I made this dish for a friend. That's right, I have sought out others to cook for since the husband is overall... BORING! I kid, but you know what I mean. I know his likes, and dislikes and it's fun considering someone else's. I guess you can say I'm food cheating. That's right I admit it, I food cheat on my husband. At least he knows and we have an open dinner relationship. LOL :~P
Anyway the dish is called Red Rice. I never heard of it before but I've eaten similar meals. My mom used to make something close to this with peas (which I would have added but he does't like them) and rice.
All I had to work with when figuring out the idea was rice, tomatoes and some kind of meat. I decided on sausage as I thought it would add the most flavor but you could easily make this with chicken breast even, dare I say leftover turkey this week? :~) As always take it and run. The liquid to rice ratio is perfect and although this makes enough to serve a small army, it freezes well.
Oh! and if you're curious, the husband and toddler both enjoyed it. I guess my food cheating paid off. :~)
Ingredients
- 1 small sweet onion chopped
- handful of baby carrots diced (3oz)
- 1 package turkey sausage (20oz - 6 links)
- 2 large green bell peppers chopped
- 1 ½ cup uncooked brown rice (285g)
- 1 can diced tomatoes (15oz)
- 1 small can tomato sauce (8oz)
- 2 cups water (16oz)
- 1 can kidney beans drained & rinsed (15oz)
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder (cut back if you don't want too much kick)
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
Spray a large pot with non-stick cooking spray and start by sautéing the onions over medium high heat. Add the diced carrots.
Remove the casing from the sausage. Simply take a knife and slice longways. It should peal right off. Plop them into the pot and break apart with a wooden spoon while browning.
Once the turkey is browned add the peppers. We are holding off on them as to not overcook and get too mushy. Add the brown rice and stir to coat everything.
Add the can of tomatoes and tomato sauce. Use the 8oz tomato sauce can to add to can-fuls of water (2 cups). Add the beans, paprika, chili powder and parsley. Bring to a boil then cover and lower to a simmer.
DO NOT TOUCH it for 25 minutes. I scream as I'm famous for ruining dishes because I can't wait then I peak and let out the heat. Leave it alone. It will be fine if it's over your lowest setting and the rice will come out nice and fluffy. Well, as fluffy as brown rice and come. :~)
After 25 minutes, remove cover, stir, turn off heat and let site for a few minutes before serving.
Red Rice with Beans and Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 small sweet onion chopped
- handful of baby carrots diced 3oz
- 1 package turkey sausage 20oz - 6 links
- 2 large green bell peppers chopped
- 1 ½ cup uncooked brown rice 285g
- 1 can diced tomatoes 15oz
- 1 small can tomato sauce 8oz
- 2 cups water 16oz
- 1 can kidney beans drained & rinsed 15oz
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder cut back if you don't want too much kick
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- Spray a large pot with non-stick cooking spray and start by sautéing the onions over medium high heat. Add the diced carrots.1 small sweet onion chopped, handful of baby carrots diced
- Remove the casing from the sausage. Simply take a knife and slice longways. It should peal right off. Plop them into the pot and break apart with a wooden spoon while browning.
- Once the turkey is browned add the peppers. We are holding off on them as to not overcook and get too mushy. Add the brown rice and stir to coat everything.1 package turkey sausage, 2 large green bell peppers chopped, 1 ½ cup uncooked brown rice
- Add the can of tomatoes and tomato sauce. Use the 8oz tomato sauce can to add to can-fuls of water (2 cups). Add the beans, paprika, chili powder and parsley. Bring to a boil then cover and lower to a simmer.1 can diced tomatoes, 1 small can tomato sauce, 2 cups water, 1 can kidney beans drained & rinsed, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon dried parsley, non-stick cooking spray
- After 25 minutes, remove cover, stir, turn off heat and let site for a few minutes before serving.
roni says
Probably. They have really similar profiles but I think the bulgur has a bit more fiber and nutrients.
Karen says
Would the points be the same if I used bulger instead of brown rice...
barb dolan says
hi again. thanks! i made it last night with frozen baby carrots (whole though) couldnt dice ....and the turkey sausage i only cut into pieces...i must have bought the wrong kind cause i didnt have a skin on mine and wouldnt smush down. kinda like a keilbasa? texture...anyway...it looked like a pile of messy soup. but long behold, 25 minutes later. perfect!!! yum-o! thanks!!!
roni says
Hey Barb! yup raw carrots will do. I use the baby cut ones all the time.
Hope that helps!
-Roni
barb dolan says
hey. i am not a cook in the least, so when you say diced carrots? is that raw carrots or frozen carrots? help! thanks....totally going to make this!
i am assuming its raw baby carrots cut up and thrown in pot...barb
Aime says
Another great dish! Very satisfying and filling. My husband loved it too. I actually appreciate that you give instructions on how to easily remove the casings on the sausage. Sounds silly, but I don't cook sausage that often and I didn't realize it was that simple.
Your recipes are so helpful. I actually enjoy cooking these days. Thank you very much.
roni says
Hi Jannett,
You are so welcome! Glad to help.
Of course, feel free to share, I appreciate it very much!
Thank you for asking!
-Roni
Jannett Norton says
I gave your webiste info to a couple of women at ww meeting. I would like to share this website with my leader. I would like to make sure that would be ok.
ps: I have learned so many new recipes and "tricks" that you have incorporated in your recipes. I joined ww late October and have lost 25 lbs. Thanks so much for putting yourself and toddler (what a sweety) out here for us. Thank you so much for sharing. Thank you.
netfay
Taja Kirkaldie says
I love your site, I too am on a diet, trying to loose that dreaded last 20# post baby 🙂 and I love your site! I will tell everyone at weight watchers to check it out 🙂
Amy says
i made this using ground chicken and yummmm delish thanks for the recipe and your site its wonderful since im just learning how to cook..
erin says
Hey Roni,
The other night I made your Spicy Black beans, but I wanted a hotdish type thing, so I added 2 C cooked rice, a can of green chilis, and browned some ground turkey (with more cumin, curry and chili powder). Stirred it all together - awesome & VERY filling!! Never figured out the points for it, though. This dish seems very similar and made me think of it.
Congratulations on one year of GLB!!!
erin
addcocktail says
Tasty one!!!
roni says
bigtickles - I think it would be fine! Most rice dishes are fine frozen. Try it!
-Roni
bigtickles says
Do you think this will freeze well? I am stocking up on prepared meals before I go to the hospital. This sounds like something I could do to keep the kiddos happy until I am back on my feet.
runjess says
I made something similar last night and it was so good!
roni says
I think Quinoa would be AWESOME! I was thinking bulger too!
As for the sauce, you want like a tomato puree, stewed tomatoes would work too. Whatever you decide just stay tru to the 1-2 quinoa to liquid ratio.
I know you don't want to hear this but... Experiment! I think you'll surprise yourself! :~)
Tanya says
Yummy Roni!
Want to make this today to have next week for lunches. I am doing CORE. Do you think this would work with Quinoa instead of the rice? I was thinking that way I can save my brown rice/pasta for dinner. I was also wondering...the tomato sauce...I guess as long as there is just tomatoes and water I am okay? Any thoughts on how to adjust this? As well, I would use chicken instead of the sausage...I am not a cook at all so need your help!
roni says
Skip em! The first time I made it I forgot them... STILL good! :~)
Laura Brandon says
sounds good! but my husband hates beans so this won't work in our house 🙁
Christie says
I was just talking to my friend today about how I love Thanksgiving because I can cook for other people besides my husband. Cooking for my husband is boring sometimes because I already know he won't like this or that.
Never had red rice either but how can you go wrong w/ rice and sausage?
Camille says
This looks delicious, I sent it to all our cousins on LI and a friend who I introduced to your site. I think they'd like it too.
kyree90 says
Looks delicious, as usual. I'll have to try it.
Christy says
Mmmm...spicy rice with beans ....oooooo
shannon says
this sounds yummy. sounds like chili dish to me. mmmmm, i prepped chili ingredients last night for "the boyfriend" to pull together today 🙂
I may have to try this recipe with some leftover frozen chicken. thanks for sharing. this is one i could definitely pull together. my favorites are the ones that you just throw everything in and they cook themselves.