Transform Chicken & Rice Into A Mexican Fiesta

how to turn mountain house chicken and rice into mexican

Mountain House's Mexican-Style Adobo Rice & Chicken is a convenient and tasty meal option for backpackers, hikers, and anyone looking for a quick fix. It is a gluten-free dish featuring rice, chicken, pinto beans, and vegetables in an adobo sauce with a hint of lime. While some find the dish to be bland, it can be enhanced with hot sauce or cheese and tortillas. The meal is easy to prepare, requiring only boiling water and a few minutes to rehydrate, making it a popular choice for outdoor adventures and emergency kits.

Characteristics Values
Preparation Add boiling water to the pouch, stir, and wait 8-9 minutes for the food to rehydrate
Taste Described as "bland", "average", "decently spicy", and "zesty"
Ingredients Chicken, rice, pinto beans, tomatoes, zucchini, cauliflower, adobo sauce, and lime
Calories 570-660
Protein 33g
Price $11

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Preparation: add water and wait 8-10 minutes

To prepare the Mountain House Mexican-Style Adobo Rice and Chicken, you'll need to add water and wait 8-10 minutes. Here's a step-by-step guide:

  • Start by boiling some water. You will need approximately 1.5 to 2 cups (473 ml) of hot water for the Mountain House Mexican Chicken and Rice.
  • Once the water is boiled, carefully pour it into the pouch. It's recommended to add the water directly to the pouch for convenience and easy cleanup.
  • After adding the water, stir the contents of the pouch well to ensure even distribution of the ingredients and water.
  • Reseal the zippered pouch to retain heat and allow the food to rehydrate. This is a crucial step, as it ensures that the rice, chicken, and vegetables absorb the right amount of water and become tender.
  • Wait for about 8 to 10 minutes. This waiting period is essential to ensure the ingredients are properly rehydrated and cooked. The rehydration time may vary slightly depending on the specific instructions on your pouch, so always refer to the packaging for the recommended waiting time.
  • After the specified time has passed, unzip the pouch and give the contents a final stir to ensure everything is well combined and heated through.

Your Mexican-style chicken and rice is now ready to be enjoyed! You can eat it straight from the pouch, making it a convenient and mess-free option for campers, hikers, and anyone on the go.

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Flavour: add hot sauce, cheese, or tortillas

Flavour: Adding Hot Sauce, Cheese, or Tortillas

To turn Mountain House Chicken and Rice into a Mexican dish, you can add hot sauce, cheese, or tortillas. Here are some ideas and suggestions for each:

Hot Sauce

Hot sauce can be a great way to add spice and flavour to your Mountain House Chicken and Rice. You can choose from a variety of hot sauces available in the market, ranging from mild to spicy. If you want a more subtle kick, you can add a few dashes of hot sauce to your dish. For a stronger flavour, you can drizzle a generous amount over your chicken and rice. You can also serve the hot sauce on the side as a dip for your meal.

Cheese

Cheese can add a creamy and savoury element to your dish. Shredded cheese, such as Colby Jack, can be sprinkled on top of your chicken and rice. You can also create a cheese sauce to drizzle over your meal. To make a cheese sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in flour. Slowly add milk, whisking continuously, until the mixture is hot but not boiling. Gradually add your cheese, stirring until melted, and you have a smooth sauce. You can adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, and add spices like paprika and cayenne pepper for an extra kick.

Tortillas

Tortillas can be a great addition to your Mountain House Chicken and Rice, providing a Mexican-style presentation. You can serve your chicken and rice in soft tortillas, adding toppings such as avocado, sour cream, tomato, lettuce, and, of course, hot sauce. You can also use flour tortillas as a side, or tortilla chips for scooping up your meal.

Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese, hot sauces, and tortillas to find your preferred combination. You can also add other Mexican-inspired ingredients, such as green chillies, avocado, cilantro, and lime juice, to enhance the flavours and create a delicious Mexican-style meal.

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Nutrition: 570-660 calories, 33g protein

Mountain House's Mexican-Style Adobo Rice & Chicken is a convenient and nutritious option for backpackers and campers. The meal is designed to provide a substantial calorie boost, with 580 calories per serving according to the packaging, although some reviews suggest it can be up to 660 calories. It also offers a good amount of protein, with 33 grams per serving, which is important for fuelling outdoor activities and adventures.

The calorie count is a key consideration for those engaging in strenuous activities and can vary depending on individual needs and the nature of the physical pursuits involved. Mountain House bases its calorie calculations on a 2,000-calorie diet, which is a standard reference point for general nutrition advice. However, experts suggest that active backpackers may require a higher calorie intake, ranging from 2,500 to 4,500 calories per day. Therefore, the calorie content of this meal may be a factor in determining its effectiveness in sustaining energy levels during backcountry excursions.

In addition to calories and protein, the Mexican-style chicken and rice dish provides a range of other nutrients. Each serving includes 7% of the daily value (DV) of total fat (5 grams), 11% DV of saturated fat (2 grams), 20 mg of cholesterol (7% DV), 24% DV of sodium, 30 grams of total carbohydrates (10% DV), 6 grams of dietary fibre (23% DV), and 12 grams of protein (25% DV).

While the nutritional content is a key consideration, it's also worth noting that some reviewers found the flavour of this meal underwhelming, particularly in terms of spice and zest. However, for those who prefer milder flavours or intend to use the meal as a base for customisation, this may not be a concern.

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Ingredients: rice, chicken, beans, veggies, adobo sauce

Ingredients:

  • Rice (preferably leftover rice or rice prepared a day in advance)
  • Chicken
  • Beans (black beans or pinto beans)
  • Veggies (tomatoes, onion, garlic, capsicum/bell peppers, and zucchini)
  • Adobo sauce (canned peppers in adobo sauce)
  • Olive oil
  • Salt & pepper
  • Chicken stock/broth
  • Spices (Mexican spice mix, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, etc.)
  • Lime
  • Cilantro (optional)

Instructions:

Start by washing the rice until the water runs clear. The amount of rice and water depends on the type of rice used. For example, jasmine rice uses a 1:1.5 ratio of rice to water. You can use a rice cooker or cook it on a stovetop.

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Season the chicken with a Mexican spice mix such as carne asada or fajita seasoning. Bake for around 35 minutes, then set aside to cool. Once cool, strip the meat and cut it into small pieces.

In a separate pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until translucent. You can also add other veggies like garlic and bell peppers. Then, add the adobo sauce, canned peppers in adobo sauce, and spices like cumin and garlic powder. Mix well.

Next, add the pre-cooked rice, beans, corn, chicken, and tomatoes. Pour in chicken stock/broth or water, and stir everything together. Bring it to a boil. Once it hits a boil, cover the pot and place it in the oven to bake. Bake for 25 minutes covered, then remove the lid and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked.

Finally, remove from the oven and serve with a spritz of lime juice and some cilantro for garnish.

Feel free to adjust the seasoning and spices to your taste preferences, and enjoy your Mexican-style chicken and rice!

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Reviews: very average, good texture, bland

Reviews for Mountain House's Mexican-Style Adobo Rice and Chicken are mixed. While some reviewers describe the meal as "very average", others highlight its "good texture" and call it "tasty".

One reviewer notes that the product is "not wonderful", but still satisfies their hunger, which is the most important thing after a long day. They describe the meal as decently spicy and praise its texture, but ultimately say they wouldn't want to eat it exclusively on a long trip. This review seems to sum up the general consensus: the meal is "very average", but still worth eating.

Some reviews are more positive, with one person saying the meal has quickly become one of their favourites from Mountain House. They describe it as a classic combination of rice, beans, chicken, and vegetables in an Adobo-style sauce, reminiscent of an authentic Mexican rice side dish. Another reviewer agrees, calling it a good Mexican rice and beans combination plate and praising the inclusion of vegetables, specifically tomatoes, zucchini, and cauliflower, which are not usually found in backpacking meals.

However, other reviewers find the meal too bland. One person describes the flavour as "south of the border-ish", but still enjoyable with the addition of hot sauce. Another reviewer agrees, saying that the meal is "bland" and mostly plain rice, and that adding hot sauce only slightly improved the taste.

Overall, while some reviewers find the meal tasty and satisfying, others are left wanting more in terms of flavour and substance.

Frequently asked questions

It's a pouch of rice, chicken, pinto beans, and vegetables in an adobo sauce with lime. It's lightweight, easy to carry, and easy to prepare.

To prepare the Mountain House Mexican-Style Adobo Rice and Chicken, boil some water and add it to the pouch. Eat straight from the pouch in less than 10 minutes.

You can add cheese and tortillas to the Mountain House Mexican-Style Adobo Rice and Chicken to make it a more filling meal.

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