Veggie Chicken and Rice
A ‘winged it’ recipe perfect for a stuck-in-the-house rainy day. Cleaning as you go lets the time pass meaningfully.
Ingredients
- 2 T butter, softened
- 2 C brown rice
- Broth - use vegetarian ‘chicken’ style
- 2 bouillon cubes dissolved in
- 2 cups boiled water
- ~ or ~
- 2 C stock, heated to a boil
- 2 cans cream of mushroom soup, 15 oz each
- 1 T dried thyme
- 1 t garlic powder
- 1 C diced celery (about 2 stalks)
- 1 C diced carrot (about 2 carrots)
- 1 C diced onion
- 8 oz mushroom, roughly chopped
- 1 C chopped broccoli (peeled and chopped stems, too, as liked)
- 16 oz diced ‘chicken’ (the kind without breading, I used quorn brand)
- 8 oz shredded cheddar
- 1 t freshly ground black pepper
- ½ t red pepper flakes, or more to taste
Instructions
- 1 Preheat The Oven To 350℉: Preheat the oven to 350℉.
- 2 Grease A 9X13 Baking Dish With: Grease a 9x13 baking dish with the butter.
- 3 Blanch The Broccoli In Salted Water: Blanch the broccoli in salted water for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water; set aside.
- 4 Add The Soups To A Large: Add the soups to a large bowl. Whisk in the broth.
- 5 Add The Rice, Vegetables, Quorn, Cheese: Add the rice, vegetables, quorn, cheese, and spices. Stir to combine.
- 6 Spread Gently And Evenly Into The: Spread gently and evenly into the baking dish, leaving a textured top. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 60 minutes.
- 7 Uncover And Bake For 20-30 Minutes: Uncover and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the peaks are browned.
Pro Tips & Delicious Variations
- Bouillon is best when it’s your favorite flavor. If it is low sodium, add 1 t salt.
- Use your preferred ‘cream of’ soup. Create your own combination, such as one can of celery and one can of mushroom.
- Try spring peas, diced sweet potatoes, chopped asparagus, sliced leeks, or ribboned kale - whatever is in season makes it special.
- Chickpeas, lentils, and other legumes, or two whisked eggs work well in place of plant-based chicken.
- Feta, mozzarella, and cottage cheeses make perfect substitutes. Add to your liking.
- Great version: celery soup for mushroom, chickpeas for quorn, feta for cheddar, oregano for half of thyme, lemon zest addition.
- To try yet: indian variation as biryani and paneer with small nutrella, yogurt or cottage, peas, coriander, whatever is biryani with a binder and protein