Great New Side Dish: Brown Rice Fusilli and Green Beans, Tahini Sauce, Crispy Rice Topping

Brown Rice Fusilli and Green Beans Side Dish, Lemon Garlic Tahini Sauce, Crispy Rice Topping

Brown Rice Fusilli and Green Beans Side Dish
Lemon Garlic Tahini Sauce, Crispy Rice Topping

Composed of equal parts brown rice fusilli and haricots verts, this tasty side dish is a “twist” on “rice & beans.” It is dressed with lemon garlic tahini, a fabulously creamy sauce with a deep roasted sesame flavor.

The playful topping is a take on the classic dish from Southern Italy where pasta is tossed with toasted seasoned bread crumbs – here, crispy rice cereal is toasted in butter and seasoned with salt and cayenne pepper for a crunchy spicy rice-based accent. It can be made into a vegan dish by simply exchanging olive oil for butter in the crispy rice topping.

For a refreshing addition to your side dish repetoire, serve this as a side to roast chicken or roast beef, or on a lunch or dinner buffet. It has wide appeal as a vegetarian dish with creamy and crunch textures and bold flavors, is gluten-free and mighty nutritious.

Brown Rice Fusilli and Green Beans Side Dish

Brown Rice Fusilli and Green Beans Side Dish, Lemon Garlic Tahini Sauce, Crispy Rice Topping

Lemon Garlic Tahini Sauce

Brown Rice Fusilli and Green Beans Side Dish, Lemon Garlic Tahini Sauce, Crispy Rice Topping

1 ½ T. olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
¼ c. tahini
2 T. lemon juice
½ c. (approx.) pasta water
kosher salt to taste

Heat olive oil in a medium sauté pan. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Turn off the heat. Whisk tahini into the olive oil. Add lemon juice. Slowly whisk in pasta water to get a smooth drizzle consistency. Season with salt.

Crispy Rice Topping

Brown Rice Fusilli and Green Beans Side Dish, Lemon Garlic Tahini Sauce, Crispy Rice Topping

1 T. butter
½ c. crisp rice cereal (gluten-free)
kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste

Melt butter in a small sauté pan (or wok). Add cereal and cook until golden-brown, stirring frequently. Season with salt and cayenne pepper.

“Rice & Beans”

Brown Rice Fusilli and Green Beans Side Dish, Lemon Garlic Tahini Sauce, Crispy Rice Topping

12 oz. Explore Cuisine organic brown rice fusilli
12 oz. haricots verts (French green beans), steamed
1 ½ T. olive oil
salt and pepper
sliced scallion for garnish (optional)

Cook fusilli according to package instructions. Reserve pasta water for sauce. Rinse briefly in cool water and drain well. Fusilli should be warm. Gently toss fusilli with steamed green beans and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange on a serving platter. Drizzle lemon garlic tahini sauce over entire dish. Top with crispy rice. Garnish with scallions.

Explore Cuisine

Made in Italy of 93% brown rice and 7 % pea protein Organic Brown Rice Fusilli comes from my friends at Explore Cuisine. I love the texture of this rice pasta, and that it is loaded with plant-based protein at 11g per serving. I developed this side dish recipe specifically for Explore Cuisine Brown Rice Fusilli. My family loved it…so will yours!

Great New Side Dish: Brown Rice Fusilli and Green Beans, Tahini Sauce, Crispy Rice Topping

Sponsored by Explore Cuisine.

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