Canadians know how to have fun in the snow, whether it’s a day on the ski slopes or a making a snowman in the yard. If you also want to have fun in the kitchen, consider some homemade snacks to chow down on next time you return from an outdoor adventure.
Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside rice “croutons” are the perfect snack and great as a topper on soup or salad. They use up leftover rice and accommodate any flavours. Start with the basic recipe below and get creative with the last step.
Easy Rice Crouton Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 ml) U.S. long-grain or short-grain white or brown rice
- Vegetable oil or cooking spray to sauté (estimated 2 tbsp)
- Seasonings of choice
Instructions
- Cook rice using water as per package directions, or use hot, reheated leftover rice instead of cooking fresh.
- Place half of the hot cooked rice in a large measuring cup and purée into a smooth sticky paste with a hand blender or in the small bowl of a food processor; stir in remaining rice until combined.
- Wrap mixture in plastic wrap and smooth into an approximate 8×8 inch square. You can also press the rice mixture into ice cube trays or moulds instead of a square. Freeze for 1 hour or until firm enough to slice (or easily release from moulds).
- Unwrap square of rice and cut with a knife or mini cookie cutters into desired shapes. Croutons can be kept frozen in an air-tight container for up to three months.
- When ready to eat, sauté rice croutons with oil in 3 to4 batches in a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat until golden brown and crisp. Coat croutons with seasonings of choice.
Tip: Get creative with flavour combinations, such as parmesan and fresh herbs, teriyaki or buffalo sauce, Montreal steak spice, Za’atar, everything bagel spice…the list goes on. You can also make them sweet with cinnamon sugar or apple pie spices.
Find more snack ideas at riceinfo.com
