I wanted to create a hearty and nutritious meal-preppable dish, like my Vegan Baked Feta Pasta or Quinoa Bake With Veggies that’s easy to whip up and packed with flavors. This rice bake is perfect for meal prep, weeknight dinners, or as a delicious side dish. With a blend of rice, veggies, and savory seasonings, it’s both super simple to make and full of taste.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Long Grain White Rice – While this recipe can work with any rice, you’ll get the perfect cooking only with long-grain white rice. Do not use brown rice, sushi rice, or jasmine rice. Vegetable Stock – You can use pre-mixed vegetable stock, a veggie seasoning cube mixed in warm water, or your homemade stock form cooking vegetables. Light Soy Sauce – Any shoyu sauce works, from gluten-free to regular soy sauce. Mirin – Mirin is a sweet cooking rice wine in which the alcohol evaporates when cooking. It brings a delicious flavor. Veggie Mix – You can either use a frozen veggie mix or make your own. I like to use diced carrots, corn, and peas. Garlic Cloves – For flavor. Roasted Sesame Oil – Add the sesame oil after the cooking is finished to give a perfect flavor to the rice. Scallions – Fresh iced scallion brings a great flavor. You can alternatively add chives or shallots. Edamame – Cook the edamame in boiling water and add them after baking the dish. It would overcook if added at the same time as the rest. Edamame bring a lot of protein to the dish. Sriracha Sauce – A dash of sriracha sauce before serving adds more zing too the dish. You can also add dairy-free mayo if you want something milder.
How to Make Vegan Rice Bake
This recipe is made with minimal prep, just throw all the ingredients in the backing dish!
Expert Tips
Use a Heavy-Duty Baking Dish: A ceramic or glass baking dish distributes heat evenly, ensuring that the rice cooks uniformly. This helps avoid any undercooked or overcooked spots. Layering Ingredients: When assembling the bake, layer the vegetables over the rice evenly. This ensures that each bite has a good mix of flavors and textures. Cover While Baking: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil during the initial baking phase. This traps the steam, helping the rice cook through evenly. Remove the foil before the end to allow the top to crisp up slightly. Stirring the Rice: Halfway through baking, give the rice a gentle stir. This helps distribute the flavors evenly and prevents the bottom layer from becoming too dense. Rest Before Serving: After baking, let the dish sit for about 10 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to blend and the rice to firm up slightly, making it easier to serve. Boost the Protein: For added protein, you can add cooked lentils or chickpeas along with the edamame. This turns the rice bake into a complete meal with even more nutritional benefits. Add Fresh Herbs: Decorate the served plates with fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, or basil just before serving. This adds flavor and colors. Zesty Finishes: Add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice over the top just before serving. The acidity cuts through the richness and enhances the overall flavor.
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