Tag: Rice
Italian rice and beans
This is the beginning of a series I am starting called “CleanCuisine”. The emphasis being on “clean” tasting food that has zero cholesterol, very low fat and is probably the healthiest for you (and tastiest). As you eat it, you can feel it doing you good!
The special ingredient for this is the grated lemon rind over the dish, as it creates a tangy zing in the mouth and really brings it all together. Don’t skimp on the lemon rind
Makes 2 – 3 servings
1 cup brown rice
3 tbsp olive oil
3 heaped tbsp fresh Italian herbs, roughly chopped. (basil, oregano, marjoram, rosemary…)
A heaped half cup of oil-packed sun dried tomatoes, sliced into strips
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 can Cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed and drained. (I cooked my own beans and have them available in the fridge)
3/4 tsp Kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
3 tsp balsamic vinegar (you may need more at the end)
2 large handfuls fresh baby spinach
zest of 2 lemons
Start by cooking the rice according to the instructions on the packet. Just use water, not broth
When the rice is finished, keep the lid on and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat.
Add the herbs, tomatoes and pine nuts. When the pine nuts start to turn a golden brown, add the beans. Toss gently, trying your best to keep the beans whole.
Add the salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar and stir gently. Turn down the heat to low.
Place the spinach in one layer on top of the bean mixture. Place the hot, steaming rice over the spinach and cover for about 30 seconds until the spinach starts to wilt. Mix it all together gently and taste for seasoning. At this point you may need more salt and pepper or even balsamic.
Grate the lemon zest on top of the dish and serve. (I use a Microplane grater as it makes the lemon zest all fluffy and it goes further)
Persian Rice
I just love rice dishes, especially with these spices!
Serves 4
1 cup jasmine rice
4 tbsp butter
3-4 tbsp pine nuts
3-4 tbsp currants
3/4 lb leg or shoulder of lamb cut into small cubes
1-1/2 cups lamb stock, using 2 lamb stock cubes
1 medium-sized onion, chopped
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
salt to taste
Season the small lamb cubes with salt and pepper then in a solid pan saute the lamb in a little oil and 2 tbsp of the butter on a medium heat till color turns and it starts to brown a little.
Add the other 2 tbsp butter and the chopped onion. Saute until the onions get soft.
Add the rice and other ingredients and fry for 2 -3 mins.
Finally, add the stock, bring to the boil then turn down the heat, cover and cook for 20 mins or until the rice absorbs all the stock.
Rest for 20 minutes, before serving
Pesto Rice Salad
Another gem from Delia Smith..
Just as homemade pesto does wonders for pasta so it does for rice too. This salad can be served warm as a first course and it’s really good as an accompaniment to fish or chicken main-course dishes. Served cold it makes a lovely addition to a selection of salads for a buffet.
Serves 4 -6
Italian arborio rice measured to the 8fl oz of a glass measuring jug.
1 quantity of pesto sauce, preferably homemade. (See recipe below)
16 fl oz boiling vegetable or chicken stock
5 scallions (spring onions) finely chopped
juice of 1 lemon
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
A good handful of fresh basil leaves
3 oz Parmesan Reggiano cheese shavings (made with the potato peeler)
salt and freshly ground pepper
First of all measure the rice into the glass jug then add about one quarter of the pesto sauce to it and stir it around to coat all the grains.
Tip the mixture into a shallow saucepan or frying pan with a lid and pour the boiling stock into a jug (pitcher) then pour this over the rice.
Now turn on the heat and stir with a wooden spoon adding 1 tsp salt.
Then, when it begins to boil, put a lid on, turn the heat down to low and let the rice cook for exactly 20 minutes.
As soon as it’s ready, tip all the rice into a serving bowl. then simply pour in the lemon juice, olive oil and the remaining pesto sauce.
Combine all the ingredients together stirring and tossing.
At this stage, taste and season with salt and pepper.
Finally, scatter some torn basil leaves, finely chopped scallions and then some of the Parmesan shavings over the surface f the salad as a garnish.
If you want to serve the salad cold, then add the basil, onion and parmesan just before serving.
PESTO SAUCE
2 oz fresh basil leaves
1 large clove garlic, crushed
1 tbsp pine nuts, lightly toasted
6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 oz Pecorina Romano cheese, grated
salt and pepper
In a blender, put the basil,pine nuts, garlic and olive oil with some salt and blend until you have a puree.
Then transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the grated Pecorino cheese.
Exotic Lamb Pilaf with pomegranate seeds, cranberries and figs
This is a spectacular dish using ground lamb and incorporating the rich flavors of cranberries, pomegranates and figs.
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1 lb ground lamb
1 onion, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 red chile, deseeded and finely sliced
1 tsp ground allspice
2 oz dried cranberries
2 oz dried figs, chopped if large
300 grams basmati rice
900 grams hot lamb stock. (For those in the US, Amazon.com sells Knorr lamb stock cubes and I use them a lot. They are wonderful!)
To serve
2 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley or mint or a mixture of both
40 grams shelled pistachio nuts, roughly chopped
60 grams Greek feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 pomegranate, seeds only
greek yoghurt, to serve
Directions
Heat the oil in a deep frying pan over medium high heat and sear the lamb for 5 minutes or so until lightly browned.
Add the onion, reduce the heat and fry until soft and golden.
Stir in the chile, allspice and garlic and cook for another 3 minutes then stir in the cranberries and figs.
Add the rice and stir briefly to mix the rice with the other ingredients.
Put in the lamb stock and season to taste.
Bring to the boil, stir once then immediately reduce the heat to a gentle simmer.
Now cover the pan tightly and cook for 20 minutes until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender.
Don’t stir the rice during this time.
To serve
Gently fold the herbs through the pilaf with the pistachios and most of the feta.
Pile the pilaf onto 4 warm plates and sprinkle over the pomegranate seeds and remaining feta.
Drizzle over a little olive oil and serve with Greek yoghurt on the side
Curried rice with lentils
A great Mark Bittman recipe. Serves 4 – 6
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tbsp curry powder
3/4 cup red lentils
1 cup long grain white rice
3 cups chicken stock
salt, pepper to taste
1- 2 tbsp melted butter
Chopped parsley or cilantro for garnish
Put the oil in a large, heavy pan with a tight lid and heat for one minute.
Add the onion and saute for 3- 5 minutes, until starting to brown on the edges.
Add curry powder and saute 1 minute, then add stock and bring to the boil. Add the lentils and rice, bring back to a boil, then lower heat to a steady simmer and cover.
Cook for 20 minutes or until rice is done and lentils are tender. (Bittman says if the liquid is not all absorbed, boil off the excess, but I didn’t have to)
Season with salt and pepper then stir in the melted butter just before serving. Garnish with the chopped parsley or cilantro or you can stir it through at the last minute
Kheer (Spiced Indian rice pudding)
This recipe comes from fellow blogger “One Perfect Bite”. Well worth subscribing to!
4 -6 servings
1/2 cup basmati rice
1 tbsp clarified butter or ghee
6 cups whole milk
10 tbsp sugar
a few strands of saffron
1 tsp golden raisins (I put a 1 tbsp in)
1 tsp ground cardamon
1/2 cup thinly sliced cashews, slivered almonds or pistachios
Soak rice in water for 30 minutes before cooking. Drain.
Melt ghee in a large pan, add rice and saute until translucent.
Add milk to the rice, stir and simmer until liquid has been reduced by half.
Stir in sugar and saffron and cook until sugar is dissolved. Add the raisins, nuts and cardamon and simmer for a few more minutes.
Remove from heat and serve warm or cold.
Spinach, mushroom and lemon pilaf (CleanCuisine)
This is very easy and has a really clean zesty flavor.
It comes from the BBC Good Food website, always a great resource!
Ingredients
1/2 lb spinach, washed and roughly chopped
1 lemon, zested and juiced (you may not need to use the whole lemon in the recipe)
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tbsp butter
8oz basmati rice
4oz chestnut mushrooms, sliced
2 onions, finely sliced
14 fl oz chicken or vegetable broth
1 cinnamon stick
4 whole cloves
4 bruised green cardamon pods
Method
Cook the onion and garlic in the butter in a large shallow pan until soft and golden.
Add the mushrooms and cook until softened.
Add the spices and cook, stirring for 2 minutes, then stir in the rice, lemon zest and stock. Cover.
Cook on a gentle heat for about 15 minutes until the liquid has been absorbed.
Stir through the spinach and lemon juice, cover for 2 minutes until wilted and serve.
Serves 4 – 6 people
My brown rice salad with two sesame flavors
This has a wonderful nutty flavor and is very moreish.
1 cup (at least) uncooked long or short grain brown rice
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 cup peeled and coarsely shredded carrots
A good handful of chopped cilantro
1/2 cup thinly sliced trimmed scallions
1/2 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts
2 tsp sesame seeds, toasted in a dry skillet
Cook the rice according to the instructions on the packet. Drain and let stand, uncovered until cooled.
Whisk the oil, lemon juice and sesame oil in a large bowl. Add the cooked, cooled rice, carrots and scallions and cilantro. Toss to blend and season if necessary.
Sprinkle with the chopped peanuts and sesame seeds, toss once and serve
Bacon and leek risotto with poached egg
Serves 6
PREP TIME: 50 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 50 minutes
Recipe c/o Jill Duplex
So tasty and comforting!
Ingredients
6 large eggs
5 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 slices thick-cut bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
2 cups thinly sliced leeks (white and pale green parts only; about 2 large)
1 1/2 cups arborio rice or medium-grain white rice (about 10 ounces)
3/4 cup dry white wine
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh Italian parsley leaves (for garnish)
Additional finely grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
Preparation
Bring large skillet of water just to simmer over medium-low heat. Sprinkle water with salt.
Working with 1 egg at a time, crack into small bowl and slide egg into simmering water.
Cook eggs until whites are cooked through but yolks are still runny, 3 to 4 minutes.
Using slotted spoon, carefully transfer poached eggs to medium bowl filled with ice water.
DO AHEAD Eggs can be made up to 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate in same bowl of ice water
Bring broth to simmer in medium saucepan; cover to keep warm. Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until crisp, stirring occasionally.
Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Add leeks to drippings in pan; cook until soft but not brown, stirring often, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer 2 generous tablespoonfuls leeks to small bowl; reserve for garnish.
Add rice to pan; stir 1 to 2 minutes. Add wine; stir until absorbed, about 2 minutes.
Add 1/2 cup warm broth to saucepan; stir until broth is absorbed. Repeat adding broth and stirring until rice is tender but still firm to bite and sauce is creamy, stirring almost constantly, about 23 minutes total.
Add bacon, chopped parsley, butter, and 2 tablespoons cheese. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Meanwhile, heat poached eggs in medium skillet of simmering water just until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes.
Divide risotto among 6 bowls. Top risotto in each bowl with poached egg.
Sprinkle egg with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle with parsley leaves, additional cheese, and reserved leeks.