Lentil Rice Pilaf Recipes

RICE AND LENTIL PILAF - INDIAN STYLE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, bay leaf, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, chiles, and cloves and then cook for about a minute while stirring, until the spices become fragrant. Take the spices out of the pot and reserve. Turn the heat down to med-low and add the onion to the pan. Cook for approximately 10 minutes, stirring once and a while, and then take the pot off the heat and set aside.
• Rinse the rice in a colander. Once the rice is rinsed and drained, add it to the onion in the saucepan and put in the reserved spices and add the turmeric and cook over med-heat, stirring, for about 1 minute.
• Add in 1 1/2 C water and 1/2 t salt to the mixture and bring it all to a boil over high heat. Cover the pan with a paper towel and then the lid. Let this simmer this way, over low heat, for approx.20 minutes, or until all the liquid has been soaked up. Take the pan off of the heat and set aside, leaving it covered, for approximately 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the lentils, 2 C water and 1/2 t salt in a different saucepan and bring it to a boil over high heat. Then put a lif on it and simmer, over low heat. for approximately 25 minutes (until the lentils get tender).
• Now, heat the remaining 2 T vegetable oil, over medium heat, in a large nonstick skillet. Add in the potatoes and cook for approx 10 or 12 minutes, until the potatoes get a bit browned (stirring occasionally). Take the heat down to low and cook for about 5 minutes more. Then you can add the carrots to the potatoes and cook for 3 more minutes, or just until both are tender.
• Next, you can fluff the rice with a fork and take out the bay leaf, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, cloves and chiles. Then drain your lentils and stir them into the rice along with the potato mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy.

LENTIL-AND-RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a 10-inch skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions; reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden and caramelized, 35 to 40 minutes. Season with coarse salt and ground pepper.
• Meanwhile, in a 3-quart saucepan, bring 5 cups water to a boil. Stir in brown lentils; reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain; rinse pan.
• Return lentils to pan; add long-grain rice and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cook until rice is tender and has absorbed liquid, 10 to 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Scatter onions on pilaf.

LENTIL RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Bring lentils to a boil in a 2 qrt saucepan with 2 cups water.
• Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, trim and discard ends from green beans; cut into 1/2" pieces.
• Slice green onions.
• Mince carrot, shallot and ginger.
• Drain lentils and set aside.
• Heat oil in 2 qt saucepan over medium heat.
• Saute green onions, shallot and ginger in oil 2 minutes.
• Stir in rice; saute 2 more minutes.
• Add 2 1/4 cups water.
• Stir in lentils, green beans and carrot; bring to a boil, cover pot and cook 15 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
• Let stand 5 minutes off heat.
• Stir in salt and serve while hot.

LENTIL PILAF

Steps:

• Clean the lentils with fresh cold water to avoid foaming when cooking.
• Mix 2 cups of lentils with the 8 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of salt.
• Heat on high, uncovered for approximately 30 minutes, mixing slightly every 10 minutes, removing any foam that may have come up.
• After the lentils turn tender and soft (not melted), make sure there is only about 2 cups of water remaining (add or remove water).
• Add the half cup of rice. Cook for 10 mins at medium fire.
• Simultaneously with the rice, fry the chopped cup of onion in the olive oil and vegetable oil until golden brown (should be about 10 minutes).
• After the 10 minutes pass, slowly pour the oil and onion over the lentils and rice. Lower the heat to Low, and let it lay for 10 minutes (do NOT mix).
• After the 10 minutes pass, add the quarter cup of vinegar and mix everything.
• Cover with a thick clean kitchen towel and leave covered for about 10 minutes.
• After the 15 minutes pass, you should have a thick pilaf of lentils and rice, with onions showing up here and there.

LEBANESE LENTIL-AND-RICE PILAF WITH BLACKENED ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and next 4 ingredients; sauté until onion softens, about 4 minutes. Add broth and lentils; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, 10 minutes. Stir in rice; return to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook until liquid is absorbed and rice and lentils are tender, about 15 minutes longer.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced onions; sauté until soft and beginning to blacken, about 20 minutes.
• Season pilaf to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to plates; top with blackened onions. Place tomatoes and cucumber alongside. Top pilaf with dollop of yogurt. Sprinkle with mint.

CARAMELIZED ONION AND LENTIL PILAF

Steps:

• In a large heavy-based saucepan, heat ghee over medium heat. Add onion slices, and sauté until softened and deep golden brown. Remove half the onions and set aside.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and add turmeric, cumin, coriander, cloves, mustard seeds and curry leaves. Add salt, and season with black pepper to taste.
• Combine lentils and rice in a fine-meshed sieve, and rinse well with cold water. Drain, then add to pan. Add 4 cups water, raise heat, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to very low, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Water should be completely absorbed; if not, remove pan from heat, remove lid and cover pan with a kitchen towel, then replace lid and allow to stand for 10 minutes.
• To serve, fluff pilaf with a fork, and transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with reserved onions.

LEBANESE LENTIL/RICE PILAF WITH BLACKENED ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add chopped onion and next 4 ingredients; sauté until onion softens, about 4 minutes.
• Add broth and lentils; bring to boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, 10 minutes.
• Stir in rice; return to boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook until liquid is absorbed and rice and lentils are tender, about 15 minutes longer.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add sliced onions; sauté until soft and beginning to blacken, about 20 minutes.
• Season pilaf to taste with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to plates; top with blackened onions.
• Place tomatoes and cucumber alongside.
• Top pilaf with dollop of yogurt.
• Sprinkle with mint.