Description
Cheesy zucchini rice brings comfort and freshness to your dinner table with its creamy texture and garden-fresh flavors. Rich parmesan melts perfectly into tender rice and juicy zucchini, creating a side dish that makes you crave another delicious forkful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 medium zucchini, shredded
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
Cooking Fats and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Optional Liquid:
- 1 splash milk (as needed)
Instructions
- Create a flavorful base by warming olive oil in a medium saucepan over moderate temperature.
- Introduce rice to the pan, gently coating each grain with oil and stirring constantly until grains develop a light golden hue.
- Stream chicken broth into the pan, allowing the mixture to reach a rolling boil. Immediately reduce heat to low, secure with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer for approximately 15 minutes.
- Once cooking time concludes, remove pan from heat source and swiftly incorporate butter, freshly grated zucchini, melted cheddar cheese, and garlic powder.
- Quickly replace lid to trap residual steam and allow ingredients to meld together for 10 minutes.
- After resting period, uncover and vigorously stir the rice, ensuring all components are thoroughly integrated and evenly distributed.
- Season with salt and pepper according to personal preference. For enhanced creaminess, introduce a delicate splash of milk and blend until smooth and uniform.
- Transfer to serving dish while piping hot, presenting a rich, aromatic side dish that highlights the delicate zucchini and robust cheese elements.
Notes
- Toasting rice before adding liquid enhances its nutty flavor and prevents clumping, creating a more complex taste profile.
- Covering the pan after adding cheese and zucchini helps melt the cheese evenly and steam the vegetables gently.
- Use freshly shredded cheese for better melting and a smoother texture compared to pre-packaged options.
- Optional milk addition creates a creamier consistency, perfect for those who enjoy a richer rice dish.
- Quick 10-minute resting period allows ingredients to meld together and creates a more harmonious flavor.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like Monterey Jack or pepper jack for unique taste variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg