Easy Garden Vegetable Rice
We have made this vegetable rice at least 3 times in the past month. It is such a great way to use up those garden veggies that are in abundance right now! I got this recipe from my sister-in-law, Linsey, who was visiting a few weeks ago. She made this as a side dish to one of the meals we had and I was hooked. She literally went out and picked whatever we had from the garden, chopped it up, and threw in all in. The flavor was amazing and I couldn’t believe how easy it was! It was one of those “why have I never done this before” moments. Veggie rice. You have got to try it!
What vegetables go best in vegetable rice?
As you can see from this recipe, we used the vegetables that were currently growing in our garden. We used carrots, onions, and green and red bell peppers. Zucchini, mushrooms, green beans, corn, peas, broccoli, and/or cauliflower would also be great additions! Use what you have on hand and get creative. You really can’t go wrong here!
Can I freeze vegetable rice?
YES. Absolutely! Allow the rice to cool and then place in an airtight plastic container or plastic freezer bag, then refrigerate to cool even more. You want the rice to be cold before placing it in the freezer. Once cooled completely, then place in the freezer. If you want to maintain that good flavor, freeze for no more than 2 weeks.
How to heat frozen or refrigerated veggie rice
If frozen, place in the refrigerator the night before using to thaw. Once thawed, heat in a microwave-safe bowl (adding a little broth if necessary) for 3-5 minutes or place in a skillet with a little butter to heat, stirring often. Fluff rice with a fork and serve!
Is vegetable rice gluten free?
Vegetable rice will only be gluten-free if you use a GF broth when cooking or if you use water instead of broth. Most chicken broths and bouillons have gluten in them so check your labels to be sure.
How can I make this dish vegan/purely vegetarian?
Absolutely! You can use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth or you can just use water. I like using the chicken broth because of the flavor but vegetable broth should work just fine.
What kind of rice works best?
In most rice recipes I like using Jasmine rice. It is a great, dry, rice that doesn’t have the tendency to get mushy like other kinds of rice. Brown rice also works great and doesn’t seem to get as mushy, you will just have a longer cooking time.
Vegetable rice with frozen vegetables
If summer vegetables are out of season or you don’t have any fresh veggies on hand, frozen vegetables are a great alternative! You can find vegetable mixes or medleys at the grocery store or you can just pick and choose which frozen veggies you would like to add. Just sauté them up just as you would fresh vegetables in this recipe.
How to make vegetable fried rice
If you want to add a little Asian flair to your vegetable rice, it is SO easy to convert this into a fried rice recipe! Just add a splash of soy sauce in at the end. You can also add a little egg to the mix if you would like. Just remove the rice from the skillet, spray the pan with cooking spray, and add an beaten egg or two. Allow it so spread over the bottom of the pan and then flip it like a pancake (you don’t want the eggs to be scrambled). Use a metal spatula to chop up the egg and then add the rice back to the pan. Super easy!
Vegetable rice in the Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
If you are wanting to make this recipe even EASIER, you can make it in the Instant Pot. Sauté the veggies right there in the Instant Pot and then add the rice and broth. Put the lid on with the tab to “sealing” and press the “rice” button. Let the pressure cooker do the rest! I usually like to let it slow release for a few minutes before doing a quick release, but you can quick release it if you are in a hurry.
How to Make Easy Garden Vegetable Rice:
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