FESTIVE RICE

Festive Rice image

My mom and I transformed plain rice by adding feta, cranberries, pumpkin seeds and cayenne. We wound up with a sweet and spicy crowd-pleaser. -Lisa de Perio, Dallas, Texas

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 50m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

2-1/4 cups water
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup uncooked jasmine rice
1/4 cup salted pumpkin seeds or pepitas
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1/4 cup dried cranberries

Steps:

Preheat oven to 325°. In a small saucepan, bring first 5 ingredients to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour over rice in a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake, covered, until all liquid is absorbed, 30-35 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook pumpkin seeds, brown sugar and cayenne pepper, stirring constantly until sugar melts and cayenne coats pumpkin seeds, 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat; transfer to a plate, spreading out seeds to cool., Sprinkle cooked rice with feta, mint, cranberries and spiced pumpkin seeds.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 244 calories, Fat 11g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 23mg cholesterol, Sodium 514mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 5g protein.