Rice Pilaf Ala Nando Recipes

RANI'S RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a saucepan set over moderate heat, warm the oil until it is hot, add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until golden. Add the gingerroot, cinnamon stick, and cardamom, and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until rice is coated with oil. Add the water and salt, bring to a boil, and simmer, covered, 20 minutes. Stir in raisins and let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick before serving.

RICE PILAF ALA NANDO

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pan with an available cover.
• Stir in the onion over medium heat until softened, 3-5 minutes.
• Stir in the rice until it just starts to turn colour, 3-5 minutes.
• Stir in the cumin, chilli powder, turmeric and salt.
• Pour in the chicken stock, stir once, turn the heat to medium-low and cover for 15 minutes or until the water is just absorbed. Leave the rice undisturbed until told otherwise!
• Set the burner to ultra-ultra low for an additional 15 minutes, just high enough to keep the rice hot. Cycle the burner, buy a better pan, do what it takes to keep the rice hot but not cooking.
• Fluff the rice with a fork and serve.

RICE PILAF AMANDINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool.
• Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the haricots verts and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Wipe out the saucepan.
• Melt the butter in the saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, 1 to 3 minutes. Add the chicken broth, bay leaf and lemon zest and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low; cover and simmer until the liquid is absorbed, about 18 minutes. Remove from the heat; add the haricots verts, cover and let stand 5 minutes. Uncover and stir in the lemon juice, half of the almonds, and pepper to taste. Remove the bay leaf. Transfer the rice to a bowl and top with the remaining almonds.

CLASSIC RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter and olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until onion is lightly browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Combine rice and onion mixture in a 9x13-inch casserole dish placed on a baking sheet. Stir thoroughly to coat the rice.
• Combine chicken stock, salt, saffron, and cayenne pepper in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Pour chicken stock mixture over rice in the casserole dish and stir to combine. Spread mixture evenly along the bottom of the pan. Cover tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove foil and fluff with a fork to separate the grains of rice.

RICE AND NOODLE PILAF WITH TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over medium heat and stir in orzo. Cook, stirring frequently, until orzo is golden, about 5 minutes. Add rice, stirring until coated with butter, then add zest, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, water, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, uncovered, then cover tightly and cook over low heat until water is absorbed and rice and orzo are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes.
• Fluff pilaf with a fork and spoon into a bowl, discarding zest, bay leaf, and cinnamon stick. Serve pilaf with almonds sprinkled on top.

CRANBERRY AND ALMOND RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in hot oil until tender and translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Stir cranberries and jasmine rice into onion until rice is coated with oil and rice is lightly toasted, about 5 minutes more.
• Pour chicken broth into skillet and season with kosher salt and black pepper.
• Bring rice mixture to a boil over high heat, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 22 minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat; stir green onions, cilantro, and almonds into rice mixture. Adjust seasoning if necessary.

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.)