Why is my broccoli casserole watery?

The mistake: It comes out soupy or watery What goes wrong: If your casserole is full of raw vegetables, you can end up with a watery mess as they release their natural juices .

What is broccoli rice made of?

Broccoli rice is essentially broccoli chopped into the size of grains of rice . Simple as that. It's an amazing way to add tons and tons of veggies into your diet. Use it as replacement for regular white or brown rice and make a low-carb high veggie meal with it.

Do you bake casseroles covered or uncovered?

Generally, casseroles with grains, rice or pasta that will cook during the baking process are usually covered, for at least part of the time. Casseroles made of cooked ingredients are usually baked uncovered. If you like a crisper, browner top, be sure the casserole is uncovered for at least part of the bake time.

How can I improve my casserole flavor?

Balance Flavors Sweet, salty, spicy, and acidic elements should blend well and complement each other. Add ingredients like caramelized onions, olives, or lemon zest to give your casserole a depth of flavor.

What is healthier rice or cauliflower rice?

However, rice can be high in calories and carbohydrates, meaning it will fill you up without providing you with many additional nutrients. Substituting cauliflower rice for white rice is a great way to get more antioxidants while reducing calories and carbohydrates in order to save room for other nutrient dense foods.

Is broccoli rice healthy?

Besides being a good source of fiber and vitamin C, Collins says there are many other benefits to adding riced broccoli to your meals. One is that it's a good source of calcium, with 48 milligrams in a 100-gram serving. (You want to aim to get 1,200 milligrams per day.)

Which is better broccoli or cauliflower rice?

While they are both very nutritious vegetables, broccoli has a higher vitamin content, specifically in vitamin K and C, than cauliflower and is specifically known to be great for eye health. Broccoli florets also provide more minerals and fiber as well as contains vitamin A that isn't in cauliflower.

What to do if your casserole is too watery?

Thicken a meat casserole the most popular way with flour . Add some flour to your pan after you've browned the meat and before adding any liquid. This way, the flour will soak up the juices and fat in the pan. Add about one teaspoon of flour at a time until you get the right thickness.

How do you make broccoli not watery?

To avoid soggy broccolis try steaming it for 2 minutes and check the texture, if required cook for a minute more but not more than that. After this, you put the boiled broccoli into ice water, the constant shock will make them crispy.

How do you remove excess water from broccoli?

Use paper towels to remove excess water from the broccoli. This will bring up the temperature of the broccoli so the whole dish cooks evenly.

Broccoli and Rice Casserole ~ Vegan Recipe ~ This Wife Cooks™ (2024)

View Recipe

Broccoli and Rice Casserole ~

Fresh broccoli and fluffy rice are combined with homemade vegan cheese sauce then baked until bubbly for an easy and comforting meatless main or side dish!

Table of Contents

Ingredients for Broccoli and Rice Casserole

4 cups cooked long-grain white rice
1 pound fresh broccoli
1 cup vegan mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided
1 cup vegan cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon vegan butter, divided
1/2 cup yellow onion
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper – optional
1 1/2 cups mild-flavored plant milk, such as oat or unsweetened almond
1/2 cup vegan chicken-style broth
1/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs

Broccoli and Rice Casserole ~ Vegan Recipe ~ This Wife Cooks™ (2)

How to Make Broccoli and Rice Casserole

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F.

STEP TWO: Cook the rice according to package directions. Set aside.

STEP THREE: To blanch the broccoli, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli and cook for 2 minutes, until bright green in color. Drain in a colander and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Set aside to dry.

STEP FOUR: Into a large bowl, add the cooked rice, blanched broccoli, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 cup cheddar cheese. Gently stir just until combined.

STEP FIVE: Into a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the butter. When the butter, add the onion. Cook for two minutes, stirring frequently until the onion begins to soften. Add the garlic and continue cooking for an additional 30 seconds.

STEP SIX: Whisk in the flour; the mixture will be thick.

STEP SEVEN: Season with salt, black pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper, if using.

STEP EIGHT: Gradually add the milk and broth, whisking continuously until the consistency is smooth.

STEP NINE: Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 3 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.

STEP TEN: Stir in 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese. Continue stirring until the cheeses are melted.

STEP ELEVEN: Pour the cheese sauce over the rice/broccoli mixture, stirring gently just until fully coated.

STEP TWELVE: Spread the mixture into a greased 8×8-inch casserole dish.

Storage

Leftovers can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator.

Quick Tip For Success

Be gentle with the rice!

By all means, resist the urge to get aggressive when stirring the rice.

Over-stirring can cause the rice to release too much of its natural starches and become sticky. For this recipe, we want to keep the rice nice and fluffy!

Broccoli and Rice Casserole ~ Vegan Recipe ~ This Wife Cooks™ (4)

More Casserole Recipes You’ll Love!

Cowboy Casserole
Yellow Squash Casserole
Vegan Green Bean Casserole
Sausage and Mushroom Pasta Bake
Vegan Chili Mac Casserole

Follow This Wife Cooks onInstagram|Facebook|Pinterest