Back to main article: A Passion for la buena mesa  (December 2008) More recipes from Simply Delicioso (December 2008) Five Foods That Are Good—And Good for You (December 2007/ January 2008) More in Food

Serves 4

When I plan a menu, I always think about the colors and textures on the table. For a festive feel, I plan lots of bright strong colors like reds (tomatoes, pimentos), pinks (shrimp, watermelon), and oranges (salmon, orange bell peppers). A homier meal draws on earthy hues like browns (mushrooms, roasted onions) and burnished reds (slow-cooked pork). No matter what I decide to cook, I can count on the brilliant emerald green of this rice to bring it all together. Besides being absolutely delicious, the contrast it provides with other dishes is just amazing. This is also beautiful made with quinoa. Just substitute 2 cups of cooked quinoa for the rice.

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked long-grain white rice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
¼ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
½ teaspoon lime zest
¼ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat your broiler to high.

2. Microwave the cooked rice on high in 30-second increments until it’s warmed through. Place the rice in a heatproof casserole or baking dish, and toss with the butter, cilantro, parsley, lime zest, and Parmesan cheese. Place the dish under the broiler until the top is browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Check often, since broilers vary. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Source: Simply Delicioso: A Collection of Everyday Recipes with a Latin Twist. Reprinted with permission.