Looking for an easy side dish to pair with your favorite Mexican-inspired entrée? This recipe for Mexican Vegetable Rice introduces a medley of vibrant colors and robust flavors to your table. Packed with wholesome ingredients and the unmistakable zing of canned tomatoes, this recipe is a celebration of health and taste.
While there is a lot to love about this hearty side dish, we are most excited about the addition of canned tomatoes. This staple pantry ingredient is a key player in this Mexican Vegetable Rice recipe, as they add a burst of freshness and bring a plethora of health benefits. Rich in essential nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants, canned tomatoes are a wonderful contribution to a well-rounded and nourishing meal. Furthermore, the lycopene content in tomatoes has been linked to various health benefits, including heart health and a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
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This recipe for Mexican Vegetable Rice introduces a medley of vibrant colors and robust flavors to your table. Packed with wholesome ingredients and the unmistakable zing of canned tomatoes, this recipe is a celebration of health and taste.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Ingredients
1 tbsp. Olive Oil
1 Cup Long Grain White Rice, Rinsed And Drained
½ Medium White Onion, Diced
2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
1 (14.5 oz.) Can Diced Tomatoes, Undrained
1 ½ Cups Low-Sodium Chicken Stock, Warmed
1 Cup Fresh Or Frozen Mixed Vegetables (Peas, Corn, Diced Carrots)
¼ tsp. Kosher Salt, To Taste
Instructions
Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the rice and sauté for 3-5 minutes, until golden.
Add in the onions and garlic. Saute 2-3 minutes, until softened.
Add the diced tomatoes, warm broth, vegetables and salt. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover. Cook for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, remove the pot from the heat and let the rice stand, covered, for 10 minutes.
After resting, fluff the rice with a fork. Taste and adjust the salt as desired. Serve with your favorite lean protein for a complete meal.
Notes
Got leftover cooked vegetables in your refrigerator? This recipe is a great way to use them up—broccoli, green beans, zucchini, carrots, peas—just about any chopped, cooked vegetable will work here.
Recipe approved by Ellie Krieger, Culinary Nutritionist (RD) for Tomato Wellness.com
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 cup Amount Per Serving:Calories: 180Total Fat: 2.5gSaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 220mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 4g
So easy, and yet so elegant. This recipe for Mediterranean Baked Fish allows your taste buds to travel the world, from the comfort of your own kitchen! #KitchenTravel
Your taste buds will be swimming in happiness with this Mediterranean Baked Fish recipe. Thanks to simple ingredients and a fast cook time, you can get this quick and healthy dinner on the table for any night of the week.
The flavor of the fresh cod fillets mixes beautifully with the artichokes, canned tomatoes and kalamata olives, and the feta cheese crumbles on top helps complete the Mediterranean taste. For those whom follow the Mediterranean diet this will fulfill all the components; high protein from the cod fillet, and packed with vegetables and olive oil for a low carb nutritious meal!
The canned tomatoes marry all the flavors together wonderfully. Canned tomatoes are a real powerhouse ingredient. Adding the bright red color comes from the nutrient of lycopene. Lycopene is rich in antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, and has been proven to protect the body against many chronic diseases. Similar to most nutrients, it’s more natural to obtain lycopene from foods rather than supplements. In order to achieve maximum health benefits associated with lycopene, it is recommended to consume tomato products with a heart healthy fat, such as olive oil or avocado. That’s why we recommend enjoying lycopene and its health benefits through delicious foods such as this recipe. So, what are you waiting for? Enjoy some canned tomato products today!
Yield: 4 servings
Mediterranean Baked Fish
So easy, and yet so elegant. This dish allows your taste buds to travel the world, from the comfort of your own kitchen! #KitchenTravel
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Ingredients
1 ½ Tbsp. olive oil
½ yellow onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic
1 (28 oz.) can chopped tomatoes
½ cup fresh chopped basil
salt and pepper, to taste
4 (4 oz.) cod filets
½ cup crumbled feta
1 (15 oz.) can artichoke hearts, drained
4 oz. kalamata olives
2 Tbsp. capers
1 lemon, sliced
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375˚F.
Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe pan over medium heat. Add in the onion and garlic and saute until the onion turns translucent. Then mix in the canned chopped tomatoes and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to just a boil then remove it from the heat.
Nestle the cod filets into the sauce and sprinkle the feta cheese on top. Add the artichokes into the sauce, in between the fish. Layer the lemon slices on top of the cod filets. Sprinkle the olives and capers on top.
Transfer the pan into the oven and bake it for 15-25 minutes or until the cod is fully cooked. Enjoy!
For other delicious tomato-based recipes, check out some of our favorites:
Many people purchase fresh produce over canned due to an assumption that it’s better for health. However, this is not always the case! Including canned foods (like fruit and veggies) in your diet can be an affordable and easy way to bump up the nutrient content in your diet. Learn more about how canned foods can be the ticket to a healthy diet.
It is no secret that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is good for you, as it’s associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. However, purchasing abundant quantities of fresh produce may not be feasible for people and can be their biggest barrier to consuming a healthy diet. Additionally, many people view processed vegetables as less nutritious or even unsafe. However, this is a false notion. Processing foods does not automatically imply that it becomes healthy–in fact, it can improve digestibility, nutrient bioavailability, and food safety [1].
You may be asking yourself how canned tomatoes can be part of a healthy diet. After all, did you know that tomatoes are the second most consumed vegetable in the USA [1]? This could be due to their affordability, versatility, and nutritionally dense content from lycopene. This flavonoid provides many benefits, including anti-inflammatory and caner fighting properties. Canned tomatoes have a higher lycopene content than their fresh counterparts because of the canning process. When tomatoes are heated it increases the lycopene content thanks to the cells inside of the tomatoes exploding during the heating process [1]. This allows them to release their compounds which can then be absorbed by our body and used to fight disease!
The next time you stock up on canned goods, don’t forget to pick up a few cans of tomatoes to boost flavor and health! After all, canned foods can be part of a healthy diet.
Learn more about the health benefits of canned tomatoes here:
Wu, X., Yu, L., & Pehrsson, P. R. (2021, October 19). Are processed tomato products as nutritious as fresh tomatoes? scoping review on the effects of industrial processing on nutrients and bioactive compounds in tomatoes. OUP Academic. Retrieved December 16, 2021, from https://academic.oup.com/advances/advance-article/doi/10.1093/advances/nmab109/6403479?login=true
Making healthy meals doesn’t have to be time consuming or complicated. By using canned goods, you can actually get dinner on the table in no time at all without breaking the bank! Learn more about making easy meals affordable and healthy with canned tomatoes.
There are preconceived notions that suggest eating healthy is not affordable, but this is just a false rumor. Pre-cooked, pre-prepared canned goods (such as beans, tomatoes, fish, grains, and more) are quite cost-effective and easy-to-use in your kitchen. You can get a healthy meal on the table in no time with just using pantry ingredients, all without breaking the bank to do so!
Making Easy Meals Affordable and Healthy
Preparing basic, healthy meals with canned foods is more nutritious than you may think. These affordable foods are preserved at nutritional peak when they are being canned and processed. This means that they are filled with tons of vitamins and minerals your body needs to function properly, and can help boost energy and reduce risk of certain diseases. That’s we love canned tomatoes, as they are one of the most accessible, affordable, convenient, and sustainable products that you can buy! In fact, studies have shown that canned tomatoes are even more nutrient-rich and environmentally-friendly than fresh tomatoes. The popularity of canned tomatoes is continuing to increase as people become more aware of its usefulness for cooking easy, nutritious meals from the comfort of their own homes. From soups and lasagnas to dips and smoothies, canned tomato products can be used for just about any meal.
To prepare a well-balanced meal, all you need is a can of tomatoes, and your favorite grains, protein, vegetables, and spices. The sky’s the limit from there. That’s why we love this recipe for Chipotle Tomato Rice Power Bowl; it’s a pantry-friendly recipe that’s also affordable and nutritious! You can also make this recipe ahead of time and have it for leftovers throughout the week. You’ll save both time and money, all while feeling your best!
Easy Mediterranean Artichoke Chickpea Bake from Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN, for Tomato Wellness
This easy casserole bake can be whipped together in minutes! Plus, this completely plant-based (vegan) Easy Mediterranean Artichoke Chickpea Bake is based on foods you can keep on hand in your pantry: spelt (an ancient form of wheat kernels), canned chickpeas, canned marinated artichokes, marinara sauce, and olives. It’s savory, hearty and a one-dish meal. And with only 8 ingredients (not including pantry staples), this healthy, no-oil, no-salt, no-sugar whole foods, plant-based recipe is a cinch to turn to on your busiest nights of the weeks. With the Mediterranean flavors of chickpeas, ancient grains, artichokes, olives, tomatoes, and herbs, this recipe is powerful in flavor, and packed with important nutrients, such as plant protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals. Whip it up for a one-dish meal, and pack up the leftovers for work the next day. You can swap out the ingredients easily, too—try quinoa instead of spelt (which makes this recipe gluten-free), white beans instead of chickpeas, and green beans instead of peas, for example.
Yield: 6 servings
Easy Mediterranean Artichoke Chickpea Bake
This completely plant-based (vegan) Easy Mediterranean Artichoke Chickpea Bake is based on foods you can keep on hand in your pantry.
Ingredients
1 ½ cups cooked spelt (according to package directions)
1 15-ounce can chickpeas (garbanzos), drained
1 12-ounce jar marinated artichokes, drained
1 cup frozen peas
½ cup olives, drained (i.e. Spanish, Kalamata)
½ cup marinara sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
Pinch black pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Mix all ingredients together and place in a medium casserole dish.
Place in oven, on top rack, uncovered, and bake for about 30 – 35 minutes, until golden brown and heated through.
Notes
To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute a gluten-free grain (quinoa, sorghum, brown rice) for spelt.
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