Provencal Pilaf Food

RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Melt the butter in a 3-quart saucier over medium heat.
• Stir in the onion, bell pepper and 2 pinches of salt.
• Decrease the heat to low and sweat until the onion is translucent and aromatic but not browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and add the rice. Cook, stirring frequently, until you smell nuts, another 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the saffron and its water, the broth, orange zest, bay leaves and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Increase the heat and bring to a boil.
• OK, now the weird part: Thoroughly wet a clean towel, kill the heat, scatter the peas on top of the rice, then place the towel across the top of the saucier. Top with the lid, then fold the towel corners up over the lid.
• Transfer the saucier (towel and all) to the oven and bake 15 minutes.
• Remove and rest at room temperature for 15 more minutes without opening the lid.
• Fish out the orange zest and bay leaves. Turn the pilaf out onto a platter, fluff with a large fork and garnish with the raisins and pistachios. Serve family-style, right in the middle of the table.

HERBED FARRO PILAF

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat. Add the pasta and cook, stirring frequently, just until it turns golden brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in the farro and shallots and continue to cook, stirring, 2 more minutes. Stir in the chicken stock and salt and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover the pan and simmer until the farro is very tender, about 35 minutes. Check the farro towards the end of cooking and add 1 to 2 tablespoons water if the pan dries out before the farro is tender.
• Top with the parsley and thyme, fluff with a fork and serve.

HERBED BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• Combine the rice, 1 3/4 cups water, the salt, and butter in a small heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce the heat to low, stir once, and simmer, covered tightly, for 15 minutes. (I need to pull the pot half off the burner to keep it from boiling over.) Turn off the heat and allow the rice to sit covered for 5 minutes. Add the parsley, dill, scallions, and pepper. Fluff with a fork, and serve warm.

PROVENCAL PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In an oven-safe saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, heat oil until it shimmers. Add diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 30-60 seconds, until fragrant. Add rice and stir until rice turns opaque and smells nutty, 2-3 minutes. Add bay leaf, salt, pepper, herbes de Provence, orange zest and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
• Stir pot once. Cover pan with a damp dish towel, apply the lid, and fold the corners of the towel up over the lid. Transfer to oven and bake 15 minutes.
• Remove pot to counter and leave UNDISTURBED 20 minutes. DO NOT remove the cover. At the end of this time, turn rice out onto a platter, remove bay leaf and orange zest, add olives and fluff with a fork before serving.

ANN'S RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Dissolve chicken bouillon in water in a bowl.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir vermicelli pieces until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Pour bouillon mixture into the skillet with the vermicelli.
• Stir rice, black pepper, salt, and Greek seasoning into the vermicelli mixture and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low; simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.