August 1, 2010

Ridiculously Easy Tomatoes and Lazy Rice

In my opinion, there are few tastes that are divine as baked tomatoes. Get the tomatoes baking first, and while they are baking, prep the rice (see ridiculously easy and lazy).  Serve tomatoes over the rice.




Ridiculously Easy Tomatoes:
1-2 T olive oil
4-5 medium Roma tomatoes, ripe, cut into 1" rounds (any tomato will do)
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup, parsley, chopped
1/4 cup basil, chopped
1 T thyme
feta cheese, sliced into long rectangles (you decide how much)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
  1. First, pre-heat oven to 400 F. 
  2. Drizzle 1-2 T olive oil on the bottom of a medium roasting pan.
  3. Next place tomato rounds on top, followed by salt and pepper, then herbs. 
  4. Next top with chickpeas and place strips of feta cheese on top.
  5. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until feta is golden on top. 
Lazy Rice:
1 tsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, diced (1/2 of a medium bell pepper or 1 small one)
1 cup red onion, diced (about 1 small red onion)
1 cup basmati rice
1 vegetable bouillon cube
3-4 cups water
1/2 cup feta cheese, chopped
juice of 1/2 a lemon

Directions:
  1. In a wide skillet, heat up olive oil over medium heat. Once hot add in garlic and onion. Saute for 3 minutes.  Add in bell pepper, and continue to saute over medium heat 3 more minutes.
  2. Add rice to pan and stir around to coat well. 
  3. Pour in 3 cups of water and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.  If the water evaporates and the rice looks half done (the grains are still white/opaque in the middle) add in the last cup. 
  4. Once most of the water has evaporated, stir in the feta cheese and lemon juice, and mix together quickly. Avoid over-mixing. The rice is done when the rice kernels are curved upwards like little "c's"

3 comments:

  1. Your 'c' trick made me smile... I had never heard of that trick :)

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  2. Nico! We just spent the day at Hapje Tapje in Leuven. OMG. AMAZING.

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  3. Yeah, Allison told me it was great. As a matter of fact, I believe she even went back after having spent most of her day there. I wish I could have been there...

    What did you have/see/do?

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