Whole Grain Brown Rice Quick Tips

For those who love to cook and want to add more whole grains to their diets, but do not necessarily like to follow recipes, here are some quick, time-saving "stir-in" suggestions for adding flavorful ingredients to cooked whole grain brown rice.

Citrus RiceTo hot cooked brown rice, add grated orange, lemon or lime zest for a fresh lively taste.
Coconut RiceWhen cooking brown rice, substitute one cup of water with lite coconut milk. After the rice is done, stir in fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro to hot cooked brown rice.
Easy Fried RiceSauté minced garlic, shredded carrots, frozen green peas and diced cooked chicken or ham in cooking oil. Stir in hot cooked brown rice.
Nutty RiceTo hot cooked brown rice, add peanuts, cashews, pine nuts or sunflower seeds; stir in dried cranberries or cherries for added flavor, texture and color.
Cinnamon RiceSprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar over hot cooked brown rice.
Slightly MexicanTop hot cooked brown rice with diced tomatoes, green onions, Monterey Jack cheese and cilantro. Or, instead of diced tomatoes, try adding your favorite salsa.
Pesto RiceStir prepared pesto sauce into hot cooked brown rice.
Portobello Mushroom RiceTo hot cooked brown rice, add sautéed chopped portobello mushrooms and toasted chopped pecans. Top with crumbled feta cheese.

Brown rice, a 100 percent whole grain food, joins the recognized ranks of healthful whole grains, according to a recent announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that will allow brown rice food labels to bear the whole grain health claim. Read the entire press release from the USA Rice Federation.