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This Tomato Rice Pilaf is a staple Mediterranean recipe that I make for my kids all the time. We enjoy it as a side dish and sometimes I even bulk it up with chicken or beef and make it as a mean meal.
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 its 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, and that’s why I love using it when I make this tomato rice pilaf.
For this Mediterranean pilaf, I add basil, sauteed onions, and tomatoes — yum! It’s so simple you’re going to end up making it all the time.
For more rice and grain dishes, check out:
If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feelgood Tomato Rice Pilaf recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
Tomato Rice Pilaf
Equipment
Ingredients
- 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
- In a medium sauce pan, heat the olive oil, and sauté onions with salt and pepper until translucent.
- Add the tomato paste and the small diced tomatoes and mix until the tomatoes slightly start to break up.
- Mix in the brown rice and incorporate everything well together, then add 1 ½ cup boiling water. Bring the mixture to a boil. Then cover the pot and simmer on low for 45 minutes until water is all absorbed and the rice is soft
- Serve as a side dish topped with fresh basil, if desired
Nutrition
So far so good. I’ll let you know how I do. Thank you!
Yes please! This is an old recipe and I need to revisit it and take new shots soon!
Love it!
Thank you!!
Do you cover the rice as it simmers?
Yes, I’ll add that clarification to the instructions. Thank you!
I love how simple this is – making it now ?
Hi Helen – So glad to hear that!! Enjoy it 🙂