Pistachio Pilau Rice Recipes

RICE PILAF WITH PISTACHIOS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Place rice in a bowl in the sink and rinse several times with water, or soak for 30 minutes to an hour. Drain.
• Heat water or stock to a bare simmer in a saucepan or in microwave.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil, butter or ghee in a wide, heavy skillet or saucepan over medium heat and add onion and salt to taste. Cook, stirring, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes, and add rice. Cook, stirring, until the grains of rice are separate, dry and beginning to crackle. Add hot water or stock, rose water and salt to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes, until all of the liquid has been absorbed.
• Uncover rice and place a clean towel over the top of the pan (it should not be touching the rice). Replace lid and allow to sit for 10 minutes, undisturbed.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining tablespoon of oil, butter or ghee over medium heat in a medium frying pan or saucepan and add the nuts. Cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, and add spices and barberries or dried apricots. Continue to cook for another minute, until the spices smell fragrant, and remove from the heat. Immediately scrape over the rice.
• Pile the pilaf onto a platter or into a wide bowl and toss to incorporate the nut and spice mixture. Serve.

PISTACHIO PILAU RICE

Steps:

• Fry the onion in the oil in a large frying pan or saucepan until softened. Stir in the turmeric, then the rice, and keep stirring until the grains are golden.
• Pour in the hot stock, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and cook for 15 mins until the rice is tender. Remove from the heat and stir through the spring onions, pistachios and some seasoning before serving hot, or allowing to cool.

INDIAN RICE (PULAO)

Steps:

• Place saffron threads into boiling water, set aside to steep.
• Melt the vegetable shortening in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the onions, and cook until golden, about 5 minutes. Season with cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger, cumin, garlic powder, and cardamom seeds. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes to release the flavor, stirring constantly.
• Pour in the rice and cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the yogurt, saffron water, and salt. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover pot with a cloth folded into 4 layers. Place a lid over the cloth and cook until the rice is done, about 20 minutes. Remove the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and cardamom seeds before serving.

BASMATI RICE PILAF WITH PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 325°F. Spread the pistachios on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden and fragrant, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack to cool. Roughly chop the nuts and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and salt, and sauté for 2 minutes; add the coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, and bay leaf to the pan and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and turning brown, 1 to 3 minutes more. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until the rice is well coated with oil and slightly translucent, about 3 minutes.
• Add the chicken broth. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Discard the cinnamon stick, bay leaf, and cardamom pods.
• Season to taste with salt if necessary. When ready to serve, sprinkle with the chopped pistachios.

PISTACHIO-POMEGRANATE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add shallots, and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer shallots to a bowl. Add wild rice to pot, and stir for 1 minute. Add stock and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, and stir again. Cover, reduce heat, and gently simmer until grains burst, about 40 minutes. Uncover, and cook until liquid has been almost completely absorbed, about 15 minutes more. Spread on a baking sheet to prevent rice from overcooking.
• Meanwhile, in a separate pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add basmati rice, and stir for 1 minute. Stir in the water and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and gently simmer for 10 minutes (do not uncover). Remove from heat, and let stand, covered, for 3 minutes. Spread on a baking sheet to prevent rice from overcooking.
• Whisk vinegar, sesame oil, remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Stirring constantly, gradually add wild and basmati rice. Add shallots, pomegranate seeds, pistachios, and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

RICE PILAF WITH PISTACHIOS AND GOLDEN RAISINS

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan cook the onion with the turmeric and the cardamom in 1 tablespoon of the butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until the onion is softened. Add the rice and cook it, stirring, until it is coated with the butter. Add the broth, bring the liquid to a boil, covered, and simmer the mixture for 17 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Stir in the pistachios, the raisins, the scallion greens, the remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter, and salt and pepper to taste.

RICE WITH PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a saucepan and add onion and garlic. Cook briefly, stirring, until wilted. Add nuts and rice and stir to blend.
• Add broth, salt and pepper, bay leaf and parsley sprigs and stir to blend. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for exactly 17 minutes.
• Uncover rice and remove bay leaf and parsley. Stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter with a fork.

LEMON-PISTACHIO PILAF

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté 3 minutes. Add rice and 2 tablespoons pistachios; stir 2 minutes. Stir in 1 can broth, lemon juice, and salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Mix in 4 tablespoons pistachios and 2 tablespoons lemon peel. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Spread rice out onto baking sheet; cool. Before continuing, drizzle with more broth and rewarm tightly covered with foil in 400°F oven until heated through, about 10 minutes.) Transfer rice to bowl. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons pistachios and 1/2 tablespoon lemon peel.

WILD RICE PILAF WITH PISTACHIOS AND CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Heat in 4 quart saucepan 4 cups of water and 2 cups wild rice. Bring to boil and lower heat and cover to simmer for about 35 - 40 minutes.
• Add cranberries and cook for another minute. Drain if necessary and keep rice covered and warm until ready for next step.
• Melt butter in heavy 5 quart Dutch oven and add onions, celery and carrots and saute for approximately 13 minutes.
• Transfer these vegetables to a bowl and keep warm until next rice mixture is done.
• In same Dutch oven, ADD chicken broth, remaining 2 cups of water and "white rice" and bring to a boil and then cover for about 16 - 18 minutes until all water is absorbed.
• Stir into white rice in Dutch oven, wild-rice mixture, vegetable mixture, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; cook on medium-low until pilaf is heated through.
• Just before serving, gently stir chopped parsley and pistachio nuts into pilaf until evenly distributed. Transfer to large serving bowl. Makes about 13 cups.