Italian Beef & Pesto Rice Bowls

with Sautéed Vegetables & Crispy Capers

25 MIN

2 Servings

Wellness at Blue Apron

Find recipes that suit your lifestyle with our new nutritionist-approved dietary tags.

Vegetarian

These recipes don’t contain meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.* They’re made with fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. *Select artisanal cheeses may contain animal-derived rennet.

Carb Conscious

This applies to meal kit recipes with 48g or less of net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber) per serving. Carb Conscious Add-ons contain 20g or less net carbs.

Mediterranean Diet

Our Mediterranean recipes are inspired by the Mediterranean Diet, a healthy eating plan recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans published jointly every five years by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). This eating plan highlights the flavors and cooking styles from countries along the Mediterranean Sea, including those in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. These recipes showcase a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, as well as lean proteins and moderate portions of dairy.

600 Calories or Less

These meals contain 600 calories or less per serving. The US Food & Drug Administration uses 2000 calorie daily intake for general advice. The 600 calorie cap equates to 30% of the total 2000 calories per day based on 3 meals per day with 200 calories remaining for snack or beverage.

Wellness Grain

These recipes feature grains such as barley, quinoa, farro, orzo, couscous and more, handpicked by our Culinary team in collaboration with our Registered Dietitian.

Pescatarian

These recipes feature a wide array of nutritious seafood options like salmon, cod, tilapia, crab, and shrimp. While these dishes never contain meat, pork or poultry, they may contain animal derived ingredients such as milk, butter, cheese and/or honey.

30g Of Protein

These meals contain 30g or more of protein per serving, and are ideal for those looking to focus their meals around protein intake.

Keto Friendly

These meals have approximately 10% of calories from carbohydrates, 20% from protein, and 70% from dietary fats (per serving).

45g Of Protein

These meal kit recipes contain 45g or more of protein per serving, and are ideal for those looking to focus their meals around protein intake.

Nutritionist's Pick

These meals are selected by Blue Apron’s Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. They are centered around nutritious and wholesome ingredients, featuring whole grains and fresh produce which provide fiber. They also contain moderate portions of dairy and lean protein while being mindful of saturated fat.

Wheat Free

These meals are prepared with ingredients that do not contain wheat. They feature grains such as barley and rice as well as proteins and vegetables.

Reduced Sodium

These Prepared and Ready dishes contain at least 25% less sodium per 100 grams (or 3.5 oz) than our average Prepared and Ready Meal as of October 1, 2024. Sodium content has been reduced from 330 mg per 100 grams to 250 mg per 100 grams. These dishes focus on ingredients with strong flavor and moderate salt.

Vegan

To view a recipe's full nutrition information, head to your Upcoming page at blueapron.com, click on a specific recipe, then head to the Nutrition tab and select 'View Full Nutrition.' Nutrition Facts Panels are available up to 1.5 weeks in advance

From the Test Kitchen

A bed of fluffy jasmine rice (mixed with our fragrant basil pesto) forms the base of these vibrant bowls, which we’re topping with sautéed zucchini and peppers, Italian-seasoned beef, and crispy pan-fried capers.

See Plans

Nutrition

PER SERVING
Calories

630 Cals (est.)

View Full Nutrition

fresh

ingredients

10 oz Diced Beef
½ cup Jasmine Rice
4 oz Sweet Peppers
2 cloves Garlic
1 Zucchini
⅓ cup Basil Pesto
1 Tbsp Capers
1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning (Whole Dried Basil, Sage, Oregano, Savory, Rosemary, Thyme & Marjoram)

step-by-step

instructions

Cook Along

1 Make the pesto rice:

In a small pot, combine the rice and 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, without stirring, 12 to 14 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff with a fork. Stir in the pesto. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Cover to keep warm.

2 Prepare the ingredients:

Meanwhile, wash and dry the fresh produce. Halve the zucchini lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces. Cut off and discard the stems of the peppers; remove the cores, then large dice. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic.

3 Fry the capers:

Spread the capers onto a paper towel-lined work surface. Using a second paper towel, gently pat or roll the capers to thoroughly dry. Discard the paper towels. In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a thin layer of oil on medium-high. Once the oil is hot enough that a caper sizzles immediately when added, add the dried capers (carefully, as the oil may splatter). Cook, stirring occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes, or until crispy. Leaving the oil in the pan, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

4 Cook the vegetables:

Heat the pan of reserved caper oil on medium-high until hot. Add the zucchini pieces in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the diced peppers, half the chopped garlic, and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened. Add the vinegar (carefully, as the liquid may splatter). Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until combined. Transfer to a bowl; cover with foil to keep warm. Rinse and wipe out the pan.

5 Cook the beef & serve your dish:

Pat the beef dry with paper towels; place in a bowl. Season with salt, pepper, and the Italian seasoning; toss to coat. In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned beef in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the remaining chopped garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the beef is browned and just cooked through. Turn off the heat. Serve the pesto rice topped with the cooked vegetables and cooked beef. Garnish with the fried capers. Enjoy!