Guatemalan Rice Pilaf Recipes

GUATEMALAN RICE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add rice, onion, and tomato; cook and stir until rice turns light golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Stir water, carrot, celery, and chicken bouillon into the skillet. Simmer until most of the water is absorbed, about 8 minutes. Cover and simmer until rice is tender, 5 to 8 minutes more.

BLACK GARLIC RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat a grill for cooking over indirect medium-high heat.
• Heat a 12-inch cast-iron pan over medium-high heat on the stovetop and add the oil. Once heated, add the onion, bell pepper and black garlic, stirring to combine. Cook until the onions have sweated and are starting to caramelize, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and stir to combine, coating the rice with the oil. Stir in the stock, then sprinkle with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Cover with the lid or foil. Cook over indirect heat for 40 minutes. Remove from the heat, then rest for 10 minutes before serving.

ARMENIAN RICE PILAF WITH RAISINS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a 5- to 6-quart pan over medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Break or crush the vermicelli into 1-inch lengths. Add the pasta and rice to the butter and stir often until golden, about 5-8 minutes, being careful not to burn the vermicelli.
• Add the broth, allspice and salt and pepper. Bring to a full boil over high heat, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until rice is tender to bite, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a sauté pan over medium heat, melt remaining 1 or 2 tablespoons butter. Add the almonds and stir often until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the raisins and stir until they puff, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir peas if using, parsley and lemon juice into rice. Cover and simmer until peas are hot, about 3-4 minutes.
• Pour pilaf into a serving bowl or on a platter and sprinkle with the raisin and nut mixture over the top. (Diced dried dates, figs, apricots or chopped walnuts may also be used in this topping.)

CARIBBEAN-STYLE RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat; add onion and garlic and saute until softened, about 4 minutes.
• Add rice and stir to coat with butter. Add remaining ingredients, cover, and heat to boiling.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until all liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove bay leaf.
• Serve hot or at room temperature.

BELL PEPPER AND RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion and bell peppers and sauté until tender, about 12 minutes. Add rice, cumin and chili powder; stir 1 minute. Add broth and bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Cover pot. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until rice si tender and broth is absorbed, about 25 minutes. Season pilaf to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

ARMENIAN RICE PILAF WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan or casserole, melt the butter over moderate heat.
• Add the onion, mushrooms and sliced green pepper and cook gently until they begin to soften.
• Stir in the tomato together with the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
• Now add the rice and the turmeric or powdered saffron, and cook 2 minutes until grains are thoroughly coated with butter but not browned, stirring constantly.
• Pour in the broth (stock), sprinkle with salt and bring to a boil, stirring.
• Reduce the heat to low.
• Cover and simmer for approximately 20 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender but still firm to the bite-- not mushy.
• Gently fluff the rice with a fork.
• Spoon onto a heated serving platter, being careful not to mash it, and sprinkle with chopped parsley.