Mediterranean Tomato Brown Rice Pilaf

Mediterranean Tomato Brown Rice Pilaf

Mediterranean cuisine is fabulous — it incorporates all of the right things to make a body feel good and the flavors are ah-mazing!

A traditional grain like rice can wear so many hats, it can be the main dish, side dish, turned into a dessert, even pressed for milk. For dinner though, it’s definitely one of my favorite side dish heroes. I grew up eating this tomato rice pilaf and still love it!

More often than not, white rice undergoes a refining process that actually strips the grain of it’s inherent goodness. The manufacturers then “enrich” it with synthetic vitamins that don’t quite cut it. Brown rice has a better nutritional profile, including selenium and manganese, and it doesn’t lost those nutrients before it hits your dinner plate.

For this Mediterranean pilaf, I add basil, sauteed onions, and tomatoes — yum! It’s so simple you’re going to end up making it aaalll the time (which will most likely be A-OK in your fam’s book!)

Try it, Love it, Share it!

Hope you try this recipe for Mediterranean Tomato Brown Rice Pilaf. Please tag me #feelgoodfoodie so I can see all your fabulous recreations on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter!

• 1 cup brown rice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, small diced
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 large tomatoes, small diced
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Fresh basil for garnish

Instructions

1. In a medium sauce pan, heat the olive oil, and sauté onions with salt and pepper until translucent.
2. Add the tomato paste and the small diced tomatoes and mix until the tomatoes break up somewhat.
3. Mix in the brown rice and incorporate everything well together, then add 1 1/2 cup boiling water.
4. Simmer on low for 45 minutes until water is all absorbed and the rice is soft
5. Serve as a side dish topped with fresh basil