Thyme Scented Pilaf Food

IT'S THYME FOR RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan; add onion, carrots, celery, green pepper, and garlic, cooking until tender.
• Remove vegetables from pan and set aside.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in pan; add rice and cook, stirring constantly, until rice is light brown.
• Do not burn rice.
• Stir in chicken broth, water, frozen peas, cooked vegetables, parsley, thyme, Tabasco, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
• Fluff with fork before serving.
• Tip: if rice seems wet, place clean dishtowel firmly between lid and pan; let rest for 10-15 minutes while towel absorbs excess liquid.

LEMON CHICKEN AND LEEK RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat the butter over medium heat in a skillet that has a lid. Add the pasta and toast until deep golden and nutty. Add the leeks and wilt, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and add wine, if using, and cook until it evaporates. Add the rice and the chicken stock and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook until almost tender, 15 minutes. Add the chicken, lemon juice and parsley. Cover, let stand 5 to 10 minutes, then serve.
• Get Rachael's shopping list for this episode's recipes here.
• Place the cleaned chicken in a pot on bed of bay leaves, carrots, garlic, lemon, onions, celery and parsley. Fill the pot covering the top of the chicken with about 12 cups water. Sprinkle with salt and throw in a couple of peppercorns. Bring the water to a low boil then gently cook at low rolling simmer for about 1 hour, turning the chicken occasionally. Turn off the heat and allow the chicken to cool completely in its own juices. Remove the chicken and separate the meat from the skin and bones. Strain and reserve all of the cooking liquids.

RICE PILAF WITH THYME

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium. Add onion; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden, 8 to 9 minutes. Add broth, and bring to a boil. Stir in rice and thyme.
• Reduce to a simmer; cover, and cook until rice is just tender, 15 to 17 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes; fluff with a fork.

RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan melt butter over moderate heat. Add thin spaghetti bits and rice and brown for 3 to 5 minutes. Add broth or water, salt and pepper, and bring liquid to a full boil. Cover pot and reduce heat to simmer and cook rice 18 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.

SAFFRON RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the pasta and toast until golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chicken stock, rice, raisins, chile pepper, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, saffron and season with salt. Bring to boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 18 minutes.

LAMB CHOPS WITH POMEGRANATE SAUCE AND SAFFRON PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler and arrange the oven rack 8 inches from the broiler.
• Heat a large sauce pot over medium heat. Add the butter and let it melt, then add the orzo and stir. Toast the pasta until golden brown, 3 minutes, then add the rice and stir to combine. Add the saffron threads and stir in the stock. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Cook the rice until tender, about 15 to 18 minutes.
• Meanwhile, roll the pomegranate on the counter while applying pressure for a minute. Hold the pomegranate over a small pot and cut into it with a small sharp knife; the juice will come rushing out. Squeeze the pomegranate until 3/4 to 1 cup of juice is produced. Stir in the wine, Worcestershire, peppercorns, cloves, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer and reduce the liquid by half, about 6 minutes. Pour a little sauce into a small bowl, stir in the cornstarch, and then pour the mixture into the sauce. Cook until thickened, about 1 minute. Remove and discard the peppercorns, whole cloves and the bay leaf.
• Arrange the chops on a broiler pan and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Broil for 3 to 4 minutes, or only 1 minute on each side for pink centers.
• When the chops go into the broiler, heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and stir for 2 minutes, then add the spinach and let it wilt. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, to taste.
• Arrange 3 chops on each serving plate. Drizzle with pomegranate sauce, and serve the saffron pilaf and wilted spinach alongside.

RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Melt the butter over medium heat in a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid. Add the spaghetti and toast until deep golden in color and very nutty-smelling. Add the rice and stir for a minute. Season with some salt and pepper, add 3 1/2 cups of the stock and bring to a low boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the rice is just tender, about 18 minutes; add extra stock as necessary if the pan gets too dry. Fluff the pilaf with a fork. Mix in the currants, pignoli, chives and parsley.

LIME-SCENTED BULGAR PILAF WITH RAISINS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently and adding small amounts of water if necessary, about a tablespoon at a time, to prevent sticking.
• Add broth and bring to a boil. Stir in remaining ingredients, except pine nuts, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let stand covered, 5 minutes.
• Fluff bulgar with a fork and spoon into a shallow serving bowl.
• Top with toasted pine nuts.