Spanish Rice

Spanish Rice is a vibrant and flavorful vegetarian dish featuring seasoned rice cooked with a medley of vegetables and spices. It makes for a perfect side or a satisfying main dish, bursting with color and nutrition.

Ingredients

• Long-grain white rice - 1 cup
• Vegetable broth - 2 cups
• Olive oil - 1 tablespoon
• Onion - 1 small, diced
• Garlic - 2 cloves, minced
• Red bell pepper - 1/2, diced
• Green peas - 1/2 cup, frozen
• Tomato - 1 medium, diced
• Ground cumin - 1 teaspoon
• Paprika - 1 teaspoon
• Salt - 1/2 teaspoon
• Black pepper - 1/4 teaspoon
• Fresh cilantro - 2 tablespoons, chopped (for garnish)

Steps

1. Rinse the long-grain rice under cold water until the water runs clear, then drain.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and sauté the diced onion until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Add the minced garlic and diced red bell pepper to the pan, cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes until the pepper softens.
4. Stir in the rinsed rice and cook, stirring frequently, for about 2-3 minutes until the rice is slightly toasted.
5. Add the vegetable broth, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper to the saucepan, bringing the mixture to a boil.
6. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan, and simmer for 15 minutes.
7. After 15 minutes, add the frozen green peas and diced tomato, stir gently, cover, and cook for an additional 5 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
8. Remove from heat and let it sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork, garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve.

Nutrition

• Calories: 320
• Protein: 8 g
• Carbs: 62 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 500 mg
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Total Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Water: 0.5 L

Health Benefits

• Rich in fiber which aids digestion.
• Contains antioxidants from tomatoes and peppers.
• Low in cholesterol, making it heart-healthy.

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