Basmati Sun Dried Tomato Rice Pilaf Food

BASMATI RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat chicken stock in a saucepan until boiling; keep hot until ready to use.
• Heat vegetable oil in a 2 quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onion and bay leaf in the hot oil until onion is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir basmati rice into onion mixture until rice is coated with oil.
• Pour hot chicken stock into the rice mixture. Season with salt; stir.
• Bring rice mixture to a boil; cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Continue simmering until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat and discard bay leaf. Add butter and fluff the rice with a fork.

TOMATO RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a small Dutch oven or large saucepan, add the onions, and cook over low heat for 10 minutes, or until translucent but not brown.
• Stir in the rice and 2 teaspoons of salt and cook over low heat for 5 minutes.
• Add the hot stock and the saffron and cook, covered, over the lowest heat for 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
• Optional, transfer the rice to a baking dish, add the stock and bake at 350 F for 50-60 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
• Meanwhile, in a medium sauté pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, add the garlic, and cook over low heat for 50 seconds. Add the drained diced tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring from time to time. When the rice is done, add the tomato mixture, 3/4 teaspoon salt, the pepper, parsley, and Parmesan, Stir with a fork, season to taste, and serve hot.

BASMATI RICE PILAF

Steps:

• To wash or not to wash rice? In the case of basmati, no matter what my preparation is, I always wash it. It cleans out any small particles and it also rids the rice of any starch on the grain. This starch makes the rice gummier when cooked.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, add the rice and 4 cups of cold water. Soak the rice for 1/2 hour.
• In a small bowl, add the cumin seeds, cardamom, fennel seeds, cinnamon, black peppercorns, and bay leaves and stir to combine. Turn the mixture out onto a baking sheet and put it in the center of the oven to lightly toast the spices and awaken the flavors, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the spices to cool.
• Heat a medium saute pan over medium heat and add the butter and the onion. Season with salt and cook until the onions are translucent but not brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the spices. Drain the rice but reserve the soaking water. Stir in the rice and cook until you hear the rice crackling, about 2 minutes. Gently stir in the reserved soaking water. Season with a generous portion of salt and bring the liquid to a simmer over medium heat.
• Cook the rice over medium-low heat, uncovered and undisturbed, for about 8 minutes. Take a fork (so as not to damage the rice) and flake a few grains off to taste for doneness. It may need to be cooked another 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the rice to "rest" (as you would a roast beef) for 10 minutes before "forking" it gently into a serving bowl. Stir in 3 tablespoons of butter, if desired, and serve.

BASMATI RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan cook onions and almonds over medium heat in hot butter or margarine about 5 minutes or until onions are tender and almonds are golden.
• Stir in uncooked rice; cook and stir for about 4 minutes.
• Stir in carrots, currants or dried cherries, orange peel, cinnamon, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
• Carefully stir on chicken broth and water.
• Bring to boiling point; reduce heat; simmer covered about 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.

BASMATI-SUN-DRIED TOMATO RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat until hot.
• Add shallots; sauté 1 to 2 minutes or until soft.
• Add rice; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Add tomatoes, salt, pepper and stock; mix well.
• Cover; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low; simmer 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
• Place in serving bowl; top with cheese.

TOMATO RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a 3 cup microwave-safe dish, melt butter. Stir in rice and onion. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 2-3 minutes or untiil rice is slightly browned and onion is tender; stirring once. Add broth.
• Cover and cook on high for 13-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Stir in green onion, tomato and parsely.