Far East Fruited Rice Recipes

BASMATI RICE PILAF WITH DRIED FRUITS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Place the rice in a medium bowl and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Using your hands, gently swish the grains to release any excess starch. Carefully pour off the water, leaving the rice in the bowl. Repeat four to five times, until the water runs almost clear. Using a fine mesh strainer, drain the water from rice. Place the strainer over a bowl and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a pot over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring regularly, until softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add the cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, and garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds longer. Add the rice to the pot, and cook, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes. Add the water, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes. Off the heat, remove the lid and sprinkle the dried fruit over the rice (do not mix in). Place the lid over the pot and let stand for 10 minutes. Toss in the toasted almonds, fluff the rice with a fork, and serve.

JEWELED RICE WITH DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Rinse rice in several changes of cold water in a large bowl until water runs clear. Drain in a large sieve.
• Bring water and salt to a boil in a 6-quart heavy pot, then add rice and boil, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes from time water returns to boil. Drain rice in sieve.
• Toss together dried fruit in a bowl. Melt 6 tablespoons butter with cardamom and pepper in cleaned and dried pot, stirring to combine, then alternately layer rice and dried fruit over it, beginning and ending with rice and mounding loosely. Make 5 or 6 holes in rice to bottom of pot with round handle of a wooden spoon, then cover pot with a kitchen towel and a heavy lid. Fold edges of towel up over lid (to keep towel from burning) and cook rice over moderately low heat, undisturbed, until tender and a crust forms on bottom, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from heat and let rice stand, tightly covered and undisturbed, at least 30 minutes.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small skillet over moderate heat and cook pistachios, stirring, until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Spoon loose rice onto a platter, then break crust into 1-inch pieces and scatter over rice. Sprinkle with pistachios.

QUICK FRIED RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a frying pan, then tip in the egg. Leave to set for 30 secs-1 min, swirling every now and again, then tip it out and finely slice. Add the bacon and mushrooms to pan, then fry until golden, about 3 mins. Add the peas, garlic and ginger, then cook for 1 min.
• Mix the soy sauce and sugar together. Turn up the heat, add the cooked rice to the pan, heat through, then splash in the sweet soy sauce. Stir through the egg and serve straight away, with more soy sauce if you like.

FRIED RICE RESTAURANT STYLE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine rice and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• In a small saucepan, boil carrots in water about 3 to 5 minutes. Drop peas into boiling water, and drain.
• Heat wok over high heat. Pour in oil, then stir in carrots and peas; cook about 30 seconds. Crack in eggs, stirring quickly to scramble eggs with vegetables. Stir in cooked rice. Shake in soy sauce, and toss rice to coat. Drizzle with sesame oil, and toss again.

FRUITED RICE

Steps:

• In large saucepan, combine water, brown rice, wild rice, onion, parsley, butter, bouillon granules, sugar, thyme & both peppers.
• Bring to boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low.
• Cover & simmer 45-50 minutes, or until rice is ALMOST tender.
• Stir in orange juice, apricots, cranberries & raisins.
• Simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes or until rice is tender.

FRIED RICE FROM THE FAR EAST

Steps:

• Blend sugar and soy sauce. Set aside.
• Heat butter in small skillet, add egg and cook as for omelettes. Remove from heat. Cut in 1/2 inch strips. Set aside.
• Heat oil in wok or large skillet.
• Add garlic, onion and pepper. Stir-fry fro 1 minute longer.
• Add rice, chicken andshrimp. Stir-fry for 3-4 minute longer.
• Stir in soy sauce mixture andheat. Garnish with egg strips. Serve at once.