I am glad I read the reviews on this recipe before making it, because it may have turned out rather bland otherwise. I added 2 more cloves of garlic, tripled the amount of seasoning (except the salt), only used 1.5 cups of cheese (monterrey jack w/jalapenos is great), and added red bell peppers. I also substituted white rice with instant brown rice, and the veg oil for extra virgin olive oil. Delicious! I make this once every month or two and we never get tired of it.
This is a big hit with our family and for the company to whom we have served it. I increase the rice to 1/2 cup and cook the rice with one chicken boullion cube; only use 1 tablespoon of the oil (and I use olive oil); I use 1/2 cup of regular chopped onion instead of 1 cup of green onion; I doubled the spices and only used 1/2 cup of sharp cheddar in the casserole and 1/2 cup of sharp cheddar on top. GREAT recipe and a wonderful way to use the vegetables from my garden. You won't be disappointed!
My entire family loved this meal (and I have very picky eaters)! I added 3 pounds cooked shrimp to it. It made a meal rather than a side dish. Add bread & a salad and you have an excellent meal.
This is a great idea, and a delicious way to serve vegetables. With a few alterations, this recipe is wonderful. To make the rice more flavorful, add vegetable stock and about a teaspoon of garlic salt instead of water while making your rice...it adds so much flavor. Then, I broil the zucchini and red onion in a broiling pan with a thin coating of olive oil and a seasoning rub including about a 2 teaspoons of each seasoning: garlic powder, cumin, pepper, oregano, and then I salt to taste. This takes about 10-15 minutes (or until they are lightly browned). I can't tell you how much flavor this adds to your vegetables (without adding all the fat that would get absorbed from frying them in a skillet).
Then I just add the broiled vegtables to my cassarole dish that has the rice spread in the bottom. I mix the rice and veggies so that the seasonings are mixed into the rice. Then, simply top with the amount of cheese you want, pop back in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees and dinner is served. This may sound like a bit more work, but trust me...its worth the effort.
My husband doesn't believe in dinner without meat but when he tasted this dish he exclaimed over it for no less than half an hour! I'm on Weight Watchers and each serving was only six points! Add a bread stick or two and you have a low-point complete meal!
Fabulous recipe! Did as previous reviewers suggested: tripled seasonings (except salt) added 1 more garlic clove and a few shakes of garlic powder upped rice to 1/2 cup (used brown rice) added 1/2 of a red pepper chopped. Also added 1 chopped up jalepeno brat which I cooked with the zucchini & onions. Used sharp cheddar cheese. Family LOVED it! Will definitely make again.
Even after cooking the rice in chicken broth and the vegetables in olive oil even after using fresh herbs rather than dried this was still "eh"--boring. And oh the sharp cheddar cheese just took a fresh taste and made it almost sharp and sour--would have been better without any of it. There were LOTS of leftovers both on the dinner plates as well as the casserole dish.
Everyone has there own taste...make it what you want but, don't grade it according to your own...This is one thing I hate about this rating system!!!
Wow! I was quite surprised by this recipe! And I don't even like zucchini! I served as a side dish with chicken. I doubled the rice and spices and cut the cheese in half. I also used olive oil instead of vegetable. Definately a keeper!!
