Stovetop Rice With Harissa Dates And Orange Recipes

STOVETOP RICE WITH HARISSA, DATES, AND ORANGE

Steps:

• In a large skillet over high heat, heat the oil until it shimmers. Add the onions and reduce the heat to medium. Add a pinch of salt, and sauté until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the garlic and bay leaf to the onions, and cook for another minute more. Add the harissa. Stir to incorporate. Add the rice and stir for another minute or until each grain is glistening. Add the dates and the orange zest. Squeeze the orange into a liquid measure and add enough water to create 1 and 1/3 cups liquid. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt to the pan. Stir to combine.
• Bring to a simmer, cover pan, turn heat to low, and cook for 20 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before fluffing with a fork. There should be a bit of nice caramelization on the bottom of the pan - I like to scrape this up and incorporate it into the rice. Serve immediately.

RICE WITH DATES (ARABIAN PENINSULA)

Steps:

• Place the rice in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand 30 minutes to 1 hour then drain in a fine mesh strainer.
• Place the drained rice in a pot with *2 cups* of water and bring to the boil then cover and simmer on low for 10 minutes.
• In the meantime, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a small pan and cook the almonds until starting to brown, stirring often.
• Stir in the dates, raisins, ground cinnamon or cinnamon stick and cloves.
• Turn heat down to low and cook covered for 15 minutes or until the mixture is soft and gooey, stirring often. (Do not overcook or let dry out.).
• After the rice has cooked 10 minutes, remove the pot from the burner without taking off the lid and let stand for 15 minutes.
• Drain the rice in a strainer under warm water and then place half of the rice back in the pot, flattening and spreading it around evenly.
• Dot the first layer of rice with 1 tablespoon of butter.
• Now arrange the cooked almond-date mixture over the rice, spreading it around and flattening with a spatula. Spoon the rest of the rice on top, again spreading it around and flattening the top then dot with 1 tablespoons of butter.
• Invert a heatproof plate on top of the rice or as I did-fold up a tea towel and place it on top of the pot. Cover the pot with the lid and cook on very low heat for 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes of cooking, remove the pot (but keep the lid on the pot!) to another burner and set aside for another 15 minutes.
• Invert the pot of rice onto a serving platter.
• Serve hot.