Wheat Berry Brown Rice Pilaf Recipes

BROWN RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onion and green pepper in oil until tender. Add rice and garlic; cook and stir for 3-4 minutes or until rice is lightly browned. Add the water, broth, thyme and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 35-40 minutes or until rice is tender. Fluff with a fork.

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.

SEASONED BROWN RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add rice and onion; saute until rice is lightly browned, 8-10 minutes. Add broth; stir in the next 6 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, for 35 minutes. Add orzo. Cook, covered, until orzo is tender, 10-15 minutes longer.

RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a heavy, wide, lidded pan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add onion, red pepper, and kosher salt. Sweat the onions and peppers until aromatic, stirring constantly. Add the rice and stir to coat. Continue stirring until rice smells nutty. Add chicken broth, orange zest, saffron and water, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Stir once, then cover pan with moistened dish towel (or tea towel). Place lid on pan and fold towel corners over lid. Bake for 15 minutes. Then rest at room temperature for 10 to 20 minutes without removing the cover.
• Meanwhile, simmer peas in salted water until heated through or heat in a microwave.
• Remove lid from rice and turn out onto a platter. Add peas and fluff with a large fork. Add raisins and pistachios.

RICE AND WHEAT BERRY PILAF WITH BABY SPINACH

Steps:

• Place wheat berries in heavy medium saucepan. Add enough cold water to saucepan to cover wheat berries by 3 inches. Let stand overnight. Drain.
• Bring 4 cups water, wheat berries and 3/4 teaspoon salt to boil in same saucepan. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until wheat berries are tender but still slightly firm to bite, about 1 hour. Drain.
• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add rice and garlic; stir 1 minute. Stir in remaining 1 3/4 cups water and 3/4 teaspoon salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until liquid is almost absorbed and rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Add spinach and cooked wheat berries; stir until spinach wilts and wheat berries are heated through, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.
• *Also called hard wheat berries. Available at most natural foods stores.
• **Available at Indian markets and many supermarkets.

MUSHROOM WHEAT BERRY PILAF

Steps:

• 1.Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over low heat. Add onions and saute until soft, about 10 minutes.
• 2. Add garlic and continue to saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• 3. Add the butter or additional oil, and let melt.
• 4. Add mushrooms and soy sauce, increase the heat to medium and continue cooking until mushrooms release their liquid, about 5 to 10 minutes.
• 5. Add wine and broth and simmer until wine begins to evaporate, about 5 minutes.
• 6. Add all remaining ingredients (Cooked rice and cooked wheat berries through lemon zest) and heat through.
• 7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.