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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 1 |
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Eye appeal enhances the meal, says Nancee Melin. These vegetable and rice stacks are an example of the fun vertical foods she likes to create. Assemble them through step 4 up to 1 day ahead and chill airtight; bake as directed in step 5. Ingredients:
1 package (6 oz.) seasoned precooked dried white rice |
2 onions (about 1 lb. total), peeled and sliced |
1 tablespoon butter or margarine |
3/4 pound broccoli florets (about 1 qt.) |
salad oil |
1 jar (about 13 oz.) canned peeled roasted red peppers, drained and chopped |
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, rinsed |
parsley sprigs |
salt and fresh-ground pepper |
Directions:
1. In a 2- to 3-quart pan, cook rice as directed on package.
2. Meanwhile, in a 10- to 12-inch frying pan over medium-high heat, stir onions in butter until limp and just beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Pour into a bowl.
3. Add broccoli and 1/4 cup water to pan. Bring to a boil over high heat; cover, reduce heat, and simmer until broccoli is barely tender when pierced, about 5 minutes. Drain.
4. Remove labels from 4 empty food cans (about 2 3/4 in. wide and 4 1/4 in. tall; 14-oz. to 1-lb. size), each with 1 end removed; wash cans with soap, and dry. Rub interiors of cans lightly with oil and set, open end up and slightly apart, in a 10- by 15-inch pan. Spoon 2 tablespoons hot cooked rice into each can and press down with a spoon to compact and make level. Spoon 1/2 cup broccoli onto rice in each can, then 1/4 cup onions and 1 1/2 tablespoons roasted peppers, spreading each level. Continue to layer all ingredients, packing down with a spoon to compact layers as you add each, ending with rice.
5. Bake in a 375° regular or convection oven until stacks are hot (about 145°) in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Let rest in cans in pan for 5 minutes. One at a time, invert a dinner plate over each can; hold together and invert can onto plate. With a can opener, cut each can end free; press end down lightly and lift up can to release vegetable-pilaf stack. Lift off can and can end. Garnish plates with cherry tomatoes and parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste.
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