Minute® Rice Introduces Three Flavorful Products

HOUSTON, June 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Riviana Foods Inc., America's leading rice company, announced today the introduction of three new products to the Minute® Rice family – Multi-Grain Medley, Ready to Serve Black Beans & Rice, and Ready to Serve Fried Rice Mix. With the same great taste and convenience consumers have come to expect from Minute Rice, the three latest products bring the brand's trademark quality and attention to flavor to the growing number of consumers looking for globally-inspired and wholesome options.

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The new Minute Multi-Grain Medley is the first extension to the brand's instant rice flagship line, which also contains Minute Whole Grain Brown and Minute White Rice, a family staple since first introduced in 1949.  A blend of four gluten-free foods, Minute Multi-Grain Medley is made with 100 percent whole grains including brown rice, Thai red rice, wild rice and quinoa and has earned the seal of approval from the Whole Grain Council.  With 43 grams of whole grains per serving, this rice contains nearly 90 percent of the daily recommended serving of whole grains. The quick-cooking medley has a slightly chewy, nutty flavor and is pre-portioned in four separate bags for ease of preparation.  It cooks in only 10 minutes, making it a great breakfast option or a nutritious go-to for any weeknight meal.

Two new ethnic-inspired offerings to Minute Rice's portable and single-serve Ready to Serve Rice line include Black Beans & Rice and Fried Rice Mix. According to SuperMarket Guru Phil Lempert's 2013 Food Trends, pre-portioned meals and meatless protein-rich options will continue to grow in popularity. The latest Minute Ready to Serve Rice products address these shifts in consumers' eating habits. Minute Ready to Serve Black Beans & Rice is the only ready to serve rice option that offers beans separate from rice to maintain a high-quality and authentic flavor. Ready in 90 seconds, Black Beans & Rice  is a protein-packed all-in-one meal solution with the added bonus of five grams of fiber per serving. The Latin-inspired beans and sauce including tomatoes, onions, green and red peppers provide a flavorful meal that is ideal for on-the-go desktop dining or for those wanting a vegetarian meal option. Minute Ready to Serve Fried Rice Mix brings together a mix of  rice, peas, carrots, onions, soy sauce and other seasonings, creating an aroma-packed side dish that will help fulfill any craving for the always popular fried rice dish that complements any Asian-inspired meal at home or in the office. The addition of Black Beans & Rice and Fried Rice Mix helps round out Minute Rice's Ready to Serve product line, now with several different varieties, including Whole Grain options such as brown rice and brown and wild as well as flavorful mixes.  

"Minute Rice wants to provide an adventurous yet affordable twist on standby restaurant dishes and pantry staples with the newest Ready to Serve options and new Multi-Grain Medley," said Paul Galvani, Vice President of Marketing, Riviana Foods Inc. "The latest Minute products bring together the same quality, great taste and convenience our consumers know and trust with globally-inspired flavors and textures that have become mainstream favorites for many adults and families. Not to mention, these products provide flavorful options to meet our consumers' dietary goals and evolving tastes."

Minute Rice developed versatile recipes featuring the three new products, showcasing inventive and deliciously satisfying ways to incorporate rice into different meal occasions. From convenient breakfast options to quick salads and soups, there are a variety of Minute Rice recipes with a range of flavors that make them practical staples for any time of the day.

GLUTEN-FREE FRUIT & GRAIN MUFFINS
Serves: 12

Ingredients:

• 1 bag Minute® Multi-Grain Medley
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 ½ cups vanilla soy or almond milk
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar
• 2 cups gluten-free baking mix
• ½ cup dried fruit, chopped
• Non-stick cooking spray

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Prepare rice according to package directions, substituting juice for water.  Cool.
In a medium bowl combine egg, milk and agave.  Stir in Multi-Grain Medley and fruit.  Fold in baking mix.  Blend just until combined. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Divide batter into cups and bake 20 minutes.
Optional muffin sizes and bake times:
Bake 30 minutes for jumbo (6) muffins
Bake 15 minutes for mini (24) muffins

Tip: Use an ice cream scoop to portion out batter.

FIESTA CHICKEN & RICE
Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 1 container Minute® Ready to Serve Black Beans & Rice
• 1 cup frozen seasoned southwest corn, thawed
• 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, undrained
• 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded
• ½ cup salsa
• fresh cilantro, chopped, optional
• sour cream, optional

Directions:
Prepare beans and rice according to package directions.  In a medium microwave-safe dish combine corn, chilies, chicken and salsa.  Microwave on HIGH 2 minutes.  Stir in beans and rice.  Garnish with cilantro and sour cream, if desired.

ASIAN CHICKEN & RICE SOUP
Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 1 container Minute® Ready to Serve Fried Rice
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) chicken broth
• 1 cup frozen stir-fry vegetables, thawed
• 1 cup cooked chicken, diced
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil, optional

Directions:
Prepare rice according to package directions.
In a microwave-safe dish combine broth, vegetables and chicken.  Microwave on HIGH
2 minutes.  Stir in rice and sesame oil.

Tip: Substitute cooked shrimp or tofu for chicken.

Minute Multi-Grain Medley, Black Beans & Rice and Fried Rice Mix are available in major grocery stores nationwide, with increased distribution rolling out through the remainder of the year. To learn more information about Minute's newest products, delicious recipe ideas and other varieties within the Minute Rice family of products, visit www.minuterice.com.

About Minute® Rice and Riviana Foods Inc.
Minute Rice is distributed by Riviana Foods Inc., one of America's largest processors, marketers and distributors of branded and private label rice products. Its principal brands include Minute®, Success®, Mahatma®, Carolina®, Comet®, Adolphus®, Blue Ribbon®  and Gourmet House®. The company has been an industry leader since 1911.

Riviana Foods Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ebro Foods, S.A., the leading Spanish food group, with interests in rice and pasta products. It is the world leader in the rice sector and is the world's number two pasta manufacturer. Ebro's other subsidiary in the U.S., New World Pasta Company, offers such well-known brands as Healthy Harvest®, Ronzoni®, San Giorgio®, Creamette®, American Beauty®, Skinner®, No Yolks®,  Prince®, Catelli® and Lancia®.

Join the Minute Rice community online at www.minuterice.com, www.facebook.com/minuterice, www.pinterest.com/minutericepins, and follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/minute_rice.

Related Link
Minute® Rice Introduces Three Flavorful Products

SOURCE Riviana Foods Inc.