb-Ox so use that instead.
I used leftover rice, but if you cook rice specifically for this recipe, then the dry broth seasoning can be eliminated if you cook your rice in a flavorful stock.
Build On The Basics
The flavor of this rice side dish depends on three ingredients, so they are a must. Those ingredients are the dry seasoning, onions and bell peppers. Apart from those, add anything you like to it, especially any leftover vegetables.
I like to make this colorful to look at so I try to use several colors of peppers. But if you only have one or the other on hand, use what you have or what is the least expensive to buy. It’s the flavor of the peppers that you are after with this.
The Recipe
Rainbow Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked white rice leftover is fine
- 2 packets dry seasoning mix i.e. Washtingtons, Herb-Ox, Oxo
- 3 tbs olive oil
- 1 small onion sliced
- 1 cup bell peppers diced
- 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms optional
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the veggies and cook until they are almost tender.
- Add the rice and the seasoning packets; stir to combine and heat through.
Angelina says
We enjoy a tasty rice side dish once in a while, and this one sounds delicious. For us, I’d use brown rice, and green & red bell peppers. I’d have to double the recipe, since 1/2 cup of rice would NOT be enough. Even by doubling the portions & Nutritional Info, it’s still what I’d consider ‘waistline friendly’, as long as our main dish is ‘reasonably’ healthy. Thanks Judith 🙂