Rice And Chicken Pilaf With Dried Currants And Toasted Almonds Food

RICE AND CHICKEN PILAF WITH DRIED CURRANTS AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large deep skillet (preferably nonstick) over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until golden, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken and garlic to skillet; sauté until chicken is no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Stir in rice, currants, and cinnamon sticks. Add broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook until rice is tender and most liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl. Discard cinnamon. Sprinkle with almonds.

EGGPLANT STUFFED WITH ALMONDS, CURRANTS AND RICE

Steps:

• For sauce: Heat oil in large saucepan over low heat.
• Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 30 seconds.
• Add curry powder and stir 30 seconds.
• Mix in tomatoes and season.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat to low and cook until tomatoes are very soft, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Mix in tomato paste.
• Puree in processor until smooth.
• Adjust seasoning.
• (can be prepared 1 day ahead) For pilaf: Heat 4 tsps olive oil in medium skillet over low heat.
• Add onion and cook until soft, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes.
• Add rice and stir until milky white, about 2 minutes.
• Add water, currants and season to taste.
• Bring to boil, stir, and cover.
• Reduce heat to low and cook until tender, about 18-20 minutes.
• Remove from heat, do not open, and let stand for 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 450F.
• Lightly grease shallow baking dish large enough to hold 4 eggplant halves.
• Make 1/8 inch deep cut around edge of each eggplant.
• Score 3 times down center.
• Arrange eggplants cut side up in dish.
• Sprinkle surface with salt and 2 tblsps olive oil.
• Bake until eggplant is tender when pierced with knife, about 25-30 minutes.
• Cool slightly.
• Remove eggplant pulp from skins using spoon; do not pierce skin.
• Coarsely chop pulp and add to pilaf.
• Taste and adjust seasoning.
• (can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover skins and pilaf and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before continuing.).
• Heat 2 tblsps olive oil in small skillet over medium-low heat.
• Add almonds and pine nuts and a pinch of salt.
• Stir until nuts are toasted a light-brown, about 2 minutes.
• Stir into pilaf with cilantro and spearmint.
• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Oil baking dish.
• Place eggplants, cut side up onto dish.
• Spoon pilaf into shells.
• Sprinkle with remaining 1 tblsp oil.
• Bake until hot, about 15 minutes.
• Reheat sauce, stirring frequently.
• Divide sauce among 4 plates and top with eggplant.

SAFFRON RICE PILAF WITH RED PEPPERS & TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• On the stove top or in the microwave, heat the broth until hot. Add the saffron, cover, and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a heavy-based 3-quart saucepan with a tight lid, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft but not browned, about 5 minutes.
• Add the rice, salt and cayenne, and stir well to coat each grain with oil. Toast for a full five minutes, stirring regularly to keep the grains separated and to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pan (the rice may turn opaque before 5 minutes is up, but keep going). Reduce the heat to low if there are any signs of scorching. Stir in 2 tablespoons of parsley and the garlic.
• Add the saffron broth, stir once, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 18 minutes. Remove from the heat, and let the pilaf sit, still covered, for five minutes.
• Once the pilaf has rested, remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Using the fork, gently fold in the almonds, the remaining parsley, and the oregano. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.
• P.S. You might be tempted to leave out the saffron because it's expensive, but DON'T DO IT! It's worth every penny, and one jar goes a long way. If you have a Trader Joe's in your area, you can pick up a jar for about three to four bucks. If you don't have a TJ's, I'm sorry for you.

WILD RICE PILAF WITH PORCINI, CRANBERRIES & TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a medium pot, combine wild rice, ¾ cup chicken broth and 1 tablespoons butter; bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 40 minutes.
• Place porcini in a small bowl, add enough water to cover and soak for 30 minutes. In a small skillet on medium heat, toast almonds; remove from the heat and set aside. Place basmati rice in a fine sieve over a bowl and rinse until water is no longer cloudy; let it drain. After 30 minutes, drop porcini in a fine sieve and let it drain.
• After 40 minutes, add basmati to wild rice. Pour the remaining broth (1 ½ cups), give a good stir and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
• In another pot over medium heat, add butter. When melted, add onion and sauté for 2 minutes. Add porcini, making sure to leave dirt behind, and garlic; sauté for 1 minute. Pour in white wine and cook until almost evaporate; stir and remove from the heat.
• When rice is cooked, add porcini mixture, cranberries and toasted almonds; season with freshly ground black pepper and sea salt. Give a good stir, cover, remove from the heat and let the rice rest for 5 minutes before serving. For the final touch, sprinkle chopped parsley for each bowl.

RICE PILAF WITH TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 8 minutes.
• Add coriander; season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Add rice; cook, stirring, until edges are transparent, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in 1 can chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Cover; simmer over low heat until liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand, covered, 10 minutes.
• Stir parsley into rice. Sprinkle with almonds, and serve.

SAFFRON RICE PILAF WITH TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan on medium-low heat, toast almonds until they turn a golden-brown color. Remove from saucepan and set aside.
• In the same saucepan on medium heat, melt butter.
• Add vermicelli noodles and brown for 1 minute.
• Add rice and brown for 1-2 additional minutes being careful not to burn noodles or rice.
• Add seasoned salt, saffron, toasted almonds and chicken broth and bring to a boil.
• Cover saucepan and reduce heat to lowest setting. Cook covered for 16 minutes.
• Remove lid and fluff with a fork.

RICE PILAF WITH DRIED CHERRIES AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• 1.Cook and stir almonds in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until lightly browned. Remove from skillet; cool.
• 2.Melt margarine in skillet over low heat. Add rice and onion; cook and stir until rice is lightly browned. Add broth and water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, 15 minutes.
• 3.Stir in almonds and cherries. Simmer 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.

RICE PILAF WITH TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 8 minutes.
• Add coriander, season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Add rice; cook, stirring until edges are transparent, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Cover; simmer over low heat until liquid absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand, covered, 10 minutes. (Longer cooking time may be required for some rice grain types).
• Stir parsley into rice. Sprinkle with almonds and serve.

RICE PILAF WITH CURRANTS

Steps:

• Place cumin seeds in a sauce pan and heat slowly until aromatic. Add chicken stock, rice, salt, pepper and dried currants and bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until stock is absorbed and rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Let rice stand, covered for 5 minutes, then add parsley and almonds and fluff with a fork.