Italian Beef & Pesto Rice with Sautéed Vegetables & Crispy Capers

Italian Beef & Pesto Rice

with Sautéed Vegetables & Crispy Capers

25 MIN
+$1.95/serving 2 Servings
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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
These meals have 48g or less of net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber) per serving. They replace refined carbohydrates from sources like white flour, rice, and cane sugar with high-fiber foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
600 Calories Or Less
Coming in at 600 calories or less per serving, these recipes are ideal for those choosing to monitor their caloric intake without sacrificing flavor. 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.
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  • with Ground Beef
    includes 10 oz No Added Hormones, Pasture-Raised Ground Beef View recipe
  • with Salmon
    includes two 5-oz Sustainably Sourced Skin-On Salmon Fillets
  • with Salmon

    From the Test Kitchen

    A bed of fluffy white 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.
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    • Nutrition
      PER SERVING
    • Calories
      770 Cals (est.)
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    fresh
    ingredients
    Italian Beef & Pesto Rice with Sautéed Vegetables & Crispy Capers
    Title
    • 2 Skin-On Salmon Fillets
    • ⅓ cup Basil Pesto
    • 1 Tbsp Capers
    • 2 cloves Garlic
    • ½ cup Long Grain White Rice
    • ¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
    • 4 oz Sweet Peppers
    • 1 Zucchini
    • 2 Tbsps Apple Cider Vinegar
    • 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning (Whole Dried Basil, Sage, Oregano, Savory, Rosemary, Thyme & Marjoram)
    time-saving
    tips & techniques
    Make the pesto rice
    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, 13 to 15 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. 

    Prepare the ingredients
    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

    Fry the capers
    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.

    Cook the vegetables
    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, 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. Carefully add half the vinegar (you will have extra). 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.

    Cook the fish & serve your dish
    5 Cook the fish & serve your dish

    Pat the fish dry with paper towels; season on both sides with salt, pepper, and the Italian seasoning. In the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned fish, skin side down. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until the skin is browned and crispy. Flip and cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through.* Turn off the heat. Serve the pesto rice topped with the cooked vegetables and cooked fish. Garnish with the fried capers. Enjoy!

    *The USDA recommends a minimum safe cooking temperature of 145°F for fish.

    Tips from Home Chefs

    Make the pesto rice
    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, 13 to 15 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

    Prepare the ingredients
    Fry the capers
    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, 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. Carefully add half the vinegar (you will have extra). 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.

    Cook the vegetables
    Cook the fish & serve your dish
    5 Cook the fish & serve your dish

    Pat the fish dry with paper towels; season on both sides with salt, pepper, and the Italian seasoning. In the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned fish, skin side down. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until the skin is browned and crispy. Flip and cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through.* Turn off the heat. Serve the pesto rice topped with the cooked vegetables and cooked fish. Garnish with the fried capers. Enjoy!

    *The USDA recommends a minimum safe cooking temperature of 145°F for fish.

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