Anyone use Zatarain's rice mixes? (fast food, diet, freezer, health)
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Have only had the Jambalya one and I think it's pretty good combined with smoked sausage. It's a little high on the sodium, but that's generally the case with boxed mixes.
Have only had the Jambalya one and I think it's pretty good combined with smoked sausage. It's a little high on the sodium, but that's generally the case with boxed mixes.
Adding extra 'stuff' (tomatoes, onions, green peppers, vegetables, etc.) and making a *big* batch gets you plenty of leftovers for quick meals later, and cuts down on the sodium ratio. If the extras take away more of the heat and spiciness and flavor than you would prefer, adding other spices, peppers, hot sauce, etc. without sodium will bring it back.
Adding extra 'stuff' (tomatoes, onions, green peppers, vegetables, etc.) and making a *big* batch gets you plenty of leftovers for quick meals later, and cuts down on the sodium ratio. If the extras take away more of the heat and spiciness and flavor than you would prefer, adding other spices, peppers, hot sauce, etc. without sodium will bring it back.
And starting with the Lower Sodium variety helps a lot too.
Adding extra 'stuff' (tomatoes, onions, green peppers, vegetables, etc.) and making a *big* batch gets you plenty of leftovers for quick meals later, and cuts down on the sodium ratio. If the extras take away more of the heat and spiciness and flavor than you would prefer, adding other spices, peppers, hot sauce, etc. without sodium will bring it back.
I'm not trying to be snarky, but then why start with a prepackaged mix? If you are adding ingredients to dilute flavors/qualities you aren't fond of and then adding other spices to pump up the flavor, why not just begin with regular rice and regular beans? You will pay 1/10 as much and get exactly the flavors and sodium levels you are looking for.
I love these but just like a few others said, I find them too salty so I add more plain rice. I cook them in a covered pan with a large cooking area and they seem to cook in close to the times stated on the box. I also add whatever else is hanging around the kitchen like leftover meat or veggies. Tasty and fast.
We like the Red Beans and Rice, but they take way longer to cook than the directions on the package. More like an hour (instructions say 25 minutes).
We tried the Gumbo last night, which also says cooks in 25 minutes. I cooked it for an hour and 15 minutes and it was still more of a rice "soup" than a gumbo. I probably should have cooked it another half hour, but we were getting hungry. lol
Anyone else use their products and have issues with the cooking time?
You are not following the directions properly if it is taking an hour for the Red Beans and Rice to get done.
Try Uncle Ben's Red Beans and Rice in an orange envelope, 90 seconds in the microwave.
We like the Red Beans and Rice, but they take way longer to cook than the directions on the package. More like an hour (instructions say 25 minutes).
We tried the Gumbo last night, which also says cooks in 25 minutes. I cooked it for an hour and 15 minutes and it was still more of a rice "soup" than a gumbo. I probably should have cooked it another half hour, but we were getting hungry. lol
Anyone else use their products and have issues with the cooking time?
I'm not trying to be snarky, but then why start with a prepackaged mix? If you are adding ingredients to dilute flavors/qualities you aren't fond of and then adding other spices to pump up the flavor, why not just begin with regular rice and regular beans? You will pay 1/10 as much and get exactly the flavors and sodium levels you are looking for.
I get what your saying. However, not all cooks are as confident as you might be. Doctoring a packaged mix, soup or sauce, are time honored traditions among those of us who cook daily.
For example, I am not of Italian heritage and I have never, ever made tomato sauce from scratch. I buy a good brand and I play with it.
Never had any complaints.
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