RecipeShare: Mexican Bake

Mar 2, 2015

Recipe from Laurie Jesch-Kulseth, author of the blog Relishing It

Serves 4 people
Your gift of $15 buys a family in need groceries to make a healthy meal.

Ingredients

• olive oil
• about 1 pound (or a bit more) of cooked shredded chicken, turkey, ground or shredded beef (see note)
• 1 small red or white onion, diced
• about 4 garlic cloves, minced
• about 14-15 ounces of cooked beans, drained and rinsed (any kind– red, black, pinto, or even white) (when I forget to soak my own, I’ve really been enjoyingSimply Balanced Organic Beans (found at Target) for both the texture and the flavor.)
• 1 cup long grain brown rice, rinsed (any type of rice will work–if wanting to use white, just note that the cooking time will decrease)
• 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1-2 teaspoons ground coriander
• kosher salt and cracked pepper
• about 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 1/2 cups homemade chicken or beef broth heated (depending upon what protein you are using)
• 1 15-ounce can Red Gold diced tomatoes with lime juice and cilantro (or anything similar)
• shredded cheese, 1-2 cups  (sharp cheddar, mozzarella, and monterey jack are great options)
• chopped fresh cilantro, fresh jalapeños, sour cream, fresh limes, hot sauce, tortilla chips, and/or fresh tortillas for serving

Note:  If wanting to use shredded chicken, simply sauté one pound (or a bit more) of chicken breasts seasoned with salt and pepper in a skillet with olive oil. They should take about 3-4 minutes on each side, depending upon how high your heat is. Check for doneness, then shred with a fork. Or use rotisserie!

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a large Dutch oven add a couple tablespoons of olive oil and sauté the onion and garlic for a couple of minutes over medium-high heat until somewhat soft (you would brown the ground beef just prior to this, if using).  Add the chili powder, cumin, coriander, about 1-2 teaspoons of kosher salt, and cracked pepper to the pan.  Then add the canned tomatoes with juices, beans, rice, meat, corn, and heated broth and continue to cook for a couple of minutes over medium-high heat until everything is hot.
3. Mix in the meat.  Flatten everything with a spatula so the rice can cook properly in the liquids.  Place in the preheated oven and bake covered for 1 hour.  Remove from oven and add the cheese.  Return to oven, covered, for about 5 more minutes, or until cheese has melted.
4. Serve with lime wedges, chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeños, sour cream, hot sauce, tortilla chips and/or fresh tortillas. Enjoy!

About the recipe author

Laurie Jesch-Kulseth is a lifelong home cook who has always believed that eating healthy food is an important part of a balanced life. A wife and mother of two, she pours her heart into the meals she makes for her family. She photographs and writes about it all on her blog, Relishing It.

Salvation Army food fact

Our food shelf in Hibbing, Minn., is promoting self-sufficiency by requiring newcomers to attend a budgeting class before they can receive food. One guest was amazed at how much farther his $20 could go in a grocery store vs. ordering a pizza.