Assyrian Baked Rice Recipes

GREEN LENTILS AND RICE ASSYRIAN STYLE

Steps:

• Place the lentils into a pot and cover with the water. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat for 5 minutes, then cover and remove from heat. Meanwhile, rinse the rice in cold water until water comes out clear.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the rice for about 1 minute, until the grains turn opaque and white, then stir in the lentils and water. Bring the rice mixture to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to medium-low for 5 minutes. Stir once, then cover and reduce heat further to low. Continue cooking, covered (don't remove the lid!) until the rice is tender, about 15 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in the skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue cooking and stirring until the onion is very tender and dark brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. When the rice is ready, stir in the caramelized onion and season with salt.

ASSYRIAN BAKED RICE

Steps:

• 1. Cover the rice with cold water and the salt. Soak overnight.
• 2. Bring 3 quarts of cold water to a boil. Drain the soaked rice and add to the boiling water. Boil for 5 to 7 minutes, or until one kernel of rice tastes half-cooked, but not soft.
• 3. Pour rice into a colander and rinse with cold water. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
• 4. Use some of the butter to coat the bottom of a roasting pan, with a cover. Pour rice over butter, stirring into rice the remaining butter.
• 5. Cover and bake for 45 minutes. shaking the pan twice during baking to mix butter and rice.

HASHWEH ("RICE STUFFING") MIDDLE EAST, PALESTINE

Steps:

• Brown meat lightly in butter. Add rice, salt, and spices. Stir for 2 minutes.
• Add 3 1/2 cups of hot water. Bring to boil. Cover and simmer over low heat for 25 minutes.
• Add the sauteed pine nuts and/or blanched almonds. Mix well. Mixture is ready to stuff lamb, chicken, etc.
• This can be also served seperately. If you are going to do this instead of stuffing a chicken, etc., simmer it 5 more minutes or until rice is very tender.
• *I also add one 20 oz. can of chick peas to this recipes, adding it the same time I add the pine nuts and almonds, and it turns out just wonderful! Enjoy!

TRADITIONAL RICE STUFFING

Steps:

• Heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add water, dill weed, poultry seasoning, parsley, ground black pepper, chicken bouillon, and rice; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until water is absorbed and rice is just slightly undercooked, 12 to 14 minutes. Stir, taste, and adjust seasonings if desired. Cool completely before using to stuff a chicken.

BASMATI PILAFF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 160C/conventional 180C/gas 4. You will need a medium casserole with a lid. Rinse the rice well in a large bowl of water, then drain.
• Melt two-thirds of the butter in the casserole and sauté the onion for about 5 minutes. Add the rice, stir well, then add the herbs, whole spices and lemon zest and cook for a minute. Now pour in the boiling stock or water and mix into the rice, along with 1½ tsp sea salt and ground black pepper to taste.
• Cover and bake for 25 minutes. Leave to stand for 5 minutes, then remove the lid and fork through the remaining butter until the rice is fluffy and separated.

ASSYRIAN CHICKEN AND POTATOES WITH YELLOW RICE

Steps:

• Mix turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, salt, paprika, and parsley together.
• Rub mixture all over chicken.
• Saute onion in butter and oil. l add garlic.
• Brown chicken.
• Take out put in a casserole dish.
• Add cooked potatoes and cook until lightly browned.
• Put potatoes in casserole dish over chicken.
• Cover with foil.
• Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes.
• Uncover; bake another 20 minutes.
• Start rice when you uncover chicken.
• Heat oil; add rinsed rice and turmeric.
• Fry until puffed not burned.
• Add boiling water; bring to a boil.
• Cover; cook 20 minutes; serve under chicken.
• Bake; cover.