dammitdinner

[dammitdinner]

Emergency rice

Ready in 20 minutes, and mostly dependent on store-cupboard ingredients. Perfect for when you need something to eat 30 mins ago, but don’t want to eat instant noodles again.

Serves 2, but can be scaled up.

You will need:

Oil

1 or 2 x onions, sliced

1 or 2 x peppers, sliced

 2-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

 1 tsp chilli flakes

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander (cilantro)

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp smoked paprika

4 tbsp tomato puree

1 x 400g tin beans in water (drained)

1 x packet microwave rice (I prefer getting the ‘mexican’ flavoured version for some extra flavour, but it’ll work with whatever’s available)

a handful of grated cheese

Method

Step 1: Pop the chopped onions and peppers into a pan with a splash of oil, and fry on a medium-high heat until soft and golden - it should take around 10-15 mins.

Step 2: Add the garlic, and fry for another 5 mins - keep a close eye on it, garlic becomes really bitter when it gets burned.

Step 3: Add the spices, and continue to fry, stirring regularly for a minute, then dollop in the tomato puree. Stir this through, mixing it well with the vegetables, and possibly add a splash of water - you’re looking to get a glossy tomatoey paste that’s coating the veg, like a loose sauce.

Step 4: Bung in your beans, and toss to coat, then stir in your rice, crushing it as you go to avoid any large clumps. Stir-fry everything, mixing well, for another 5 minutes.

Step 5: Sprinkle in the cheese. Stir to combine and allow it to melt in a little, then serve.

Mods

You can definitely use frozen veg to save time on chopping - just add an extra 5 minutes to the cooking time when sauteeing the vegetables.

Garlic powder / granules can be used if you’ve not got fresh garlic, but use sparingly - a generous tsp should be enough. Another hack is to add a little sriracha along with the tomato puree for a chilli-garlic hit.

Other veg can be added to bulk things out a little more - peas or mushrooms are both great additions! Add at the beginning with the other veg.

You can also add meat for some extra protein - pop it in right at the beginning with the onions.

For veggies and vegans - the cheese is optional, but does help to make the meal a little more filling. Feel free to skip it, or to use vegan cheese instead.

If you’re feeling a little fancy, some chopped coriander (cilantro) is a nice garnish.