Pizza Rice

This month we're making tomatoes totally tasty at Veggie Buds Club! So let's get started with this rice dish that tastes just like pizza, a kid favorite! Your child can help chop the tomatoes and mash and stir them over the stove (if you're comfortable with this step). Finally, they can top the tomato-rice mixture with shredded cheese and then enjoy the final tasty meal!

Pizza Rice

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups cooked basmati rice
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 4 Roma tomatoes
  
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  
• Salt, to taste
  
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
   
2. Roughly chop the Roma tomatoes (this is a great step for your child to assist with if you have a child-safe knife!).
   
3. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pan.
   
4. Add the chopped Roma tomatoes and stir, next smash them with a potato masher or large fork. Add all of the dry seasonings except for salt and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
   
5. Add the cooked basmati rice, stir everything together, and season with salt.
   
6. Pour the tomato-rice mixture into a baking dish. Sprinkle the top with shredded cheddar cheese.
   
7. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven on a high rack and bake for 5 minutes to melt the cheese.