One of the things I like most about cooking is the unexpected. Sometimes you plan on making one thing and end up with something completely different. Hence our vegetable & brown rice balls. We originally planned to make friend rice, but things changed when I couldn't get the consistency of the rice right. I can make a million things, but rice still eludes me.
Realizing fried rice wasn't happening for dinner, I thought we could save this & viola.....Vegetable & Rice Balls . And they just so happen to be delicious and we'll be making them again in the very near future. Hope you enjoy them as well.
Vegetable & Brown Rice Balls
Heat oven to 400 degrees
3 cups of cooked brown rice
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 clove of garlic minced
1 small yellow pepper diced
1 large leek chopped
8 oz. baby bella mushrooms diced
1 bay leaf
Salt & Pepper to taste
Prepare rice as usual and set to the side in a large mixing bowl.
Heat olive oil & garlic in medium pan until garlic is soft. Add pepper, leek, mushrooms and bay leaf, to pan, tossing until all vegetables are coated. Cook on medium heat for 10-12 minutes, until vegetables are cooked, but with a bit of crisp. Remove bay leaf from mixture and discard.
Combine vegetable mixture with rice, mixing well. Add salt & pepper to taste and form into small fist-size balls.
On a lightly greased baking sheet, place the vegetable & rice balls sprinkling each with salt & pepper. Place into the oven for 20 minutes, checking regularly.
Serve rice balls with your favorite dip or sauce or by themselves. Either way is delicious.
Add-ins/Substitution - you can add spices, herbs, shredded cheese (parmesan, etc) or whatever else you want to make these treats your very own. ChowDown
