Thursday, September 4, 2014

80--- Vegetarian Freezer Burrito Bowls


Like I said a couple of posts ago..... I am loading up my freezer like mad lately.  I was going to make my same-old freezer burritos.  But I had the thought of "wouldn't it be great if I could have all of the filling without the tortilla?".  Done. Easier than to prep burritos too!

Don't give in to the ease of fast food!  These homemade lunches are cheap and less time consuming than hitting up the drive-thru!  AND you can control each and every ingredient going into them.

Vegetarian Freezer Burrito Bowls
Makes 6 bowls

3 cups Mexican rice (try my Wild Spanish Rice
1 can no sodium added black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can lowfat reduced sodium refried beans
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp ground cumin
4 oz can diced green chiles
1/3 cup chopped fresh onion
1/3 cup frozen or fresh corn kernels
3-4 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup salsa

*You may be tempted to add fresh tomato, lettuce, avocado, olives, sour cream and cilantro to your bowls.  These ingredients do not freeze well and should be added as toppings to your reheated bowl prior to serving.

Prepare Mexican rice per recipe instructions.

In a medium bowl, combine both cans of beans with chili powder and cumin (no need to heat).

Lay out six serving bowls.  Place piece of waxed paper or freezer paper in each bowl to cover the bottom and sides.  Layer each bowl with 1/2 cup rice, 1/2 cup beans, 1 Tbsp onion, 1 Tbsp corn, 2 tsp green chiles, 1 Tbsp salsa, and a sprinkle of cheese.

Place bowls in the freezer for 3-4 hours.

Remove bowls from the freezer and immediately transfer the contents of each bowl (along with waxed paper) to a ziploc freezer bag (I used a fork to pry up the frozen "bowl").  Return bags to the freezer.

When ready to serve, remove the contents from the bag and peel away the waxed paper.  Place in a bowl and microwave for 2 - 2 1/2 minutes, or  until heated through. Top with additional toppings if desired.

Nutrition Info per 1 bowl: 260 calories, 3 g fat, 17 g protein, 41 g carbohydrates, 8 g fiber

4 comments:

  1. You are singing my favorite song. This is a great idea. Now I hope I have room in the freezer! Thanks for all you do on this blog. I've never commented before but come here often to incorporate more healthy habits into our lives and diets. Robin in SoCal

    ReplyDelete
  2. Can't wait to try this recipe this weekend! Thank you for the recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Just ate my first one today and it was great! I skipped the cheese and certainly didn't miss it with the creamy texture of the refried beans. Thanks for this tasty, healthy and easy lunch idea!

    ReplyDelete