Now, we don’t make just plain white rice, we doctor it up with all kinds of flavors. Honestly, our rice dishes are rarely the same concoction, which makes mornings pretty exciting around here. So, when RiceSelect™ asked me to try their Royal Blend® with Brown Red & Wild Rice, it didn’t take me more than a second to say yes. I am always up for a new flavor blend when it comes to this grain.
RiceSelect asked me how I turn dinner (or breakfast) into a destination. Well, for this particular dish I turned to my travels and took inspiration from the ancient country of Morocco. Spices are essential in Moroccan cooking and I can still smell the sweet, wafting aromas of cinnamon cooking away in the many tagines around the city.
I also enjoy the heat and flavor of this savory side dish with my crispy chicken. The RiceSelect rice blend is nutty and satisfying on its own, but for dinner it is a wonderful healthy and nutritious side kick to many savory meals. The cinnamon and spices take this over the top and add to the meal with a hint of sweetness.
What I really loved was the texture of this dish. It’s hard to believe you can have brown rice that is ready in such a short amount of time. The varying colors make it more visually appealing, which is important since we always eat with our eyes first.
I have tried lots of different rice blends but I have to say this is my new favorite. As soon as this batch disappeared another one was in the works. The particular mix of spices I used in this blend of rice is a comforting dish you will crave again and again.
While my husband and I don’t often repeat many of our rice inventions, this has made it through the rotation three times. It just might be a record.
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Cinnamon Spiced Rice
Serves 6, Created by Cathy Pollak
1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup finely chopped scallions
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon Chinese five spice
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne (1/4 teaspoon for less heat)
2 Tablespoons sugar
3 cups water
4 teaspoons chicken bouillon
2 cups RiceSelect Royal Blend with Brown, Red & Wild Rice
1 cup golden raisins
Melt butter over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Saute scallions for 2 minutes and add garlic, cooking for one minute more. Add spices and sugar and stir until fully incorporated.
Add water and chicken bouillon to the spice mixture and bring to a boil. Add rice and raisins. Cover and reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Cook for twenty minutes. Turn off heat, stir and recover. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
Enjoy it.