Nutty Basmati Pilaf Food

BASMATI RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a medium pot, heat oil over medium. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, 5 minutes. Add rice; cook, stirring, until rice is translucent at edges, 2 minutes.
• Add 2 1/2 cups water and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

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, melt butter.
• Saute the onion and almonds over medium heat until onion is soft (not brown) and the almonds are golden.
• Stir in rice; cook stirring for about 4 minutes to release flavor.
• Stir in chopped carrot, currants, orange peel, cinnamon, black pepper and red pepper flakes.
• Carefully stir in chicken broth and water into the rice mixture, stir slightly with a wooden spoon.
• Bring to a boil, and reduce heat.
• Cover the saucepan and simmer until all liquid is absorbed, and the rice is tender (about 20 minutes).
• Season with salt.

NUTTY BASMATI PILAF

Steps:

• Wash rice in a sieve under cold running water until water runs mostly clear.
• Place rice in a bowl with fresh cold water, and let sit 30 minutes.
• Drain well.
• Heat oil in a larger sauté pan, and lightly sauté the onion and garlic until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the rice, cumin seeds, coriander, cardamom and bay leaf.
• Toss rice to coat well with the seasonings, and lightly sauté 2 minutes.
• Add broth, and season with salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low, and cook 10 minutes.
• (Do not lift lid.) Remove from heat and allow to sit 5 minutes before lifting lid.
• Add nuts and toss to combine.
• Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.
• For Vegetarians use the vegetable broth.

NUTTY BASMATI RICE WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Place almonds in a medium saucepan and set pan over medium heat. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, until lightly golden brown, shaking the pan frequently to prevent burning. Add chicken broth, rice, salt, and black pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 20 minutes, until liquid is absorbed.
• Fluff with a fork before serving.

BASMATI AND NUT PILAF

Steps:

• **Rinserice before cooking** Put rice in large bowl of cold water and swill around, pouring out cloudy water as needed.
• Leave to soak for 30 min in remaining rinsing water.
• In lrg pan, fry onion, garlic, and carrot in oil.
• Stir in rice and spices and cook 1-2 minutes, so grains are coated in oil.
• Pour in stock or water, add bay leaf, and season well.
• Bring to boil; cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat without lifting lid.
• Leave for 5 minutes.
• If rice is cooked, there will be small steam holes in the center.
• Discard bay leaf/cardamom pods.
• Stir in nuts and check seasoning.
• Scatter parsley over mixture.
• Can be reheated!

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.

NUTTY CHICKPEA PILAF

Steps:

• Set a large saute pan over medium heat. When hot, add the olive oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 7-8 minutes. Add the garlic, rice, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the rice begins to crackle, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the vegetable broth, the dried cranberries, and the chickpeas. Increase heat to high to bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender and the liquid has evaporated, about 35 minutes. If the liquid cooks off before your rice is cooked through, add a little more water and keep cooking until the rice is done.
• Fold in the hazelnuts, pecans, and parsley. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired. Remove from heat and serve.

HERBED BASMATI PILAF

Steps:

• Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Add minced garlic, saute 1 minute.
• Add basmati rice, saute 2 minutes.
• Stir in the chicken broth, bring to a boil, Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
• Remove from heat, stir in chopped onions and dried thyme.