Persian Chelo With Chicken Recipes

PERSIAN CHELO WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Soak the rice for at least half an hour, drain and rinse until water runs clear.
• Melt 3 tbsp butter in a heavy pot over medium heat. Add onions and saute for 5 minutes or until softened.
• Add allspice, cinnamon and black pepper. Season with salt. Cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
• Add rice and water and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and steam for 10 to 12 minutes or until slightly el dente.
• Remove from heat and spread rice on a baking sheet to cool. Season with more salt if needed.
• For the chicken filling: Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and saute for 6 to 8 minutes or until just beginning to brown. Add remaining oil and stir in garlic, cinnamon, ginger, cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper and turmeric, and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
• Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken to skillet and saute for 5 minutes or until beginning to brown. Add tomatoes and stock and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until sauce is thick and chicken is no longer pink. Add spinach and raisins and cook for 2 more minutes or until spinach wilts. Stir in mint. Taste for seasoning and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Melt remaining butter in a 10 inch nonstick skillet (used my wonderful cast iron pan for this) over medium heat until butter is foamy. Remove and reserve 2 tbsp of melted butter. Remove pan from heat and add half of rice, spreading it evenly over base of skillet. Use a spatula to compress the rice slightly. Spoon chicken misture over the rice in an even layer. Finish with remaining rice, again compressing with a spatula. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to make a hole down through the centre of the mixture to let steam escape. Drizzle with reserved butter.
• Cover and cook over medium heat for 25 to 30 minutes or until rice has formed a golden crust on the bottom. Watch so it does not get too dark. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Use a spatula to loosen sides. Reverse pan onto a large serving plate to the golden bottom is on the top.
• Break up mixture with a spoon. Garnish with pistachios and candied orange.

CHELO (PERSIAN STEAMED RICE)

Steps:

• If you are using Iranian rice, start at least 6 hours ahead.
• Spread it on a clean surface and pick out and discard any dark or discolored grains.
• Then wash it in a fine sieve or colander set under warm running water until the draining water runs clear.
• Finally place the rice in a large bowl or pot, add 1/4 cup of salt and enough cold water to cover it by about 1 inch and soak overnight, or for at least 6 hours.
• If you are using other long-grain rice, wash it in the same way, but soak it in the salt water for about 2 hours.
• In a heavy 3 to 4 quart saucepan equipped with a tightly fitting lid, bring 6 cups of fresh water to a boil over high heat.
• Drain the rice thoroughly and pour it into the boiling water.
• in a slow, thin stream so the water does not stop boiling.
• Stir once or twice, then boil briskly, uncovered for 5 minutes.
• Drain in a sieve.
• Pour 1 cup fresh water and the melted butter in the saucepan and pour in the parboiled rice, mounding it slightly in the middle of the pan.
• Cover the pan tightly with a strip of aluminum foil and set the lid in place.
• Simmer the rice over moderate heat to 15 to 20 minutes, or until the grains are tender and have absorbed all the liquid in the pan.
• Serve at once.
• Traditionally, when served with skewered broiled meat or chicken, the rice is served mounded into individual portions with a well in the center of each.
• A pat of butter is placed on top, a raw egg yolk is dropped in, and the top is sprinkled with salt, a grindings of pepper and if desired a little dried sumak.