Spanish Brown Rice (FTDI)
Make your brown rice tastier by turning it into Spanish Brown Rice! I know this is not the typical way of making Spanish rice but it fits within FTDI guidelines and it's very yummy so try it out!
SPANISH BROWN RICE (FTDI)
MooMoo Jackson Style
Ingredients:
1 cup dry Brown Rice (not quick or instant)
2 cups homemade chicken broth (or water but it's tastier with chicken broth)
1 cup CHUNKY RED salsa
1/2 white onion chopped
2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
Instructions:
1. Spray the bottom of a sauce pan with zero calorie cooking spray then add brown rice, garlic powder, and pink Himalayan salt and sauté until the rice is golden brown.
2. Add chicken broth, salsa, and onion then on med-high heat, bring to a boil uncovered.
3. Boil for 2-3 minutes then turn heat to low, cover the pan with a lid, then simmer the rice on low until cooked through (approx. 30mins). Do not remove the lid or stir while rice is simmering for best results.
Portion info: Weigh your rice after it is cooked (women--2oz, men--3oz).
**See my recipe for FTDI Homemade Chicken Broth on this website! If you are FTDI you cannot use store bought chicken broth. It has to be homemade. For all others store bought will do fine.
TRY USING QUINOA OR EVEN A 50/50 BLEND OF BROWN RICE AND QUINOA IN THIS RECIPE IN THE PLACE OF THE BROWN RICE INGREDIENT FOR ANOTHER YUMMY TWIST ON THIS DISH!
WATCH MY HOW-TO VIDEO!!
RECIPE Q&A's:
Q: Are tomatoes FTDI?
A: Tomatoes are not on the approved FTDI food list. HOWEVER, Salsa IS FTDI in moderation. See your Condiments and Drinks page in your Bible for info. So, you are allowed to use salsa in this recipe and still remain FTDI.
Q: Are onions FTDI? Are we allowed to eat cooked onions during our 6wk weight loss challenge at The Camp?
A: Yes. Onions are FTDI. You are allowed to eat them raw OR cooked during your 6wk challenge. See your Condiments and Drinks page in your Bible for info. Remember that onions are considered a CONDIMENT and should be used as a condiment, not as a main course or a side dish. They are higher in sugar so eating an excessive amount can hinder your weight loss but they are FINE if eaten properly. The amount of onion in this recipe is okay for challengers!
Q: What kind of Salsa should I use? Is Salsa FTDI?
A: Salsa IS FTDI in moderation (check your Condiments and Drinks page in your FTDI Bible). You can use any brand CHUNKY RED salsa for this recipe. I personally like the taste of Herdez salsa. If you are trying to follow FTDI then make sure there is no oil or sugar in the ingredients of your salsa. I've noticed that using homemade salsa doesn't give this recipe the right consistency, although, if you'd like to try that then go right ahead!
Q: Can this recipe be done in my rice cooker?
A: You can if you want to but for me, I love the way the rice tastes when it is browned in a little Pam with garlic powder and pink Himalayan salt. It gives it a better flavor and texture so that is why I do this rice in a saucepan instead of my rice cooker. That's only my preference though so yes, it can work in a rice cooker. Just add all the ingredients at once in your rice cooker and then turn it on!
Q: How do I know if I'm eating the correct carb portion?
A: Brown rice is weighed AFTER it is cooked. Once your Spanish Brown rice is done cooking, weigh it. It does have salsa and onion in it but it does cook down quite a bit so it's not going to drastically effect the weight of your rice.
Q: Can I eat this if I'm also having FTDI Tacos since Oat Tortillas are also a carb?
A: You can but ONLY if you are mindful of not going over your carb portion! Take measurements into account. For example, if you are female you would want to eat 1oz of Spanish rice and 1oz worth of oat tortillas, not to exceed 2oz of carbs in one meal. Men, split 3oz of carbs between this rice and oat tortillas to stay within your carb portion.
Q: Is this rice spicy?
A: No. This rice isn't spicy especially if you chose a mild flavored salsa. It tastes like Spanish rice. However, if you would like to make is spicy (for those of us who like the heat) add one deseeded jalapeño to the recipe and chose a HOTTER red chunky salsa.
Q: Why can't I use store bought chicken broth if I'm FTDI?
A: If you are FTDI then you can not use other parts of the chicken besides the breasts, the breasts cannot have skin on it, and there cannot be any bones used to make the broth. The other parts of the chicken, skin, and bones add extra fat and calories to the broth as it cooks so in order to be FTDI it needs to be made with boneless, skinless chicken breasts only. Store bought chicken broth often times uses other parts of the chicken, skin, or bones to make the chicken broth more flavorful and often times they also add non-FTDI ingredients to the broth as well. In addition to that, we try to use as few products as possible that are processed.
