Crispy Red Rice

This recipe is one of our own, deciding that white rice with salsa just doesn't tantalize the taste buds...

Yields: 6 servings
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes

Supplies:

1 ricecooker or 1 pot big enough to make rice
1 pan for frying rice

Ingredients (will vary per rice cooker):

2 C. uncooked white rice (yields 4 C. cooked rice)
2 can stewed, diced tomatoes
1 tsp. paprika
2 Tbs. cayenne pepper
vegetable oil for frying
Mexican cheese
can add: chile peppers, green peppers, jalapeno peppers to taste

Prepare rice according to package directions. After rice is mostly cooked (most of the water absorbed), add juice from the 2 cans of tomatoes, witholding the solid tomato for later. Add spices. Ready pan with vegetable oil on stove at medium heat, thinly coating pan (1/4 in. deep). When rice is finished cooking, remove from rice cooker or pot and transfer to frying pan. Add remaining stewed tomatoes and extra peppers to taste. Turn up heat on burner to medium high and fry rice until crispy, golden brown, adding salt and pepper and more spice to preferred taste. Once browned to perfection, top with Mexican cheese, serve and enjoy.

Hilary says: The slight crunch and tomato flavor gives in an unusual texture, while still being a rice dish and having all the qualities that Spanish rice has. I liked the tomatoes, I thought it could have been more spicy. I would have enjoyed chili peppers, bell peppers and/or more chunky supplements but didn't have any of those on hand. Overall this dish needs improvement but when made to the chef's taste, could be award-winning.

Sarah says: It's got some heat that stays with you. I, too, would have enjoyed some chunky peppers added but sometimes you just have to work with you have. I think this rice would be great for burritos!

-Overall rating: ★★★★☆
-Ease of preparation: ★★★★☆
-Taste: ★★★★☆
-Bang for the buck: ★★★★★
-Ease of cleanup: ★★★★☆

Estimated cost:

$2.00 canned, stewed tomatoes
$1.50 peppers
$-.-- rice (on hand)
$-.-- paprika (on hand)
$-.-- vegetable oil (on hand)
$-.-- sour cream (on hand)
$1.00 Mexican cheese
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about $1.00 per serving depending upon the items you have in your pantry