Brazilian Broccoli Rice
Following the whirlwind of Christmas, holiday travel, and winter school break, I usually start the new year feeling completely drained. The absolute last thing my body or soul needs in the dead of winter is a restrictive regimen of juices and raw salads. Instead, I find myself deeply missing the comforting, grounding rhythm of a proper, balanced plate.
When I needed that familiar, home-cooked hug the most, I built a recovery meal centered around my absolute favorite Brazilian side dish: Broccoli Rice (Arroz de Brócolis). While a depleted freezer stash meant doctoring up a quick can of black beans to get by, this vibrant, garlic-rich rice is what completely brought the plate to life.
It is packed with a generous amount of garlic, finely chopped broccoli, and cooked until perfectly fluffy. Paired with some comforting crispy chicken and a simple salad, it adds the perfect pop of color and nourishment to the table. There is truly nothing like a warm, aromatic scoop of this rice to make stepping back into the daily family routine feel incredibly welcoming.
Learn more about Perfect Plates here or visit this issue of the Perfect Plate Newsletter to build this whole plate here.
Brazilian Broccoli Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced or grated
- 1 cup cooked broccoli, chopped finely into a crumbly mixture
- 1 cup cooked rice
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the garlic.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes until it becomes fragrant.
- Add the broccoli and integrate with the garlic for 2 minutes.
- Add the rice and mix everything together.
- If your broccoli and rice were well seasoned you will not need salt, but test and see if you want an extra dash.
