Rice Dish from the Southwest

In this recipe, to create a memorable meal that the whole family will love, hamburger patties are cooked with onions and combined with red kidney beans, whole kernel corn, and rice and seasoned with tomato sauce, ketchup, cilantro flakes, limejuice, and red pepper flakes. Make a complete meal in one skillet that is full of flavor, texture and color. For the bachelor or single gal with a modern and busy lifestyle this also makes the prefect meal. Inspired by the cuisine of the Southwestern United States, this recipe is simple and quick to make with enough spices to stimulate the senses and give you a boost of energy to tackle any activity you need to face the day, whether physical or mental and is characterized by rustic cooking and a fusion of Spanish, Mexican, Native American and cowboy-style cooking. You can also use ground beef of the same weight although this recipe suggests the use of hamburger patties, which are usually flavored with spices and add substantial flavor to the dish. Hamburger patties can be bought in most groceries already prepared and molded. Usually it is sold frozen and packaged. However, before cooking the frozen patties, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight so that they cook faster and evenly. Check out Gourmandia.ca for more recipes.

In this recipe, the patties are cooked with the onions and then the rest of the ingredients are added. As the patties disintegrate into the sauce, their entire flavor will meld with the other ingredients. This recipe uses canned red kidney beans, which have already been cooked. Drain them well since the liquid they are immersed in can be quite salty before adding them to the skillet,. The canned kernel corn should also be drained as well before adding to the skillet. To get rid of the starch the rice, which is uncooked, should be washed well and drained. When the rice is soft and tender the dish is ready.

Ingredients

1 lb. hamburger
1/2 cup diced onions
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
3/4 cup water
1 can (15 oz.) dark red kidney beans, drained
1 can (15 oz.) whole kernel corn, drained
1 cup uncooked rice
1 cup ketchup
1 tsp. dried cilantro flakes
1 tbsp. lime juice
1 tsp. red pepper flakes

1. Brown the hamburger and onions together in a Dutch oven. Then stir in tomato sauce and water.

2. Measure then add the remaining ingredients. Stir to combine thoroughly.

3. Heat to simmer. Cover and cook until rice is tender, for about 30 minutes. Add more water if necessary.