Persianjeweledriceincabbage Recipes

JASMINE JEWELED RICE PERSIAN-STYLE

Steps:

• Reserve a tablespoon each of pistachios, apricots and almonds for garnish.
• Melt a tablespoon of butter in a medium saucepan on low heat. Toss the rice in the butter, then add the remaining pistachios, apricots and almonds, plus the salt and star anise.
• Add boiling water and simmer. Cover and check after 15 minutes, but do not stir.
• Slice onions thinly and place on a baking tray in a flat layer. Drizzle with 4 tablespoons of butter and place in a 350-degree oven. Bake, tossing occasionally, until crispy.
• Place rice mixture in a serving dish and garnish with the reserved pistachios, almonds and apricots, plus the crispy onions.
• Heat remaining butter almost to bubbling, then pour over the rice so that it glistens.

PERSIAN JEWELED RICE

Steps:

• Rinse basmati rice until water runs clear. Place in a bowl, cover with water and add 1 tablespoon salt. Allow to soak for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Using a mortar and pestle, grind together saffron and sugar. Combine with a scant 1/3 cup boiling water, and set aside to steep. Bring a stockpot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Drain rice and add to pot; cook exactly 6 minutes, then drain into fine-meshed colander.
• Place a round Dutch oven or other wide pan with a lid over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon butter and vegetable oil. When butter has melted, add potato slices in a single layer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spread potatoes evenly with a layer of rice about 1 inch thick. Sprinkle 1 cup barberries in stages over rice. Continue to add rice in smaller and smaller layers, sprinkling barberries between each layer, to make a pyramid of rice with no berries on top.
• Using the handle of a round wooden spoon, poke 3 holes into top of rice until spoon touches potato layer. Combine melted butter with saffron mixture, and pour all over rice. Cover underside of pot lid with a large dry cotton kitchen towel. Place on pan, making sure no ends dangle near source of heat.
• Cook rice mixture over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to low. Cook 40 to 45 minutes. To serve, spoon rice onto a heated serving platter. Top with rows of almonds, pistachios, candied orange zest and remaining 1/2 cup barberries. Arrange potatoes from bottom of pan in another dish, and serve alongside rice.

BUTTERY BEJEWELED RICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Separate dark green parts from scallions; thinly slice dark green parts and white and pale green parts, keeping them separate. Set aside. Arrange almonds and pistachios on opposite sides of a rimmed baking sheet and toast until almonds are golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove almonds from baking sheet and toss pistachios. Return baking sheet with pistachios to oven and toast until golden brown, about 4 minutes longer. Let cool.
• Melt 3 Tbsp. butter in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but without having taken on any color, 10-12 minutes. Stir in sugar and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Transfer carrots to a medium bowl.
• Melt another 4 Tbsp. butter in the same pot over medium. Add garlic and reserved pale green and white parts of scallions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but without taking on any color, about 5 minutes. Stir in rice, cardamom, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, and turmeric and cook, stirring often, until some grains are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add 1 Tbsp. salt and 3¾ cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover pot, and simmer until rice is tender, 25-30 minutes. Remove pot from heat; let sit 10 minutes to allow rice to steam longer.
• While rice is cooking, melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add dried fruit and cook, stirring often, until fruit is plumped and softened, about 4 minutes. Set aside.
• Add remaining 3 Tbsp. butter to rice and fluff with a fork. Spoon pilaf onto a large platter. Top with neatly defined rows of dried fruit, almonds, pistachios, carrots, and reserved scallion greens, or, if you prefer, mix all the toppings into the rice before arranging on the platter.

PERSIAN JEWELED RICE IN CABBAGE

Steps:

• Core the cabbage but keep it whole.
• In a large pot, heat cabbage and water and boil over high heat.
• Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
• Drain and set aside allowing it to cool.
• Meanwhile, heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet.
• Add onion and red pepper.
• Saute.
• Stir in cumin, saffron, rice, apple and raisins.
• Add water and salt to rice mixture.
• Boil.
• Once boiled, gradually reduce heat and simmer.
• Cook for 10 minutes (rice will be undercooked).
• Remove from flame.
• Remove the 12 best shaped, largest leaves from the cabbage (reserve the remaining cabbage for use elsewhere).
• Oil the inside of an 8" metal colander.
• Line its bottom and inside with 8 cabbage leaves.
• Put in rice followed by topping it with 4 cabbage leaves, tucking the ends of the leaves inside the colander.
• Fill a large pot (1 big enough to fit colander inside of) with about 1" water.
• Place colander with the stuffed cabbage in the pot.
• Heat and allow to simmer.
• Cover and steam cabbage for 20 minutes.
• Remove from flame and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Place a flat serving plate upside down on top of the colander.
• Holding them firmly together, turn them over.
• Gently lift the colander off cabbage and serve!