Quick One-Dish Dinner… Spanish Rice

Since I only cook from scratch and I don’t have the convenience of opening cans or popping things in the microwave for instant meals when I’m pressed for time, I count on a number of favorite “quick recipes” that my family loves. This one-dish Spanish Rice is one of the main dishes I turn to when I need a hearty meal in a hurry. Total preparation time is less than thirty minutes from chopping the onions to sitting down to supper. This dish is a frugal one, too… and best of all, it is delicious! Although my copy of this recipe is handwritten and gives no source, I believe the original recipe came off the back of the Minute Rice box back in the 50’s or 60’s.

Ingredients
2 large cans tomato soup and an equal amount of water (I use two 32-ounce cans tomato puree or crushed tomatoes and enough water to achieve the consistency I want)
2 green bell peppers, diced
2 onions, diced
1 pound ground beef (I use ground turkey)
4 cups Minute Rice (I use regular white or brown rice that I pre-cook and add to the tomato mixture)

Brown meat, onions, and peppers in skillet. Drain fat (if any… with ground turkey you may even need to add a bit of olive oil to brown the meat). Add tomato soup (or tomato puree or crushed tomatoes) and water. Bring to boiling. Add Minute Rice, cover, and remove from the heat. Wait fifteen minutes, then stir to combine ingredients. (If you’re using pre-cooked rice like I do, cook the rice and add it at the last minute after the tomato mixture has come to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir.)

Filed Under Cooking & Baking from Scratch, Family Favorite Recipes, Frugality