Tag: Rice

Spanish Rice with Saffron Cream

Have you ever started a recipe only to find that you are missing an ingredient? And not just any ingredient, but a key ingredient? This happens to me more than I’d like to admit. Recently, I wanted to make Cooking Light’s Spanish Chicken and Rice with Saffron Cream, went and bought the ingredients, and came home to realize the person who checked me out never put the chicken in my bag! Blargh. so. Here’s a recipe for Chicken-less Spanish Rice with Saffron Cream

Spanish Rice with Saffron Cream

I was pretty annoyed, but we still had to eat. So this rice became more of a paella without the crispy bottom. And because of the chorizo, it still felt like it could be a complete meal. Anyways, this Spanish Rice with Saffron Cream was still tasty despite my grumbling for wanting some chicken.

 Spanish Rice with Saffron Cream

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 cup chopped white onion
  • 2 ounces cured Spanish chorizo sausage, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
  • 3 cups hot cooked long-grain white rice
  • 16 pimiento-stuffed green olives
  • 1 1/2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, lightly crushed
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • Cooking spray

Continue reading Spanish Rice with Saffron Cream

Thai Green Curry Shrimp with Coconut Rice

This post brought to you by Campbell’s Dinner Sauces. Weekend-worthy dinners with only weekday-level effort needed! Learn more at https://www.campbell.com/sauces.


There are a bunch of reasons why people are not too keen on cooking, especially on weeknights. Not having enough time, the convenience of just ordering food, and the stress of having all of the right ingredients on hand, and the fear of messing up the recipe are common reasons.

Campbell’s has a new line of products out that alleviate a lot of the above issues: Campbell’s Skillet Sauces and Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauces. The idea is brilliant, the sauce needed to make a delicious meal is already prepared for you. You just add your protein of choice! To learn more about the sauces, check out their interactive Facebook app that gives more information about both the Skillet and the Slow Cooker Sauces.

Because the sauces are already prepared, your cooking time is minimal. Most of the flavors would be amazing with sauteed chicken breasts, with a meal on the table in under 20 minutes! As a member of the DailyBuzz Brand Ambassador Program, I was given the chance to work with some of these new Campbell’s sauces, which are currently available in supermarkets, typically in the Gravy or Boxed Dinner Kit aisles.

I had a tough time choosing which sauce I wanted to feature on here so expect some of the other sauces to show up in the future. I decided to go with the Thai Green Curry sauce because a homemade curry can be quite time consuming, so it is super convenient to have a pre-made version.

I thought I’d snazz up my quick weeknight meal option by adding a few ingredients to the sauce that still cook up quickly: green beans and red peppers. I also used shrimp as my protein of choice. You can purchase shrimp in your supermarket in the frozen aisle. Look for the peeled and deveined ones, but be sure to grab uncooked shrimp. Shrimp cook up so quickly, and by purchasing the already cleaned ones, you’ll save yourself a bunch of time.

The Thai Green Curry Sauce includes lemongrass, basil, coconut milk, cilantro, and a subtle heat from jalapenos. There is enough sauce for 4 servings, and has just 70 calories a serving.

Ingredients (serves 4):

  • 1 cup uncooked basmati rice
  • 1 can coconut milk plus 1/2 can water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 16 oz frozen peeled and deveined shrimp, thawed
  • 1 packet of Campbell’s Thai Green Curry Sauce
  • 1 cup frozen cut green beans (do not thaw)
  • fresh basil, for garnish, optional

Continue reading Thai Green Curry Shrimp with Coconut Rice

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Bowls with Guacamole

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, IMUSA and McCormick Spices have teamed up to sponsor a great giveaway for I Can Cook That Readers! Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 to October 15 and celebrates the culture and traditions of those who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking Nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.


I will be giving away a Cuban/Caribbean-themed package which includes the following:

  • IMUSA’s Wood Mortar and Pestal, Caldero, and Tostonera
  • McCormick’s Black Pepper, Garlic Salt, Curry Powder, Paprika, Cinnamon, Oregano, Black Peppercorn Grinder, Chicken Bag n’ Season, and Black Beans and Rice Mix

Details on how to enter will be at the end of this post!

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I also received a nifty little package myself which included an IMUSA Cloth Tortilla Warmer, IMUSA Multicolor Salsa Dishes, IMUSA Granite Molcajete, and McCormick’s Black Pepper, Cumin, Mexican Oregano, Chili Powder, Cilantro Leaves, Taco Recipe Mix, Enchilada Recipe Mix, and Tinga de Pollo Recipe Mix.

 

So what better time to whip out the slow cooker and make Chicken Taco Bowls topped with Fresh Guacamole?

I adapted this recipe from a Budget Bytes recipe; the recipe is perfect for large crowds so I tested it out on a group of friends who came to visit this weekend. It also makes for one delicious reheated lunch option during the week!

Ingredients:

Taco Bowls

  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 (16 oz) jar mild salsa
  • 2 (15 oz) cans black beans, drained
  • 2 (8 oz) bags frozen corn
  • 1 packet Taco Seasoning Mix
  • 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
  • ½ tablespoon Ground Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Mexican Oregano
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 8 cups chicken broth (or water), divided
  • 3 cups long grain rice
  • 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
  • Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Guacamole

  • 3 Haas avocados
  • The juice of 1 lime
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ cup (~1/2 small onion) diced red onion
  • ½ jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
  • 2 plum tomatoes, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Continue reading Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Bowls with Guacamole

Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)

I am in a never ending search to find ways to make chicken into a new and different meal. Cooking Light’s September issue had this recipe for Japanese Chicken Meatballs, or Tsukune, that were mentioned as a great “party snack.” I decided to change the recipe size and pair it with grilled baby bok choy and some rice to make this traditional appetizer/snack into an entrée.

Ingredients:

Meatballs:

  • 1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
  • 5 ounces sliced shiitake mushroom caps
  • 1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger, divided
  • 2 minced garlic cloves, divided
  • 1 tablespoon dry sherry
  • 1 teaspoon red miso (soybean paste)
  • 1 pounds ground chicken
  • 1/4 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 large egg white

Sauce:

  • 6 tablespoons mirin (sweet rice wine)
  • 6 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
  • The juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
  • 1 serrano chile, thinly sliced

Remaining ingredients:

  • Cooking spray
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  • ½ cup long grain rice
  • 1 cup water or chicken broth
  • 1 baby bok choy

Continue reading Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)

Thai Coconut Mussels

I am excited to announce that I will be a Perfect Protein Blogger for the summer, to help promote a book called The Perfect Protein: The Fish Lovers Guide to Saving the Oceans and Feeding the World. Written by Andy Sharpless, the CEO of Oceana, and Suzannah Evans, the book discusses how protecting, maintaining, and consuming wild seafood can help to fight both famine and obesity globally.

I am only a few chapters in to the book and already find it fascinating. The general idea behind the book is to try to eat seafood, but to try to eat WLLS: Wild, Local, Little, and Shellfish. Many supermarkets, such as Whole Foods, label their seafood which makes sticking to these more sustainable choices a cinch. But even without the labels, you can still find sustainable options at your local grocer.

As a food blogger, I immediately went to the back of the book, where there are 21 sustainable seafood recipes from some of the nation’s top chefs. They all sounded delicious, but I decided to start off my Perfect Protein posts with a recipe that is simple but packs a ton of flavor into the dish: Sam Talbot’s Thai Coconut Mussels. I love making mussels because they cook up so quickly. This recipe takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. (For another take on mussels, check out my recipe for Mussels in White Wine Garlic Sauce)


I altered the recipe a bit to make it into a meal for 2 instead of an appetizer. I also subbed in some ingredients for what I could find. All of these ingredients can be found in Whole Foods.

 

 

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons peeled and grated fresh ginger
  • 4 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons lemongrass
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut
  • 1 pound mussels, debearded, scrubbed well, and washed clean
  • 1/3 cup dry white wine
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sambal (chile-garlic paste)
  • 1 (13.6 oz) can coconut milk, divided
  • 2 tablespoons torn cilantro leaves, stems discarded
  • 2 tablespoons torn mint leaves, stems discarded
  • juice and zest of 2 limes
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup white rice, preferably jasmine rice

Continue reading Thai Coconut Mussels

Badenjan Chalow

This month, Pomi asked that I try to create a recipe using one of their tomatoes paired with eggplant. I have been craving my favorite Afghan meal from a restaurant in Philadelphia called Ariana so my mind went immediately to trying to replicate it. The meal, Badenjan Chalow, is a lamb dish with eggplant, cooked with tomatoes, onions, garlic and spices served over basmati rice.

Pomi’s strained tomatoes are perfect for this recipe. Although I’d love to put this in a slow cooker and let it cook all day, I wanted to make this weeknight meal friendly.

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup cooked basmati rice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 eggplant, peeled and diced
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground tumeric
  • 1 lb lamb chunks
  • 1 container Pomi strained tomatoes

Continue reading Badenjan Chalow

Creamy Corn Risotto

I tend to make a lot of mistakes when cooking. I won’t read the directions entirely through or will completely forget to pick up an ingredient and then at the last minute need to improvise. This time around, I actually read through the directions beforehand and had everything I needed, except I waited to long to use the Lobster and it had already gone bad. What an expensive mistake! So this recipe was originally a Lobster Corn Risotto, sigh. Anyways, it was still delicious and worth sharing!

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups water
  • 2 cups chopped onion
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 (8-ounce) bottles clam juice
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/4 cups Arborio rice
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels
  • 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/3 cup chopped green onions
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Continue reading Creamy Corn Risotto

Seafood Risotto

Sorry for the break in posting! I moved into a new apartment and had to get everything up and running before I could go back to cooking. I still don’t have everything set up (which is why my photos are a bit crummy). I now have a gas stove (woo hoo!) and a ton of storage for all my random kitchen gadgets!

On my first night of unpacking some kitchen stuff, I was able to make a favorite of mine for dinner: risotto! I adapted the recipe from a Cooking Light recipe and just fit it to my seafood tastes and what I could find.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 (10.5-ounce) can of white clam  sauce
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/3 cup chopped shallots
  • 1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
  • 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, crushed
  • the juice of 1 lemon
  • 2/3 cup grape tomatoes, halved
  • 4 ounces medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/2 dozen clams
  • 1 cup cooked mussel meat (or you can buy mussels and put in the same time as the clams)
  • Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Continue reading Seafood Risotto

Scarborough Fair Cornish Game Hens with Risotto

Do you remember the first recipe you learned how to make? One that was probably so simple, but made you so proud when you had completed the dish? Mine (besides grilled cheese) was a chicken recipe my mom referred to as “Chicken a la Simon and Garfunkel” based on the lyrics in their song Scarborough Fair:
Are you goin’ to Scarborough Fair? 
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Remember me to one who lives there, 
she once was a true love of mine.
I knew the song so I was able to help make dinner by seasoning the chicken and keeping my mom company while humming the tune to the song (which I have to assume was more of a distraction than a help.. I’m a truly awful singer and I’m sure that translates into a truly awful hummer as well).
I figured this was as good as any time to learn how to roast a chicken. So I settled on Cornish game hens seasoned and stuffed with parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. I also made a “Scarborough Fair” Risotto to go with the chicken.
Ingredients: (I was making this for a family dinner but lowered the amounts to happily feed 2. Multiply as needed).
  • 2 Cornish game hens
  • 1 tablespoon each of dried parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme (divided)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 lemon
  • 4 sprigs each of fresh parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
  • 6 small shallots, divided
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup uncooked arborio rice
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine, divided
  • 2 1/4 cups chicken broth, divided
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Continue reading Scarborough Fair Cornish Game Hens with Risotto

Salmon Teriyaki Stir Fry

 There is a good chance I have a rice problem, I love all things rice. My go-to meal in a pinch is always risotto. So when DailyBuzz Food had an opportunity to work with RiceSelect through their Tastemaker program, I jumped at the chance. RiceSelect is one of my favorite rice brands.  You may notice their nifty containers popping out of a bunch of my posts so I was really excited to work with their rice. The catch was that they sent me one of RiceSelect’s rice randomly, I didn’t get to choose it. When I opened up the package, I discovered brown rice. Hum. I’ve never worked with brown rice before, but I was up for the challenge!
I decided to make a stir fry teriyaki dish using my favorite protein, salmon. Normally stir fry is a quick dinner choice but brown rice takes quite a bit of time to cook. But it gives you plenty of time to prep your veggies and hang out with your dinner guests!
Ingredients: (I cut this recipe for Salmon Teriyaki Stir Fry down to two servings to make it easier. Multiply as needed)
  • 1/2 cup RiceSelect Texmati Brown Rice
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon peanut oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 red pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 cup broccoli florets
  • 1/2 cup snow peas
  • 1/2 cup sliced water chestnuts (I used canned)
  • 1/2 pound salmon
  • 1/2 cup Teriyaki sauce, divided (recipe below)
Teriyaki sauce:
  • 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine
  • 1 tablespoon, plus 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced ginger
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

Continue reading Salmon Teriyaki Stir Fry

Summer Lemon-Vegetable Risotto

As I hear rumblings of all things pumpkin just around the corner (yay!), I realized that my days of beautiful, fresh vegetables are numbered (boo). Which means I needed a recipe that used some of summer’s best. This risotto recipe from Cooking Light fit the bill: Asparagus, Sugar Snap Peas, Zucchini, Yellow Squash.. mmm.
Ingredients:
  • 8 ounces asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 8 ounces sugar snap peas, trimmed and cut in half
  • 5 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 (8-ounce) zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
  • 1 (8-ounce) yellow squash, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
  • 4 3/4 cups organic vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
  • 1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
  • 1/4 cup beer (I used a pilsner)
  • 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Continue reading Summer Lemon-Vegetable Risotto

Beet Risotto

I love the taste of beets, but preparing them is so time consuming that I tend to avoid buying them. Most recipes involving beets require you to roast the beets and then peel them. I came across a recipe for beet risotto in Food and Wine that just cooked the beets on the stove top in significantly less time. This risotto recipe is supposed to turn a beautiful red color from the beets. I didn’t get the same bright red color but I still love how it looks!
Ingredients:
  • 3 cups chicken stock or water
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 large shallot, finely chopped
  • 2 large beets peeled and finely chopped, plus thinly sliced beets for garnish
  • 1 cup arborio rice
  • 2 ounces young pecorino cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds, plus more for garnish

Continue reading Beet Risotto

Curry Clay Pot Chicken

I was recently sent a clay pot from Romertopf to try out and review. Cooking in a clay pot is something I never really thought about, or even considered.  You just cook your meal in a clay pot which has been soaking in water. This releases steam while it cooks and keeps the food moist. Clay pots have been used for cooking dating back to Roman times and are still used around the world.  The clay pots are perfect for making roast chicken, paella, ratatouille, or even dessert!
I honestly had no idea how to go about finding a recipe to try out my new spiffy clay pot. So I just used a recipe from the Romertopf website as my first attempt.  The Curry Clay Pot Chicken sounded right up my alley. (https://www.romertopfonline.com/chicken-recipes.htm)
Ingredients:
  • 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 6 small new red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch slices (I forgot to cut mine! Make sure you do though!)
  • 6 baby carrots
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 medium onion, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons curry powder
  • 1 medium tomato, cut into 1/2-inch wedges
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or coconut aminos to make gluten free)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar

Continue reading Curry Clay Pot Chicken

Slow-Roasted Salmon with Baby Bok Choy and Coconut Rice

Tuesday I received one of my most anticipated ingredients (aside from tomatoes, can’t wait!!) from my CSA share: Fuyo Shumi, or Baby Bok Choy.  I am absolutely in love with this vegetable. It’s just a mini version of bok choy which has a cabbage flavor and is very popular in Asian cooking. I personally am not a fan of cabbage (sorry to my Irish roots), but love the subtle taste and crunchy texture of these little guys.  I’m always looking for new methods to cook salmon so this recipe from Cooking Light was the perfect opportunity. This recipe slow cooks the salmon to keep it really moist. Keep in mind you’ll need a good 30-40 minutes to make this dish.
Ingredients:
Salmon:
8 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray 
Rice:
2 cups uncooked basmati rice
1 1/2 cups light coconut milk
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 teaspoon salt
Bok choy:
2 teaspoons canola oil
16 cups bok choy, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces (about 4 pounds)
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1/2 cup sake (rice wine)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Sauce:
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons Thai fish sauce
1/2 teaspoon red curry paste (such as Thai Kitchen)

 

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Place the salmon on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray, skin side down.


Bake for 30 minutes or until the fish flakes easily. Cut off all the drippings.



While the salmon is cooking, rinse the rice in cold water and drain. Combine the rice, coconut milk, 1.5 cups water and ¼ teaspoon salt in a sauté pan. Bring to a boil over high heat and stir. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes. 
Cut the baby bok choy pieces in half
 

While the rice is standing, heat the canola oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the bok choy and ginger and sauté for 1 minute. 
Add the sake and ¼ teaspoon salt, cover, and cook for 2 minutes until the bok choy wilts. Remove from heat and keep warm.

Add the lime juice, rice vinegar, cilantro, brown sugar, fish sauce, and red curry paste to a bowl. Whisk to combine.


Serve over the salmon, rice, and bok choy.
Um. Yum. What an awesome dinner! The flavors go so well together. The sauce has a little tanginess that I really liked with all of the parts of this dish, but especially the rice. The salmon, because it was cooked at a low temperature, came out really moist. And the baby bok choy was crunchy, wilty, and flavorful all at the same time.
This will definitely become a staple meal for me!

Tandoori Chicken Thighs with Saffron Rice

Adding spices to your meal is a great way to add tons of flavor to a dish without adding calories. Because you need so little of the spice to enhance a dish, it’s a pretty cost-effective way to add flavor as well. (I try to buy my spices outside of supermarkets where they are really marked up. Spice Terminal in Reading Terminal was my favorite spot — I hope it’s coming back soon! update: The Head Nut is now open!) This dish in the latest Cooking Light for Tandoori Chicken Thighs incorporates traditional Indian spices which I absolutely love. I also made a quick saffron rice to go with the chicken.
Ingredients (this recipe makes 2 servings):
For the chicken:
  • 1 cup plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons grated peeled fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
For the rice:
  • 1 cup uncooked basmati or similar rice
  • 1 1/2 cup boiling water
  • 1/2 tsp saffron, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon ghee, or butter
  • 6 cardamom pods
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon tumeric
  • Salt, to taste

Continue reading Tandoori Chicken Thighs with Saffron Rice

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