Some guests were coming over that needed a gluten free diet. I had found some gluten free sausages from Spolumbos Deli in Calgary and so the following quick and easy dish ended up being the lunch for the crowd. It is colourful, tasty, quick and easy as well as hearty. Great with a huge bowl of salad that has some texture (brocolli slaw, lettuce, sunflower seeds, grape tomatoes).
Quick and Easy Rice and Sausage Dish:
Serves 6
3 cups of jasmine rice
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp of chicken broth
Juice of 1 lemon
2 cups of fresh spinach
4 cups of sliced cooked sausage (Spolumbos Italian or a lamb sausage)
2 cups of crumbled feta cheese (save a little to sprinkle on top)
½ cup finely chopped sun dried tomatoes (use the ones in oil)
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook the jasmine rice as per directions, adding the chicken broth and minced garlic before cooking it.
Cook the sausage and then slice them into about fairly thin slices
When rice and sausage are cooked:
Place the raw washed spinach into a large mixing bowl. Add the sun dried tomatoes, and then add the rice and mix together. Rice should be dry and fluffy. Add the cheese, sausage and fresh parsley. Mix the lemon juice and olive oil in last.
(The spinach will be wilted by the warm rice but not watery and it retains it flavour and nutrients this way)
Place in the serving dish and top with a little parsley and feta cheese.
**If you like pine nuts, also add 1 cup of toasted pine nuts to this dish.