Whole Grains Make Great "Spanish Rice" and Other Side Dishes

If you're trying to include more WHOLE grains in your4 cups cooked wild rice
diet, don't overlook the traditional white-rice side1/2 cup dried cherries, dried cranberries or other dried
dishes. It's so easy to convert these recipes just byfruit of your choice
subsituting brown rice, cooked barley or other wholeMix the dried fruit into the wild rice while it's still hot,
grains for the refined-carbohydrate white rice. Tryor heat them together in the microwave.
these 3 recipes, then use the same strategy on your4-6 servings
own favorite rice recipes.Biryani
Spanish RiceThis traditional Indian rice dish is even more delicious,
2 cups cooked brown rice or barleyand certainly more healthful, when made with brown
1 cup tomato saucerice or barley.
1 bunch green onions, chopped (white part)1 sweet onion, chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder1 green pepper, diced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin2 carrots, diced
1/2 teaspoon oreganopinch cayenne, to taste1 tablespoon minced fresh gingerroot
1 cup frozen peas1/2 cup bouillon
1/4 cup sliced stuffed olives (optional)4 cups cooked barley or brown rice
Chopped cilantro or Italian parsley for garnish1/2 cup golden raisins
(optional)1 16-ounce can pink beans or kidney beans,
Combine the grains, tomato sauce, onions and spicesdrainedpinch cayenne, or to taste
in a pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer 51 cup frozen green peas
minutes. Stir in the peas and olives and cook 2-31 ripe tomato, chopped
minutes more. Garnish with cilantro or parsley if1/4 cup chopped cilantro or Italian parsley leaves
desired.Bring the onion, green pepper, carrots and ginger
4 servingsroot and 1/2 cup of bouillon to a boil and simmer,
Wild Rice with Dried Cherries or Cranberriescovered, until the carrots are tender, about 15
Here's a simple, festive side dish that's a favorite inminutes. Stir in the remaining ingredients and heat
our house.through.