Italian-Style Rice

Aired on: April 3, 2012

Rachael has been working with Uncle Ben’s® for their Ben’s Beginners™ Cooking Contest, inviting parents and kids from all over the country to submit videos of themselves cooking healthy rice dishes together. Rachael welcomes four of the finalists and their moms to the studio and shows them four more ways to cook with rice! Check out one of Rachael’s healthy Uncle Ben’s® rice dishes below.

Ingredients

For the Pesto:
2 cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves
3 tablespoons pine nuts
1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, freshly grated
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
For the Italian-Style Rice:
1 package Uncle Ben’s® Rice
2 to 3 tablespoons EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 pound pork or turkey sausage
1/4 cup Pesto
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Yields: 4-6

Preparation

For the Pesto:
Into the bowl of a food processor, place the garlic, basil, pine nuts, cheese and salt. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped. With the food processor still running, stream in 1/2 cup of EVOO into the mixture until it becomes a smooth paste. Set aside.

For the Rice:
Prepare rice to package directions.

In a large pan, heat a few tablespoons EVOO over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Add pesto and rice. Toss until coated.

Top with cheese and serve.