Lemon Pistachio Pilaf Food

LEMON-PISTACHIO LOAF

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 325°F. Grease a 9x5" loaf pan with vegetable oil, then line with parchment paper, leaving overhang on long sides. Oil parchment paper (for insurance and an easy release).
• Pulse pistachios in a food processor until finely ground (it's okay if some of the pieces are a bit larger). Set aside a heaping tablespoonful.
• Whisk lemon zest, flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and remaining pistachios in a large bowl. Whisk olive oil, 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, remaining ⅓ cup vegetable oil, and ½ cup water in a small bowl to combine. Pour oil mixture into dry ingredients and fold with a rubber spatula to combine, being very careful not to overmix (this batter contains a high ratio of liquid, which means it can get gummy if overworked). Pour into prepared pan and tilt to distribute; batter should come halfway up the sides.
• Bake cake until golden brown all over, it springs back when gently pressed, and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 50-60 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cake cool completely in pan, at least 2 hours. Using parchment overhang, lift cake out of pan and place on rack. Peel away parchment.
• Whisk powdered sugar and 3 Tbsp. lemon juice in a medium bowl, drizzling in remaining 2 Tbsp. lemon juice as needed until you have a thick but pourable glaze. Pour glaze over cake, letting it drip down the sides. Immediately top cake with reserved pistachios, then let sit until glaze is set, at least 30 minutes.
• Do Ahead: Cake can be made 3 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

PISTACHIO-LEMON BARS

Steps:

• To make crust, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper (if using foil, lightly butter it). Place flour, sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse a few times. Add butter and process until well combined. Stir in chopped pistachios. Firmly press mixture into the bottom of the lined pan using the flat bottom of a glass or measuring cup (if it sticks, place a piece of parchment paper on the dough before pressing). Bake until lightly browned, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the filling ingredients. When the crust is baked, pour the filling into the pan and bake until set, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and cut into 2-inch squares.

EASY LEMON RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Combine egg yolks, cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a bowl; whisk thoroughly.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add rice; cook, stirring constantly, until opaque, 3 to 4 minutes. Add chicken broth; stir quickly. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Fold lemon-cream mixture into the rice; mix well. Stir in Parmesan cheese and parsley.

CREAMY LEMON PASTA WITH PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Grate 2 1/2 teaspoons zest from lemons, then remove remaining zest in long strips with a vegetable peeler. Slice zest thinly (or remove zest with a channel zester); set aside. Squeeze 2 teaspoons of juice from 1 lemon (reserve rest of this lemon for another use).
• In a food processor, pulse bread into very coarse breadcrumbs (you should have 1 cup). Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add breadcrumbs and 1 teaspoon grated zest. Cook, stirring, until crumbs are golden and crisp, about 3 minutes. Remove from pan; let cool completely. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, yolks, cream, cheese, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons grated zest.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water; add pasta to bowl with cheese mixture. Season with a generous amount of pepper and some salt. Use tongs to toss until pasta is fully coated. Add remaining 4 tablespoons butter and lemon juice; toss until a creamy sauce forms. (If necessary, thin with a little pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time.)
• Serve pasta sprinkled with breadcrumbs, pistachios, more cheese, chives, and julienned lemon zest.

LEMON-PISTACHIO PILAF

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté 3 minutes. Add rice and 2 tablespoons pistachios; stir 2 minutes. Stir in 1 can broth, lemon juice, and salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Mix in 4 tablespoons pistachios and 2 tablespoons lemon peel. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Spread rice out onto baking sheet; cool. Before continuing, drizzle with more broth and rewarm tightly covered with foil in 400°F oven until heated through, about 10 minutes.) Transfer rice to bowl. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons pistachios and 1/2 tablespoon lemon peel.

LEMON ROAST CHICKEN WITH PILAF

Steps:

• Chicken: Mix lemon juice and oil, salt and pepper.
• Rub mixture over chicken and in cavity.
• Put squeezed out lemon halves in chicken cavity and sprigs of rosemary (or dried).
• Roast breast side down in oven at 200oC until almost cooked.
• Turn over and allow to finish breast side up.
• Let chicken rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving.
• Pilaf: Wash rice and drain.
• In a frying pan over low/medium heat cook the onion in oil and butter for five minutes.
• Add the rice, stirring with a metal spoon and allow to brown a little.
• Turn down the heat and add hot stock, cloves and cinnamon.
• Stir in well, cover and leave to simmer for 15-20 minutes.
• When rice is cooked add chopped pistachios and whole currents.
• Serve chicken on rice with lemony pan juices from the chicken.

LEMON PISTACHIO ZUCCHINI BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray two 9x5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray.
• Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Beat eggs, sugar, and vegetable oil together in another bowl; stir in yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Gradually stir flour mixture into wet ingredients until just moistened; fold zucchini and pistachios into batter. Pour batter evenly into prepared loaf pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

LEMON PISTACHIO BISCOTTI

Steps:

• FOR THE COOKIE ~ Preheat oven to 375 degrees F & lightly grease several cookie sheets or 1 LARGE one.
• In large mixing bowl, beat butter with electric mixer on medium-high speed for 30 seconds.
• Add sugar, baking powder & salt, beating to cimbine & scraping sides of bowl occasionally.
• Beat in eggs & vanilla until combined.
• Beat in lemon zest & as much of the flour as you can with the mixer.
• Using a wooden spoon or your hands, stir or knead in remaining flour & pistachio nuts.
• On lightly floured surface, divide dough into 3 equal portions.
• Shape each portion into an 8-inch-long loaf.
• Flatten loaves to about 2 1/2 inches wide, & place them at least 3 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet(s).
• Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown & tops are cracked. (Loaves will spread slightly.).
• Cool on cookie sheet for 30 minutes,
• When cooled, preheat oven to 325 degrees F, then transfer loaves to a cutting board to cut each loaf into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• Place slices, cut sides down on previously used cookie sheet(s), & bake 8 minutes.
• Turn slices over & bake 8-10 minutes more or until dry & crisp.
• Transfer to wire rack & cool.
• FOR THE ICING ~ In a small mixing bowl, stir together sifted powdered sugar & 1 teaspoon lemon zest.
• Stir in enough lemon juice (or milk) to make icing of drizzling consistency.
• Either dip 1/4 of one end of each cookie into icing OR drizzle each with icing.