Saffron Brown Rice Pilaf With Pine Nuts And Cherries Recipes

RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Melt the butter in a 3-quart saucier over medium heat.
• Stir in the onion, bell pepper and 2 pinches of salt.
• Decrease the heat to low and sweat until the onion is translucent and aromatic but not browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and add the rice. Cook, stirring frequently, until you smell nuts, another 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the saffron and its water, the broth, orange zest, bay leaves and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Increase the heat and bring to a boil.
• OK, now the weird part: Thoroughly wet a clean towel, kill the heat, scatter the peas on top of the rice, then place the towel across the top of the saucier. Top with the lid, then fold the towel corners up over the lid.
• Transfer the saucier (towel and all) to the oven and bake 15 minutes.
• Remove and rest at room temperature for 15 more minutes without opening the lid.
• Fish out the orange zest and bay leaves. Turn the pilaf out onto a platter, fluff with a large fork and garnish with the raisins and pistachios. Serve family-style, right in the middle of the table.

SAFFRON BROWN RICE PILAF WITH PINE NUTS AND CHERRIES

Steps:

• Heat oil in large skillet over medium. Add onion and carrot, sauté for 5-6 min. Add garlic, sauté for 2 min. Add in dry brown rice and sauté 3 min. Crumble saffron threads into chicken broth, add to brown rice. Bring to boil, lower heat, cover and simmer for 45-50 min. Toast pine nuts in small dry skillet over medium. Shake pan frequently. Add nuts and cherries to brown rice mix. Season with salt and pepper, garnish with fresh parsley.

SAFFRON RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the pasta and toast until golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chicken stock, rice, raisins, chile pepper, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, saffron and season with salt. Bring to boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 18 minutes.

PINE NUT-SAFFRON PILAF

Steps:

• Heat the EVOO in a sauce pot over medium heat. Add the nuts and toast until lightly golden, then remove and reserve.
• Melt the butter in the pot, then add the broken pasta and toast to golden. Stir in the saffron and rice, then add the stock. Bring to a boil, stir in the raisins, then cover and simmer for 17 to 18 minutes, until the liquid has been absorbed and the pasta and rice are tender.
• Fluff the pilaf with a fork and stir in the reserved nuts. Serve immediately.

NUTTY BROWN RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In heavy saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; cook onion, garlic, thyme, salt, pepper and cinnamon, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until softened.
• Add rice; cook, stirring for 1 minute.
• Add stock, currants and lemon rind; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 50 - 60 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
• Let stand, covered for 5 minutes.
• Fluff with fork and sprinkle with pine nuts and onions.

SAFFRON RICE PILAF WITH RED PEPPERS & TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• On the stove top or in the microwave, heat the broth until hot. Add the saffron, cover, and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a heavy-based 3-quart saucepan with a tight lid, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft but not browned, about 5 minutes.
• Add the rice, salt and cayenne, and stir well to coat each grain with oil. Toast for a full five minutes, stirring regularly to keep the grains separated and to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pan (the rice may turn opaque before 5 minutes is up, but keep going). Reduce the heat to low if there are any signs of scorching. Stir in 2 tablespoons of parsley and the garlic.
• Add the saffron broth, stir once, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 18 minutes. Remove from the heat, and let the pilaf sit, still covered, for five minutes.
• Once the pilaf has rested, remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Using the fork, gently fold in the almonds, the remaining parsley, and the oregano. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.
• P.S. You might be tempted to leave out the saffron because it's expensive, but DON'T DO IT! It's worth every penny, and one jar goes a long way. If you have a Trader Joe's in your area, you can pick up a jar for about three to four bucks. If you don't have a TJ's, I'm sorry for you.