Refresh leftover rice with veggies!

Leftovers taste awesome, especially beans. I love me some leftover beans (^_^) Not all leftovers are great though. Broccoli for example really stinks the next day! No really, it stinks, even if you refrigerate it, it will still stink! If you’re planning a big meal and want to make some things ahead of time broccoli is not one of them, let that veggie be the last thing you make if it’s on the menu. It’s one of my favourite veggies, but not as a leftover!

text
how pretty is that? it looks plain but it is flavour packed!

And other left overs are just neutral. Like rice, doesn’t taste better, but doesn’t taste the same either. It’s not bad, but it’s also not great. It’s edible, but it’s also one that is easy to refresh. For this refresh, I combine it with some fried onions, veggies and a bit of butter, yum!   

You will need a medium to large onion, butternut, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, some butter and rice. The amounts for each will depend on how much rice you have, and if you prefer a mix with lots of veggies, or if you want the rice  to be just a little speckled with veggies. So it’s up to you.

Begin with the  butternut as it needs to be roasted. Roasting butternut in the oven is my favourite way to cook butternut, it just brings out it’s flavours nicely. It will also hold it’s shape better when you mix it with the rice.

start with the butternut. Cut into bite size chunks, coat with a bit of oil and sprinkle some salt
cut your desired amount into bite size chunks
place in a foiled oven pan and coat with a bit of oil and sprinkle some salt
place in a foiled oven pan and coat with a bit of oil and sprinkle some salt

The obvious choice here would have been some carrots to add the nice bright orange colour. And you could definitely use carrots if you’d like but then that wouldn’t be anything new. Be adventurous, try the butternut substitute! Place the butternut in the oven for 30 minutes at 180°C. They should be tender, savoury and cooked through within 30min. While they’re cooking you can cut up the other vegetables and start frying.

for this I used some zucchini — sliced and cut into half circles, broccoli and couliflower — parted into small bits, washed and blanched, and sliced onions
the zucchini — sliced and cut into half circles, broccoli and cauliflower — parted into small bits, washed and blanched, and sliced onions
fry the onions in some vegetable oil on medium to low heat
fry the onions in some vegetable oil on medium to low heat
stir often, do not let them burn, you just want them to get a bit of colour
stir often, do not let them burn, you just want them to get a bit of colour
then add the zucchini
then add the zucchini
when the zucchini starts to soften from the heat add the broccoli and cauliflower
when the zucchini starts to soften from the heat add the broccoli and cauliflower
stir and drop in a tablespoon or two of butter. Once the butter melts you may add in the rice
stir and drop in a tablespoon or two of butter. Once the butter melts you may add in the rice
take the pan off the heat to stir in the rice
take the pan off the heat to mix in the rice (warm up the rice separately before you add it in)
then add the roasted butternut chunks and mix
then add the roasted butternut chunks and mix
tadaaa!
tadaaa!

The ratio of vegetables and rice is up to you. If you like lots of veggies then by all means, load them up! If you still want to feel like you’re eating rice instead of a vegetable side then use smaller portions of veggies. You could even cut them up smaller than I did.

served!
served!

It tastes really good on it’s own, specially when you bite into the roasted butternut chunks. Even better next to a nice piece of meat. I personally like this rice with a piece of pan fried fillet of fish (^_^)

20150130-refresh-rice-15

Husband Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆

Winner! *\(^_^)/*

About aika

Making, eating and sharing good food are a splendid way to start, brake and end a day! I post good eats on www.pendolamama.co.ke. Life is a feast, eat up!

3 thoughts on “Refresh leftover rice with veggies!”

    1. Hey!
      Thanks for your comment! Will check out your website. BTW, you should get listed as a vendor on blissful.co.ke if you aren’t already 🙂

      Reply

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