Minted Rice Pilaf Food

GREEN RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Put the oil in a deep skillet or large saucepan over medium-high heat. When it's hot, add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the rice and cook, stirring, until glossy, about 1 minute. Add the stock or water and a good sprinkling of salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
• Turn the heat down to low, cover and cook until the rice is tender and the liquid is almost entirely absorbed, about 15 minutes. Uncover, remove from the heat and stir in the herbs. Replace the lid and let rest off the heat for at least 10 minutes or up to 20 minutes. Uncover and stir in the lemon zest; taste and adjust the seasoning. Fluff the pilaf with a fork, and serve warm or at room temperature with a drizzle of soy sauce.

MIDDLE EASTERN RICE PILAF WITH POMEGRANATE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook onion until soft and translucent. Add rice and toast until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in hot vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Add saffron and allspice, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes.
• Toast pistachios in a skillet over medium heat until nuts start to turn golden brown and become fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Stir butter into the cooked rice. Remove from heat and mix in pistachios and pomegranate seeds. Fluff with fork and season with salt and pepper.

MINTED RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Place mint stems, chicken broth and water in a 2 1/2-quart souffle dish or casserole with tight-fitting lid. Cook, covered, at 100 percent power in a 650- to 700-watt oven for 10 minutes. If using plastic, prick to release steam.
• Remove from oven and uncover. Strain liquid and allow liquid to cool to room temperature. Reserve.
• Place onion and oil in the 2 1/2-quart souffle dish or casserole. Cover and cook at 100 percent power for 4 minutes.
• Remove from oven and uncover. Stir in rice. Cook, uncovered, at 100 percent power for 1 minute 30 seconds.
• Remove from oven. Stir in reserved liquid. Re-cover and cook at 100 percent power for 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven and uncover. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the chopped mint leaves. Re-cover and cook for 8 minutes longer.
• Remove from oven and uncover. Stir in remaining chopped mint, salt and pepper. Serve hot.

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.

MINTED BASMATI RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Examine the rice for foreign objects, but do not wash.
• Heat the olive oil in the bottom of a heavy casserole until it begins to bubble. Add the onion and saute until translucent. Add the rice and stir to coat well with oil before adding the bay leaf, salt, pepper and the hot broth. Quickly bring to a boil, place a tight fitting lid on the pot and place into the oven.
• Cook the rice for 18 to 20 minutes before removing from the oven. Stir in the butter and the chopped mint and serve.

A PILAF OF ASPARAGUS, BROAD BEANS AND MINT

Steps:

• Cook the broad beans in salted water for 4 mins, till almost tender, drain.
• Trim asparagus into short lengths, steam for 3 mins and drain.
• wash the rice 3 times in cold water, stiring with your hand, cover with warm water, add a tsp salt and set aside for a good hour.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the bay leaves, cardamon, peppercorns,cinnamon stick, cloves, cumin seeds and thyme. Stir in the butter for a minute or two until the fragrance is released.
• Drain the rice and tip it into the warmed spices, cover with 1 cm depth of water and bring to the boil.Season with salt, cover and turn the heat down to a simmer.
• Finely slice the spring onions and chop the parsley.
• After 5 mins remove the lid and gently fold in the asparagus, beans, spring onions and parsley. Replace lid and continue to cook for 5-6 mins, until the rice is tender but still has some bite to it. All the water should have been absorbed, leave with the lid on but the heat off for 2-3 minutes.
• Remove lid, check seasoning, add extra butter if liked and fluff with a fork sprinkle over the mint.
• Can be served with minted yoghurt if liked.

LEMON MINT RICE

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Stir in rice, and allow to simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain rice into a strainer, and rinse with cold water until cool.
• Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a small saute pan over medium heat. Add chopped onion, and cook until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer rice and chopped onion to a bowl, and toss with mint, lemon zest, parsley, salt, lemon juice, and remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil. Serve at room temperature.

SUMMER CORN AND RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Add the rice, and stir until it is well coated. Add 2 cups water, increase heat to high, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, cover, and simmer until all of the water is absorbed and the rice is tender when bitten, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat, uncover, and fluff with a fork.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt remaining tablespoon butter. Add the corn kernels, shallots, sugar, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, until corn and shallots are soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Combine rice and corn mixture in a medium bowl. Add mint, and toss to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

JASMINE RICE PILAF WITH PEAS, MINT, AND LEMON

Steps:

• Combine the rice and 6 cups of cold water in a pot. Sprinkle in the salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When the liquid comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook the rice for 20 minutes, without peaking under the lid, the steam is most precious in cooking rice. When the rice has absorbed the water it will form "craters" or holes in the top.
• Let the rice sit off the heat, undisturbed with the lid on, for at least 5 minutes. This allows the rice to steam, with the bottom layer as fluffy as the top.
• Fluff the rice with a fork and transfer to a serving bowl. Add the blanched peas, green onions, lemon juice and zest, mint, and oil; season with salt and pepper. Toss gently, taking care not to smash the grains of rice. Garnish with pea tendrils before serving, if using.

MINTED BARLEY PILAF

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat; cook and stir onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add carrot, celery, and salt; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add barley and mix to coat with oil; cook and stir until barley is golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Stir chicken stock, water, thyme, and sage into barley mixture. Cover pot and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until liquid is absorbed, about 45 minutes. Remove pot from heat and stir mint into barley pilaf. Cover pot and allow flavors to blend, 5 to 10 minutes.

LEMON RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add celery and onions; cook until tender. Add rice, lemon zest, salt and pepper; toss lightly. Cook until heated through.