Coconut Raisin Rice Pilaf Recipes

COCONUT RICE: ARROZ CON COCO

Steps:

• Place the coconut milk in a heavy saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil.
• Simmer the coconut milk, uncovered, until the liquid has evaporated and the coconut solids start to separate from the oil. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the coconut solids have turned a dark golden brown color.
• Stir the rice and the raisins into the pot with the coconut milk. Add the water, the salt, and the sugar, and mix well.
• Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer the rice, covered, for about 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the rice remain on the stove for another 5 to 10 minutes, covered.
• Fluff the rice and serve.

COCONUT-RAISIN RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Make coconut milk: In a medium-sized pot, place dessicated coconut and water. Mix and allow to soak for ½ an hour. After ½ an hour, turn heat onto low and bring to a gentle simmer. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and leave pot on element for ½ an hour. After ½ an hour, transfer coconut mixture to blender or processor and process for 45 seconds. Put a large sieve over a bowl and empty coconut mixture into it. Press down hard on coconut solids with the back of a spoon to remove as much coconut milk as possible. This method produced 2 cups of coconut milk. Can be made up to 2 days before recipe and refrigerated, covered. The milk will separate in the fridge, forming a creamy 'fat' layer on top, and a thinner 'liquid' layer underneath. Not to worry, the fat layer will melt into the liquid when heated and form a lovely milk.
• Heat oil over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Add onion, garlic, ginger and red pepper paste, mashing paste into the rest of the ingredients. Cook onion mixture until softened, but not browned, about 2-3 minutes.
• Stir in the rice and cook in the oil, stirring, for 2 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and add coconut milk and stock (careful - the pan will be hot!), along with the coconut and combine well. Taste liquid and add salt if you feel the stock didn't provide enough.
• Return to element and bring to a rapid boil. Boil uncovered over high heat until the level of the liquid is just above the rice, about 5 minutes. Cover immediately, reduce the heat to the lowest setting, and simmer for 10 more minutes.
• Carefully stir in the currants, cover pot, and continue cooking over low heat another 5 minutes without lifting the lid (total cooking time = 20 minutes).
• Let the pilaf 'rest' for 10 minutes off the heat. Fluff the pilaf with a fork and serve with your favourite curry.

RICE PILAF WITH RAISINS AND VEGGIES

Steps:

• Bring chicken broth to boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat; continue simmering while preparing remaining ingredients.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir celery, onion, green onion white portions, garlic, curry powder, and salt in the hot oil until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer vegetables to a bowl.
• Cook and stir rice in the same skillet until lightly toasted, about 3 minutes.
• Stir toasted rice into boiling chicken broth. Reduce heat to medium-low; continue simmering until rice is tender and broth is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Remove rice from heat and stir in raisins, green onion tops, and celery mixture until well blended.

INDIAN-STYLE RICE WITH CASHEWS, RAISINS AND TURMERIC

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir in rice, and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in the coconut milk, chicken stock, cumin, coriander, red pepper flakes, salt, turmeric, bay leaf, raisins, and cashew halves. Bring to a boil, then cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook until rice is tender, about 20 minutes.

RICE PILAF WITH GOLDEN RAISINS

Steps:

• Melt one tablespoon butter in a small heavy saucepan, add the onions and cook, stirring until wilted.
• Add rice, raisins, cumin, water, bay leaf and salt and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring. Cover pan tightly and simmer 17 minutes.
• Discard bay leaf. Add coriander and remaining butter. With a fork, distribute butter through the rice. Keep covered in a warm place until ready to serve.

RICE, RAISIN, AND HERB PILAF

Steps:

• Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and sauté 10 minutes. Mix in rice, then broth, raisins, lemon juice, and allspice. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until rice is tender and broth is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Mix in pine nuts, mint, and dill. Season with salt and pepper.

COCONUT BASMATI RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Place rice in a large, nonstick pot. Cover rice with water and, with your hands, agitate the rice, releasing the starch. Pour off the cloudy water then repeat this process until the water is clear. Pour off the water a final time and drain rice in a colander.
• Place drained rice, 2 cups water, coconut milk, and salt in a large pot. Stir to combine. Bring to a fast boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low. Cover pot and simmer rice until just tender and liquid is absorbed, about 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a large nonstick skillet. Add onions, raisins, and cashews. Saute, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes.
• When liquid has been absorbed and rice is tender, fluff rice with a fork.
• Add onion mixture to rice and toss with a fork. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Transfer to a serving bowl.
• TO MAKE AHEAD: Rice can be chilled and refrigerated overnight. Microwave for 3 minutes or until heated through before serving.
• NOTE: Substitute dried cranberries or dried cherries for the raisins for a different flavor boost. Rehydrate them in 1/4-cup warm water and then drain them before using in this recipe.

RICE PILAF WITH APPLES & RAISINS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; saute onion until tender, 4-6 minutes. Add rice; cook and stir until lightly browned, 4-6 minutes., Stir in remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 15-20 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

SPICED RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add cinnamon and cloves and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add onion and cook until beginning to brown, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat with onion mixture. Mix in water and bring to boil. Cover pan, reduce heat to low and cook until rice is tender and water is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Fluff pilaf with fork. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl.

CARROT RAISIN PILAF

Steps:

• In a saucepan, saute onion in butter until tender. Stir in the water, carrots, rice, raisins, bouillon, curry powder, salt and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until rice is tender. Sprinkle with almonds before serving.