Vegetarian Epicures Pilau Food

VEGETABLE PILAU RICE

Steps:

• For the garam masala, put all the garam masala spices in a clean coffee grinder or other spice grinder and grind as finely as possible. Store in a tightly lidded jar, away from heat and sunlight. This makes about three tablespoons.
• For the pullao, wash the rice in several changes of water then drain. Put the rice in a bowl, cover with water and leave to soak for 30 minutes, then drain again.
• Peel and finely grate the ginger.
• Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan (with a tight-fitting lid) set over a medium-high heat. When it's hot, add the mustard seeds.
• As soon as they begin to pop - a matter of seconds - add the chilli, potato, carrot and green beans and stir.
• Add the turmeric and garam masala and stir for one minute.
• Add the ginger and saute, stirring, for another minute.
• Drain the rice and add it to the pan.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir the rice very gently to mix it into the other ingredients and coat it with the oil and spices. Cook this way for two minutes.
• Add the 570ml/1 pint water and the salt and bring to the boil. Cover the pan with a very tight-fitting lid (if you don't have a very tight-fitting lid then cover the pan with foil then a lid) then turn the heat to very low and cook for 25 minutes. After this time try a grain of rice to see if it's cooked - cook for a few more minutes if necessary.
• Once it's cooked you can leave it with the lid on and the heat turned off for up to half an hour before serving. Or serve at once on a serving plate.

VEGETARIAN EPICURE'S PILAU

Steps:

• Heat the butter or ghee in a large pot and saute the onions and bay leaf until the onions begin to color,.
• Add the cloves, cinnamon and ginger and stir over medium heat for a minute, then add all the prepared vegetables. the rice, and the saffron.
• toss over medium heat for about 5 minutes, then add the water and salt.
• Bring the water to a boil, turn the heat down to low, cover the pot tightly, and cook for 25 to 30 minutes.
• All the water should be absorbed.
• Add the cashews and raisins and gently mix everything together.
• spoon the mixture into a large well-buttered casserole, cover and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.
• Serve the pilau steaming hot from the casserole.

SPICY VEGETABLE PILAU WITH CUCUMBER RAITA

Steps:

• Chop the garlic for the pilau and set aside. Finely grate the garlic for the raita and put in a bowl. Heat the oil for the pilau in a large open pan, and fry the onion and ginger for 5 mins until softened. Stir in the whole and ground spices, and cook for a few secs to release their aromas. Add the chilli, red pepper and freekeh, stir briefly, then tip in the stock and sultanas. Simmer for 15 mins until the freekeh is tender but still nutty, adding the chopped garlic for the final 2 mins. The stock should have reduced and absorbed into the freekeh now.
• Meanwhile, finish the raita by stirring the yogurt, cucumber and mint into the grated garlic.
• When the pilau is cooked, stir in the coriander and cashews, and serve with the raita.

POLYNESIAN INSPIRED VEGETARIAN PILAU

Steps:

• In a large pan, saute peanuts in 1 Tbl. butter until toasty. Take out the peanuts and set them aside.
• To the butter in the pan add the grated ginger, the onion, along with another 1 Tbl. butter.Cook until the onions are translucent.
• Add the remaining butter, the chopped celery, carrot, and the diced green pepper. Cook until slightly tender.
• Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the rice. Bring just to a boil and then take off the heat.
• Stir in the cooked rice. Sprinkle toasted peanuts on top.