Simple Red Rice With/Without Meat

I didn't have fresh green or red peppers to make Spanish Rice so I used a can of zucchini in Italian tomato Sauce Wow! With the spices it was great! You can use any leftover cubed cooked meat or serve plain. Great the next day also. This is a good make ahead dish and bake later. You will be surprised with the great flavor!

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup cold water
• 1  cup  chopped  white onion
• 1  teaspoon ground cumin
• 1  teaspoon  ground chili powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1  teaspoon  chopped basil
• 1  teaspoon salt or 1  teaspoon  salt substitute
• 1 (15 ounce) can zucchini with Italian-style tomato sauce
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 4 -5  cups cooked white rice
• 1 -2  cup  cooked cubed pork (optional) or 1 -2  cup beef (optional) or 1 -2  cup  venison (optional) or 1 -2  cup  elk meat (optional) or 1 -2  cup  buffalo (optional)
•  Pam cooking spray
•  aluminum foil

Directions

1. In small mixing bowl, add the first seven ingredients.
2. In a large mixing bowl pour the zucchini and sauce. Chop the zucchini in one inch pices.
3. Add the tomato sauce, rice and meat, if desired.
4. Mix gently.
5. With a rubber spatula pour out the onion and spice mixture and mix in slowly so it is absorbed throughout the dish.
6. Preheat oven to 375*.
7. Spray Pam in a glass flat pyrex dish.
8. Spread the rice evenly.
9. Cover with foil.
10. Bake 40-45 minutes.
11. Note: If chilled before baking, bake another 15 minutes.