Rice Pilaf With Almonds And Dried Pears 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.

RICE PILAF WITH PEAS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallot and cook until softened, 3 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, until fragrant and toasted, 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add bay leaf and hot water. Bring to a boil over high; reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook 15 minutes. Add peas and almonds. Cover and cook until peas are warm and water is absorbed, 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.

RICE PILAF WITH ALMONDS AND DRIED PEARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread almonds on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven until almonds just begin to smell fragrant, about 10 minutes. Transfer pan from oven. Using a sharp knife, coarsely chop almonds, and set aside.
• Fill a medium saucepan with water, and bring to a rolling boil. Add wild rice, and reduce heat. Let simmer until rice is tender but not split, about 45 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Add chopped onion; cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in herbes de Provence and celery. Season mixture with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; cook mixture a few minutes more. Stir in white rice, and cook, stirring, until rice just starts to turn translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups cold water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer about 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat; transfer rice pilaf to a bowl. Add reserved almonds, wild rice, dried pears, and chopped parsley. Toss to combine.

SAFFRON RICE PILAF WITH APRICOTS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion, ground saffron and cloves and saut&5 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat grains. Mix in chicken stock, dried apricots and currants. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Fluff rice with fork. Add slivered almonds and season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve.

RICE PILAF WITH DRIED CHERRIES AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• 1.Cook and stir almonds in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until lightly browned. Remove from skillet; cool.
• 2.Melt margarine in skillet over low heat. Add rice and onion; cook and stir until rice is lightly browned. Add broth and water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, 15 minutes.
• 3.Stir in almonds and cherries. Simmer 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.

RICE AND CHICKEN PILAF WITH DRIED CURRANTS AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large deep skillet (preferably nonstick) over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until golden, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken and garlic to skillet; sauté until chicken is no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Stir in rice, currants, and cinnamon sticks. Add broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook until rice is tender and most liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl. Discard cinnamon. Sprinkle with almonds.