Simple Rice Pilaf Recipes

RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large skillet (that has a lid) or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring regularly, until the rice is browned - about 2-3 minutes. Add the onion, celery and carrot; cook, stirring regularly, until the vegetables start to soften - about 4 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper, to taste. If you're using salted chicken broth, you probably won't need too much extra salt. If you're using low-sodium or homemade unsalted broth, you may need up to ½ - ¾ teaspoon of salt.
• Add the broth to the skillet with the rice and vegetables. Add the bay leaf; bring the liquid to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let the rice simmer for 18-20 minutes. Once the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender, turn off the heat, discard the bay leaf, fluff the rice with a fork, and stir in the fresh parsley and toasted almonds.

RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a dutch oven or pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and mushrooms and cook until vegetables have softened and just started to turn brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
• Add rice, salt, and pepper and cook until rice starts to look slightly transparent, about 2-3 minutes.
• Stir in broth. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil.
• Once boiling, add bay leaves, cover pot with a lid, and decrease heat to low.
• Let rice simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes.
• Once all liquid appears to have been absorbed, turn off heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes.
• Discard bay leaves and fluff with a fork. Stir in parsley. Serve immediately.

RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Add rice to a fine mesh strainer or colander and rinse really well, until the water runs clear. Set aside to drain.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring often, until lightly golden. Add onion, garlic, salt, and pepper and cook until onion has softened.
• Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cover pot with a tight fitting lid and reduce heat to a simmer. (Do not ever remove the lid from the pot during cooking!) Cook for 15-18 minutes. Remove pot from heat and allow to rest, with the lid still on, for 10 minutes.,
• Remove lid and gently fluff the rice with a fork. Gently stir in chopped parsley.

EASY PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Prepare a 1 quart baking dish with butter.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the onion in the butter until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the rice; cook until the rice is slightly golden. Pour in the chicken broth. Season with the salt. Simmer another 5 minutes. Transfer to the prepared dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the broth is completely absorbed, 35 to 40 minutes. Fluff with a fork to serve.

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.