Cheese And Rice: Perfect Pairings For Your Palate

Cheese and rice is a delicious combination and can be a great snack, side dish, or even a full meal. There are many ways to prepare this dish, from a basic stovetop recipe to a more complicated risotto. The type of rice and cheese used can be changed to suit your taste preferences, and additional ingredients can be added to enhance the flavor.

Cheesy Rice with Peas

Ingredients

• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of uncooked long-grain rice
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 cup of cubed process cheese (Velveeta)
• 1 tablespoon of minced fresh parsley (optional)
• 1 cup of frozen peas

Method

• In a small saucepan, bring the water, rice and salt to a boil. Then, reduce the heat, cover the pan and let it simmer for 20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
• Remove the cooked rice from the heat and stir in the cheese and the parsley, if desired. Cover the pan and let it stand for two minutes or until the cheese is melted. Then, stir until the cheese and rice have blended.
• Cook the peas according to the package instructions.
• Once the peas are cooked, add them to the rice and cheese mixture. Stir until everything is combined.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Tips

• You can use broth instead of water for more flavour.
• Try adding some cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.
• If you don't have Velveeta, you can use shredded cheddar cheese instead.

Southwestern Rice with Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups grated Jack cheese
• 1 1/2 cups corn kernels (frozen or canned)
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced scallion
• 1 (4-ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained, patted dry and diced
• 1 jalapeno or serrano, seeds removed and minced (optional)
• Salt and cayenne pepper
• Paprika, for sprinkling
• 1 recipe Tex-Mex taco seasoning
• 2 cups cooked black beans (or 1 can, drained)
• 1 cup corn (canned or thawed)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 average-sized roma tomatoes, diced and seeds removed
• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 avocado, diced (optional)

Method

Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients, reserving 3 tablespoons of cheese. Spoon the mixture into a buttered souffle dish. Top with the reserved cheese and sprinkle with paprika. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden.

Tips

This recipe is very versatile. You can add cooked chicken or ground beef if you want to include meat. You can also add salsa, sour cream, and more cheese on top. If you don't have Monterey Jack cheese, you can use cheddar, gouda, or blue cheese instead.

Creamy Parmesan Rice

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 medium sweet onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain rice
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Optional:

• Cayenne pepper
• Parsley

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium pot. Add onion and cook until softened.
• Add garlic and rice. Stir with a wooden spoon and cook for 1 minute.
• Add chicken broth, milk, and salt. Bring to a simmer. Cover pot and reduce heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese and lemon juice.
• For extra spice, sprinkle a little cayenne pepper over the rice.
• For extra flavour, add some parsley.

Tips:

• For a vegetarian option, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
• For the creamiest result, grate the Parmesan cheese finely.
• To prevent rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan, use a non-stick pot or add a bit of oil to the pot.

Baked Cheesy Rice

Ingredients

• 1 cup of uncooked long-grain rice
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 cup of cubed process cheese (Velveeta)
• 1 tablespoon of minced fresh parsley
• 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese (or sharp cheddar)
• 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Optional ingredients

• 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning salt
• 1 teaspoon of dried parsley
• 1 cup of shredded colby jack or cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Utensils

• Small saucepan
• Greased shallow 1-quart baking dish
• 8x8 pan or similar casserole-type dish

Method

First, bring 1 cup of water, the rice, and salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Then, reduce the heat, cover the pan, and let it simmer for 20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.

Next, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese and the parsley. Cover the pan and let the cheese melt for 2 minutes. Then, stir until the cheese and rice are blended.

Finally, transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish and bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes, or until the cheese is golden.

Variations

This recipe is very versatile and can be adapted to your taste. Here are some suggestions:

• Use broth instead of water for added flavour.
• Toss in some cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.
• Add steamed vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, or peas.
• Make it meaty by adding diced cooked ham, leftover chicken, bacon crumbles, or ground beef.
• Change up the cheese with Swiss, ricotta, Parmesan, Monterey Jack, Colby, or a blend of different cheeses.
• For extra texture, add a crunchy topping like homemade breadcrumbs or crushed crackers mixed with melted butter.

Cheesy Rice Casserole

Ingredients

• 2 cups steamed rice (hot or cold)
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (sharp is best, but use whatever you have)
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 3 cups cooked long-grain rice
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup minced fresh parsley
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Optional ingredients

• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1 cup cauliflower florets
• 1 cup cooked chicken
• 1 cup cooked ham
• 1 cup cooked ground beef
• 1 cup cooked Italian sausage
• 1 cup crushed crackers
• 1 cup breadcrumbs

Method

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a greased baking dish, mix together the rice, grated cheddar cheese, and cayenne pepper.
• In a large saucepan, saute the onion and garlic in butter until tender.
• Add the cooked rice, shredded cheese, parsley, milk, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, and salt to the saucepan and mix well.
• Transfer the mixture to the baking dish.
• Bake, uncovered, for 40 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean.
• Let the casserole rest for a few minutes, then serve.

Tips

• To prevent a mushy texture, ensure your rice is fully cooked and cooled before mixing it with the other ingredients.
• To prevent your casserole from drying out, cover it with aluminium foil during the initial baking to retain moisture.
• To fix a watery casserole, start by draining any excess liquid that has pooled on top.
• To store cheesy rice casserole, let it cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for three to four days.

Frequently asked questions