Turkish Pilaf Recipes

SEHRIYELI PILAV: TURKISH-STYLE RICE PILAF WITH ORZO

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a shallow saucepan, melt the butter and oil together. Add the orzo and stir continuously over medium heat until the pasta turns a dark golden color. Be careful and keep stirring so the butter and orzo don't burn.
• Add the uncooked rice and stir thoroughly until the grains are coated with the oil. Add the chicken broth, salt, and pepper, and then bring to a boil. If you are using chicken bouillon in place of stock, cut down on or omit the salt.
• Cover and reduce the heat to low. Let the rice slowly simmer until the liquid is absorbed, 20 minutes.
• Without removing the cover, take the pan from the heat and put it aside to cool down for 5 minutes, keeping the lid on at all times. If too much condensation forms on the inside of the lid, open it and cover the top of the pan with a few paper towels, then replace the lid. This will absorb excess moisture and allow the rice to continue steaming at an even pace.
• Before serving, open the lid and gently stir the rice to loosen the bottom and separate the grains.
• You can use a small dessert bowl or ramekin as a mold to ​give it that signature rice pilaf look. Fill the bowl with the rice and use the back of a spoon to pack it down tightly. Invert the bowl onto a serving plate. The pilaf will pop out and should remain in the molded shape.

TURKISH BULGUR PILAF RECIPE

Steps:

• Place the bulgur in a bowl and rinse a few times. Set it aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion until translucent and then add the minced garlic. Cook for a minute.
• Add in the diced green pepper and cook for a few minutes until it softens.
• Add in the chopped tomatoes and stir well. Cook until they start releasing their juice.
• Add the tomato paste and stir well so it combines with the other ingredients.
• Add the salt and pepper and add in the rinsed bulgur. Stir well.
• Turn the heat to medium high and add in the water. Once it comes to a simmer, lower the heat to medium, cover with a lid and cook for about 20-25 minutes until the water is almost completely evaporated.
• Wrap the lid in a clean kitchen towel and place it on the pot. Turn the heat to medium low and cook for another 10 minutes.
• Turn the heat off the let the bulgur sit for 5 minutes untouched, then fluff it with a fork and serve.

TURKISH PILAF

Steps:

• In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the green pepper and mushrooms and saute for 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, stirring until blended. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until all the liquid has evaporated.

TURKISH PILAF WITH TOMATO

Steps:

• Place the rice and salt in a small bowl and pour in boiling water to cover; set aside until water cools; drain, wash with cold water and drain again.
• Bring butter, tomato juice, salt to taste and optional cinnamon stick if desired, to boil in a heavy saucepan; add rice, stir, cover and boil for 2 minutes.
• Lower heat and simmer rice until all the liquid is absorbed; turn off the heat, cover the pan with a clean handkerchief or kitchen towel, replace the cover and set aside for 30 minutes before serving.