Two Rice Pilaf 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.

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.

WILD RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan, add the onion, and cook over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until translucent. Add 5 cups of water, 2 teaspoons of salt, and the wild rice. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to very low, and simmer, covered, for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the rice is tender. Drain well.
• Place the drained rice in a bowl, add the remaining tablespoon of butter, the scallions, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and the pepper. Taste for seasonings and serve hot.

RICE AND NOODLE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of the butter, and as soon as the butter melts, add the onion. Cook, stirring constantly, until the onion is translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the noodles, lower the heat to medium, and cook, stirring constantly, until the noodles are golden brown and the mixture gives off a nutty aroma, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add the rice, stir to combine, and add the remaining tablespoon of butter.
• Stir in the chicken broth and salt. Raise the heat to high and bring to a full rolling boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the rice and vermicelli have absorbed all the liquid. Fluff with a fork and serve.

PERFECT RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In 1/4 cup butter cook onion, green pepper and mushrooms.
• Set aside.
• In same skillet, heat remaining butter and brown rice slightly.
• Add chicken broth and heat.
• Pour all ingredients into a 1 1/2 qt.
• casserole.
• Cover and bake 40 minutes or until iquid is absorbed.

RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Combine broth, parsley and butter in a saucepan; bring to boil. Stir in rice; cover. Reduce heat; simmer 20 minutes.

TWO RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a skillet heat oil, add wild rice and onion cook over medium heat until rice is coated and onion is softened, 2-4 minutes.
• Transfer to oven proof (8 cup) casserole dish that has a lid.
• Add chicken stock cover dish and bake in 375°F for 30 minutes.
• Add long grain rice, butter and salt, stir well.
• Cover and return to oven for 20-30 minutes or until rice is tender and most of liquid is absorbed.
• Drain artichoke hearts, reserving 1 tbsp of marinade.
• Halve hearts add to rice along with reserved marinade and red pepper.
• Return to oven for 5 minutes to heat thoroughly.

LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE RICE PLILAF

Steps:

• Cook rice using desired method but use chicken broth instead of water.
• Cover the bottom of a skillet with about 2 tablespoons of cooking oil.
• Add the red pepper and onion and pan fry until they are nice and shriveled (about 10 minutes).
• Add the cook riced and fry with the red peppers and onion. Add more oil if necessary.
• Add parsley, and salt and pepper to taste, and cook for a minute or two longer.

RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In 3-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion in butter about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
• Stir in rice. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in broth and salt.
• Heat to boiling, stirring once or twice; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 16 minutes (do not lift cover or stir); remove from heat. Let stand covered 5 minutes.

THREE-RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute brown rice, carrots, onion and mushrooms in oil for 10 minutes or until rice is golden. , Add wild rice, broth, thyme, and rosemary; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25 minutes. , Stir in long grain rice; cover and simmer for 25 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and wild rice is tender. , Remove from the heat; stir in apricots, green onions, salt and pepper. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans just before serving.

FLUFFY RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bring stock to a simmer in a small saucepan.
• Melt butter in a 2-quart ovenproof saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, bay leaf, and salt and cook until onion is soft and translucent, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes.
• Add rice and stir well to coat each grain with butter mixture. Cook until rice is fragrant and starting to turn translucent, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes.
• Add stock and return to a simmer. Transfer to oven, cover, and bake for 16 minutes. Remove from oven. Cover and let steam for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork before serving.