Rice-A-Roni

Rice-A-Roni

Rice-A-Roni is a product of PepsiCo's subsidiary the Quaker Oats Company. It is a boxed food mix that consists of rice, vermicelli pasta, and seasonings. To prepare, the rice and pasta are browned in butter, then water and seasonings are added and simmered until absorbed.

History

Vincent DeDomenico (1915–2007), an Italian American immigrant, invented Rice-A-Roni in 1958. He was inspired by an Armenian-style pilaf at a San Francisco restaurant. He then decided to create a convenient packaged rice and pasta dish. The product was first introduced in the Northwestern United States in 1958 before being rolled out nationally in the United States by 1962.

Varieties

There are a variety of flavors available for Rice-A-Roni, including Chicken, Beef, Cheddar Broccoli, Spanish Rice, and more. There are also different forms of the product, such as Rice-A-Roni cups, which are single serving portions.

Nutritional Information

Rice-A-Roni is often criticized for its high sodium content. The average box of Rice-A-Roni contains about 1060 milligrams of sodium, which is nearly half the recommended daily intake. It also contains a significant amount of fat and carbohydrates.

In Popular Culture

Rice-A-Roni has been featured in various forms of media and is often associated with its jingle, "Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco Treat," which was created in 1961.

See Also

• Pilaf
• Risotto
• List of rice dishes