Indian Pilaf Food

PILAU RICE RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan and gently fry the cardamom and cinnamon until the spices' aromas are released, which should take about 5 minutes.
• Add the onion and gently fry for around 5 minutes, or until it has softened and has become translucent.
• Add the garlic and stir fry for another 2 minutes.
• Tip in the rice, cumin, turmeric, cloves and bay leaves.
• Stir vigorously then pour in the water.
• Turn up the heat, give it another stir then wait for a slow simmering point to be reached.
• Once it slowly simmers, cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid and cook for about 15 minutes or until the rice is cooked.
• Fluff up the rice with a fork and serve immediately with your favourite curry. Enjoy!

BASMATI RICE PILAF WITH INDIAN SPICES AND RAITA

Steps:

• Wash rice by rinsing in cold water. Then soak in cold water for about 30 minutes. Drain.
• In a large nonstick saute pan over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add onion and cook, stirring, until onion is tender. Add garlic, and saute for about a minute. Add cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Saute for another minute and add the rice. Saute until rice is translucent and begins to brown. Add water, bay leaf and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partly covered, for about 10 minutes. Most of the water will evaporate and steam holes will show through rice.
• Add peas, but do not stir. Cover tightly and let simmer for 5 minutes more. Turn off the heat and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, covered.
• Prepare the raita: In a bowl whisk together the yogurt, cucumber, mint, cumin, chili powder and salt and pepper.
• Uncover the pilaf, season with salt and pepper. Remove bay leaf, cloves and cinnamon stick. Turn pilaf out onto a serving platter and pour half of the raita over rice. Pass remaining raita.

BASMATI PILAFF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 160C/conventional 180C/gas 4. You will need a medium casserole with a lid. Rinse the rice well in a large bowl of water, then drain.
• Melt two-thirds of the butter in the casserole and sauté the onion for about 5 minutes. Add the rice, stir well, then add the herbs, whole spices and lemon zest and cook for a minute. Now pour in the boiling stock or water and mix into the rice, along with 1½ tsp sea salt and ground black pepper to taste.
• Cover and bake for 25 minutes. Leave to stand for 5 minutes, then remove the lid and fork through the remaining butter until the rice is fluffy and separated.

INDIAN CHICKEN CURRY PILAF

Steps:

• Season chicken cubes with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil and butter in a Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat; add in chicken then brown until cooked through; remove to plate.
• Add in the onions and 1 teaspoon sugar; saute stirring with wooden spoon for about 15-20 minutes until browned (the onions must be browned!) adding in garlic the last 4-5 minutes of cooking.
• Add in curry powder and turmeric; stir for 1-2 minutes to release flavours.
• Add in basmati rice and stir with wooden spoon for 2-3 minutes.
• Slowly add in the chicken broth and water (for firmer rice use a little less water or broth) stirring with a wooden spoon to combine.
• Return the chicken back to the pot along with the raisins, frozen peas and almonds; stir and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• At this point adjust the curry powder to taste.
• Cover with tight-fitting lid and simmer on top of stove over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked and all broth is absorbed.
• Season with salt and lots black pepper.

INDIAN PILAF

Steps:

• In a medium pot, combine rice, stock, bay leaf, curry powder and cumin. Bring to boil; reduce heat, cover and cook for 17 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed.
• In nonstick pan, heat the olive oil until it is very hot, reduce heat to medium-high and saute the onions until they begin to soften. Add the peppers, and saute until the onions are golden and the peppers are soft. Stir in the currants, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix with rice.
• Combine the rice mixture with the turkey, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Stir in the almonds, and serve. (Pilaf may be refrigerated before adding the almonds. To serve, stir in almonds and reheat in microwave.)