Provencal Pilaf Recipes

POULET DE PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Mix 2 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and garlic in a bowl and stir chicken breast halves into the mixture to coat. Transfer chicken with marinade into the skillet and cook, turning occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink inside, 5 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a platter and keep warm.
• Pour 1/3 cup chicken stock into skillet and stir to dissolve browned bits of food from the skillet. Cook and stir shallot and mushrooms until mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup chicken stock, herbes de Provence, and 1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are deep brown in color, about 2 minutes.
• Return chicken breasts to pan and top each with 1/2 slice of provolone cheese. Cover skillet and let cheese melt; serve with mushrooms.

EVERYBODY LOVES PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread pine nuts on a baking sheet.
• Toast in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 12 minutes.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Increase heat to medium and stir in spaghetti; cook until coated with melted butter and lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add onion and garlic; cook until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in rice; cook for 5 minutes.
• Pour broth into the saucepan. Bring to a boil; cover and cook until rice is tender until liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Mix toasted pine nuts and parsley into the rice mixture.

PROVENCAL PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In an oven-safe saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, heat oil until it shimmers. Add diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 30-60 seconds, until fragrant. Add rice and stir until rice turns opaque and smells nutty, 2-3 minutes. Add bay leaf, salt, pepper, herbes de Provence, orange zest and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
• Stir pot once. Cover pan with a damp dish towel, apply the lid, and fold the corners of the towel up over the lid. Transfer to oven and bake 15 minutes.
• Remove pot to counter and leave UNDISTURBED 20 minutes. DO NOT remove the cover. At the end of this time, turn rice out onto a platter, remove bay leaf and orange zest, add olives and fluff with a fork before serving.

EASY RICE PILAF WITH PEAS AND CARROTS

Steps:

• Wash the rice very well a few times until the water is clear. You can let it soak in water for about 10 minutes or so while preparing the rest of the ingredients.
• In a large heavy pan with a lid, heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, tossing regularly until softened. Add the peas and carrots. Season with a good pinch of kosher salt. Add the spices and mix to combine. Cook for another 5 minutes or so, tossing regularly until the carrots have softened.
• Drain the rice well and add it to the pan. Toss around to make sure the rice is well-coated with the spices. Pour in 2 ¼ cup of water. And season well with a big dash of kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes until the rice is cooked through and has absorbed all the liquid.
• Allow the rice about 5 to 10 minutes to rest before serving.
• Serve with the nuts and raisins on top.

EASY PROVENCAL LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place the leg of lamb in a large roasting pan fat side up and pat it dry with paper towels. Combine the mustard, 1 tablespoon of the garlic, the rosemary, balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a mini food processor and pulse until the garlic and rosemary are minced. Spread the mixture on the lamb.
• Place the tomatoes, olive oil, 1/4 cup of the honey, the onion, the remaining 2 tablespoons garlic, 2 tablespoons salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper in a bowl and toss well. Pour the tomato mixture around the lamb and tuck in the thyme and rosemary sprigs. Drizzle the lamb with the remaining 1/4 cup of honey.
• Roast for 20 minutes. Turn the heat down to 350 degrees F and roast for another 1 to 1 1/4 hours, until a meat thermometer registers 130 to 135 degrees F for medium-rare. Place the lamb on a cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Discard the herb stems and return the tomatoes to the oven to keep warm. Slice the lamb, arrange on a platter, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve with the tomatoes and pan juices spooned on top. Garnish with a branch of rosemary.

ARMENIAN PILAF

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, saute the onion, bulgur, rice and vermicelli in butter for 6-7 minutes or until golden brown. Add the broth, water and oregano; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

VEGETABLE AND BARLEY PILAF

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute zucchini and carrot in butter until crisp-tender. Add broth; bring to a boil. Stir in barley. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until barley is tender, 10-12 minutes., Stir in the onions, marjoram, salt and pepper. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 5 minutes.

ROASTED VEGETABLE PILAF PROVENÇAL

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in heavy, large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until lightly browned. Add rice, chicken broth and 1 tsp. herbs de Provence. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer at low heat until rice is tender, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, in 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan, combine mushrooms, zucchini and bell pepper. Add remaining 2 Tbsp oil, remaining 1 tsp. herbs, salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Bake 15 minutes; stir in tomatoes. Bake 5 minutes more or until vegetables are tender. Stir vegetables and olives into rice. Garnish with fresh herb sprigs if desired. Makes 6 servings. Nice with grilled chicken. Priscilla Yee Concord, California

INDIAN PILAF

Steps:

• In a medium pot, combine rice, stock, bay leaf, curry powder and cumin. Bring to boil; reduce heat, cover and cook for 17 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed.
• In nonstick pan, heat the olive oil until it is very hot, reduce heat to medium-high and saute the onions until they begin to soften. Add the peppers, and saute until the onions are golden and the peppers are soft. Stir in the currants, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix with rice.
• Combine the rice mixture with the turkey, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Stir in the almonds, and serve. (Pilaf may be refrigerated before adding the almonds. To serve, stir in almonds and reheat in microwave.)