I always find it fascinating that mixes like Rice A Roni sell so well. When you think about it, it’s a tiny amount of rice, pasta, maybe a few dried vegetables, and heavily salted “flavor mix”. That’s it. Well….maybe not just “it”. From a box of Chicken Flavor:
“Ingredients
RICE, WHEAT FLOUR, DURUM WHEAT SEMOLINA, SALT, SUGAR, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT*, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, ONIONS*, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, NATURAL FLAVOR, PARSLEY*, GARLIC*, CHICKEN BROTH*, CHICKEN FAT, TURMERIC SPICE WHICH IMPARTS COLOR, HYDROLYZED CORN GLUTEN, NIACIN*, DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DISODIUM INOSINATE, FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, TURMERIC EXTRACT, FOLIC ACID, RIBOFLAVIN.
*DRIED.
CONTAINS WHEAT AND SOY INGREDIENTS.”
A box of mix makes 3 servings, 1 cup each. The sodium per serving is 1060 mg! That is simply too high. While they make one that is ‘33% lower sodium’, you can do so much better at home, making your own – and I might add, make batches that will actually fill a family up. 1 cup isn’t going to fill anyone up but a child. And that for me is the big part: I can make the pantry staples the way I like and need them, without questionable ingredients, and as well, lower in sodium – and allergy safe for our youngest child. (Choose your broth wisely for lower sodium options!)
DIY Rice A Roni Mix
Ingredients:
- 1 cup uncooked spaghetti, broken into pieces or Fideo pasta
- 1½ cups long grain white rice
- ½ cup dried vegetables
Directions:
Pour rice into a quart mason jar (using a canning funnel), then add pasta on top. Package dried vegetables in a small zip top bag, fit on top.
Mark “4½ cups broth & ¼ cup butter or olive oil”
For long-term storage, consider using a FoodVac mason jar sealer.
To Prepare:
Heat a large deep skillet over medium high, add in butter or oil, and the rice/spaghetti mixture. Stir till golden brown. Add in the dried vegetables and broth, bring to a boil. Turn to medium-low, cover and let simmer for 20 minutes. Take off heat and stir.
Add In’s:
With the broth, add in drained and flakes tuna (1-2 cans), canned or pouched chicken, or 1 can rinsed and drained beans. Once cooked, sprinkle on Parmesan cheese and stir in gently.
Notes:
If you use broth powder, add in with the rice before storing. You can use gluten-free pasta as well. For long-term storage, consider adding in olive oil packets. You would need 4.
Serves 4 to 6 as a main dish, with protein added.