Rice Pilaf With Currants Recipes

MIDDLE EASTERN RICE WITH RAISINS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a pan. Add in 2 tablespoons of pine nuts and onions. Cook until onions become translucent.
• Add in rice, salt, sugar, cinnamon, allspice and raisins. Cook for 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
• Pour 1 and 1/2 cups hot water and let it cook covered over medium heat until it boils.
• Bring the heat to the lowest when it starts to boil and let it simmer until the rice is soft and all the water is gone.
• When there isn't any water left in the pan, remove from the heat. Uncover, put a paper towel on the top and put the lid back. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. Uncover and add parsley. Give it a gentle stir.
• For the optional topping, put pine nuts in a pan in a single layer without adding oil. Toast until golden brown.
• Serve the rice with toasted pine nuts on the top.

BASMATI RICE PILAF WITH DRIED FRUITS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Place the rice in a medium bowl and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Using your hands, gently swish the grains to release any excess starch. Carefully pour off the water, leaving the rice in the bowl. Repeat four to five times, until the water runs almost clear. Using a fine mesh strainer, drain the water from rice. Place the strainer over a bowl and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a pot over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring regularly, until softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add the cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, and garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds longer. Add the rice to the pot, and cook, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes. Add the water, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes. Off the heat, remove the lid and sprinkle the dried fruit over the rice (do not mix in). Place the lid over the pot and let stand for 10 minutes. Toss in the toasted almonds, fluff the rice with a fork, and serve.

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.

RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat oven and stock Heat oven to 350°F. Bring stock to a simmer in a small saucepan.
• Meanwhile, sauté aromatics Melt butter in a 2-quart ovenproof saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, bay leaf, and salt and cook until onion is soft and translucent, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes.
• Toast rice Add rice and stir well to coat each grain with butter mixture. Cook until rice is fragrant and starting to turn translucent, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes.
• Add stock to rice mixture and bake Add stock and return to a simmer. Transfer to oven, cover, and bake 16 minutes. Remove from oven. Cover and let steam for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork before serving.
• Follow recipe above, substituting brown rice for white and increasing stock to 1 3/4 cups (instead of 1 1/2 cups). Bake 45 minutes, then stir in 1/4 cup dried currants before fluffing with a fork. Garnish with toasted sliced almonds and serve.
• Follow main recipe above, substituting basmati rice for the white rice. Add a pinch of saffron to the stock and let stand 10 minutes before bringing to a simmer. Proceed with recipe. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and serve.

RICE PILAF WITH PUMPKIN, CURRANTS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Warm olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot with a lid or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add pumpkin, season with salt, and cook, stirring, until pumpkin begins to brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove and set aside, leaving oil in pot.
• Add onion and cook, stirring, until quite brown, about 5 minutes. Add pine nuts and let them brown a bit. Add currants, pepper, allspice and cinnamon.
• Stir in the rice and cook for 2 minutes more, making sure rice is well coated with oil. Add broth or water and 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to a bare simmer. Taste broth and adjust for salt - it should be quite well seasoned. Add reserved pumpkin, cover with a lid, and cook over very low heat until all liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Turn off heat, and let rice steam with lid on for 10 to 15 minutes. Add butter and fluff rice gently with two wooden spoons.

CURRIED RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute 1/4 cup onions and garlic in butter until tender. Stir in rice and curry powder. Saute for 2-3 minutes or until rice is lightly browned., In a saucepan, heat broth and salt. Pour over rice mixture; stir. Cover and simmer for 35-40 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove from the heat; stir in raisins, almonds and remaining onions.

RICE PILAF WITH CURRANTS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Melt butter in skillet. Add the rice and brown till slightly golden. Add broth and water carefully. Add the currants, bring to a boil and cover and cook on low heat for about 45 minute to an hour. Don't peek at it. Serve with the pine nuts on top.