Three brown rice recipes that you'll really love!

Brown rice is great, right? But how often do you actually use it in your kitchen? Here are three recipes that won't make you scrunch your nose.

It may be healthy but brown rice doesn't always conjure a picture of a yummy dish in your head right? In the pages to follow we bring you three yummy recipes that are made out of the very rice you probably look at and go 'Eww!'

Brown Rice Pilaf

Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium green pepper, chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cups long grain brown rice, cooked
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Method:

• In large saucepan, saute onion and green pepper in oil until tender
• Add cooked Brown rice and garlic; cook and stir for 3-4 minutes or until rice is lightly browned.
• Add the thyme and pepper
• Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes
• Fluff with fork

Recipes courtesy: Best Foods Limited

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Ingredients:

• 2 cups brown rice
• 1 head of broccoli, tender stems and florets chopped into roughly 1/4-inch pieces
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 tsp seasoned salt
• 1/2 cup ricotta cheese (whole or part-skim)
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp. minced fresh basil
• 2/3 cup shredded cheese of your choice
• Salt and pepper

Method:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees; Add onion, oil and sauté. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add chopped broccoli stems, and stir-fry the broccoli for 2 to 3 minutes to brown slightly.
• Add 2 tbsp of water to the pan and quickly cover; steam the broccoli until tender, about 2 minutes. Add the vegetables and add seasoned salt and pepper to taste.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the ricotta, yogurt and egg until well combined. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked brown rice, cooked vegetables and basil.
• Add ricotta mixture and 1/2 of the cheese, and stir gently to combine.
• Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish; top with remaining cheese.
• Bake for 30 minutes, until the cheese begins to brown in spots.

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces boneless chicken breast, diced into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 small onion, sliced into thin strips
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 cup chopped broccoli
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 1 teaspoon ginger, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
• 2 cups cooked brown rice
• 1/2 cup egg whites (or 4 egg whites or 3 whole eggs)

Method:

• Mix the garlic sauce with 1/4 cup water and set aside.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium heat, add chicken and heat until cooked (about five minutes).
• Place the cooked chicken in a large bowl and set aside.
• Add the onions, mushrooms, and carrots to the pan, turn the heat to high, and cook for two minutes.
• Add the broccoli, garlic, and ginger, and cook for additional two minutes.
• Add the garlic sauce and water to the vegetables, stir to combine, and remove from heat. Pour the vegetables and sauce on top of the chicken and set aside.
• Spray the pan once more with nonstick cooking spray and add egg whites.
• Cook over high heat, stirring constantly, until eggs have almost set.
• Add the rice, stir to combine and then add the chicken and vegetables.
• Cook for another two minutes, until the eggs have fully cooked.

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Do you have a recipe with healthy ingredients to share? Write in to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (Subject: Healthy recipes) with your name, hometown and any interesting details about the recipe, along with a photograph if possible. We'll publish the best preparations right here on Rediff.com and in India Abroad.