With Minute Rice®, you do not need a lot of experience in the kitchen or have good chef skills to make and enjoy quick, easy, and delicious meals in the comfort of your home. If your pantry is stocked and you have some ingredients in your fridge/freezer, anyone can create tasty dishes in their kitchen in no time at all. Let us teach you how.
The key is learning to mix and match ingredients by using different stir-ins with your preferred grain base. With just a few simple components and your favourite variety of cooked Minute®, like our Instant Rice Jasmine Cups, you can have a tasty, hassle-free meal in minutes!
Grain Base Beginning
Creating hearty meals at home is as simple as tossing together key ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen or that you can easily pick up at your local supermarket salad bar.
To start your meal, prepare your choice of Minute Instant Rice® in 5-10 minutes! To save even more time and help with meal prep, we suggest making a larger batch of grains and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Choose your favourite grain base!
Get creative and mix things up with the ingredients that you have on hand to entertain your taste buds. If you are short on time, use our Ready to Serve cups that heat in 90 seconds or less!
When your grain base is ready, choose mix-ins like veggies, beans, corn or a protein such as chicken or tuna, and finish with a sauce or salsa that compliments your ingredients. This is a perfect opportunity to use those leftovers stored in your fridge or reinvent last night’s dinner to please even the pickiest eaters.
Making Stir-Ins Full Meals
The beauty of these stir-ins is that they are versatile, and you can add on as much as you want (or not). You can enjoy a delicious meal without wasting your food; it’s a win-win!
Still, trying to figure out where to start? We’ve compiled a few savoury suggestions to combine ingredients and steer you in the right direction.
Italian Flavours are a Must
If you’re anything like us, you’re a fan of tasty Italian flavours like herbs, sausage, rich and creamy tomato/cheese sauces, and cheese. Yum! Well, guess what? These are all perfect stir-in ingredients!
Start whipping up some Minute Instant White® or Jasmine Rice® as your base, and go the pizza route. Add some pepperoni slices or a bit of pre-cooked Italian sausage and some diced black olives, and mix it all up with store-bought marinara sauce, and you’ve got yourself a delicious and satisfying meal in no time at all. We won’t tell anyone if you toss your favourite meat or cheese a few extra helpings.
Chicken Piccata with Brown Rice
Why add rice? Because the hearty grains contain nutrients and minerals and, not to mention, are exceptional for combining all of the different flavours/ingredients you’re adding. So, you really can’t go wrong!
Try out a few Italian flavours and mix and match to create your customized dish:
Sauces
Pesto Sauce, Alfredo Sauce
Types of Cheese
Parmesan, Mozzarella, Ricotta, Feta, Cheddar
Toppings
Tomatoes, Basil or Italian Seasoning Mix, Mushrooms, Pepperoncini, Green Olives, Capers, Prosciutto
Are you a lover of Italian flavour? Another helpful hint for stir-ins is to take inspiration from your favourite recipes like this Italian classic 5 Minute Alfredo.
It’s All Korean Flavour to Me
Step outside of your cooking comfort zone and add some Korean flavours to your palate for a simple lunch or dinner. Start by cooking your grain base in water that has been seasoned with a bit of olive oil, thyme and rosemary or even just a hint of lemon juice to give your rice base a bit of zest.
Let the flavours transport you and your family to a beautiful Korean city, no matter the time of year. Serve your rice and mix-ins in a bowl, on a plate or wrapped in a lettuce leaf.
Try our amazing Korean Style Rice Bowl. It is a great starting point for mixing and matching vegetables and flavours.
Southern Cajun Cuisine
For example, if you’re a fan of southern comfort flavours like this Red Beans and Rice recipe, you’re in luck. Experience the taste of Louisiana Cajun cooking from your kitchen. You don’t have to spend hours over the stove to achieve your meals’ delicious New Orleans-inspired taste.
15 Minute Jambalaya
One way to guarantee a flavour boost is to season the cooking water with a bouillon cube or use half water and half tomato sauce. Then, all you need to do is toss in your preferred seasonings or savoury ingredients like bacon, sausage, or traditional cajun veggies like onions, peppers, and celery.
More Southern Cajun Ideas
- Creole seasoning
- Chilli powder or paprika
- Red beans
- Barbecue sauce
- Shrimp
- Smoked Andouille sausage
Asian Flavours Coming On Point
Everyone loves Asian takeout! If quick and easy is the main reason for dialling up your favourite Asian takeout restaurant for Fried Rice, try making your dish with rice and stir-ins at home for an even faster meal, all while saving some money.
Cook up a large batch of Minute Instant Jasmine Rice® and try out a few other Asian-inspired stir-ins:
- Teriyaki, oyster or hoisin sauce
- Stir-fried, fresh or steamed veggies
- Chicken
- Shrimp
- Beef
- Tofu
- Ginger (ground or fresh)
- Chilli sauce such as sriracha or chilli garlic sauce
- Sesame oil
Try Indian Flavours
Indian cuisine is at the top of the list when exploring flavours from different cultures. If you’ve never tried making a curry, there’s no time like the present. We’ve made it easier than ever with our Minute Ready to Serve Jasmine Rice®, or you could use our Ready to Serve Basmati Rice®.
Explore other Indian-inspired ingredients to add:
- Lentils
- Red chilli powder
- Chicken
- Shrimp
- Spices like cardamom, turmeric, saffron, cumin or cilantro
- Tikka masala sauce
- Butter chicken sauce
- Grated coconut
- Chickpeas
Mexican Inspirations
Why only limit your Mexican Cravings to Taco Tuesday? Enjoy Mexican-style dishes any day of the week by using your favourite Mexican-style ingredients and rice. To make a simple and easy side dish, all you have to do is combine salsa, black beans, and a bit of shredded cheese with your cooked Minute Instant Rice® and Voila! You are ready to go.
Make sure you always have microwavable rice cups on hand. All you have to do to prepare them is to place them in the microwave, combine them with the stir-ins of your choice, and you are all set.
Get your supermarket list ready, and make sure to stock up your pantry with this selection of savoury stir-ins:
- Pinto beans
- Black beans
- Green salsa
- Corn (canned, frozen or fresh off the cob)
- Avocado
- Chicken (fajita style suggested)
- Beef
- Chorizo or spicy sausage
- Pico de Gallo
- Peppers/chiles
- Tomatoes
- Guacamole
- Jalapenos
- Cilantro
- Queso fresco, Oaxaca, Cotija Cheese
- Cumin
Take these Mexican stir-ins with you, even on the go! Give this Mexican Rice a try tonight; it will surely be a dish your whole family will love!
Endless Possibilities
No matter what you have planned to make for dinner tonight, if you are using Minute Rice® and these incredible flavour combinations, we are sure that whatever you come up with will be a hit that the whole family will enjoy.