Ginger Basmati Pilaf With Cumin And Scallions Recipes

Steps:

• Wash rice by rinsing in cold water. Then soak in cold water for about 30 minutes. Drain.
• In a large nonstick saute pan over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add onion and cook, stirring, until onion is tender. Add garlic, and saute for about a minute. Add cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Saute for another minute and add the rice. Saute until rice is translucent and begins to brown. Add water, bay leaf and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partly covered, for about 10 minutes. Most of the water will evaporate and steam holes will show through rice.
• Add peas, but do not stir. Cover tightly and let simmer for 5 minutes more. Turn off the heat and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, covered.
• Prepare the raita: In a bowl whisk together the yogurt, cucumber, mint, cumin, chili powder and salt and pepper.
• Uncover the pilaf, season with salt and pepper. Remove bay leaf, cloves and cinnamon stick. Turn pilaf out onto a serving platter and pour half of the raita over rice. Pass remaining raita.

Steps:

• To wash or not to wash rice? In the case of basmati, no matter what my preparation is, I always wash it. It cleans out any small particles and it also rids the rice of any starch on the grain. This starch makes the rice gummier when cooked.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, add the rice and 4 cups of cold water. Soak the rice for 1/2 hour.
• In a small bowl, add the cumin seeds, cardamom, fennel seeds, cinnamon, black peppercorns, and bay leaves and stir to combine. Turn the mixture out onto a baking sheet and put it in the center of the oven to lightly toast the spices and awaken the flavors, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the spices to cool.
• Heat a medium saute pan over medium heat and add the butter and the onion. Season with salt and cook until the onions are translucent but not brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the spices. Drain the rice but reserve the soaking water. Stir in the rice and cook until you hear the rice crackling, about 2 minutes. Gently stir in the reserved soaking water. Season with a generous portion of salt and bring the liquid to a simmer over medium heat.
• Cook the rice over medium-low heat, uncovered and undisturbed, for about 8 minutes. Take a fork (so as not to damage the rice) and flake a few grains off to taste for doneness. It may need to be cooked another 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the rice to "rest" (as you would a roast beef) for 10 minutes before "forking" it gently into a serving bowl. Stir in 3 tablespoons of butter, if desired, and serve.

Steps:

• Place the rice in a large pot and rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear. Drain well and add 4 1/2 cups water to the pot. Sprinkle with the salt and add the butter, ginger and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook 15 minutes without removing the lid.
• Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Cover again and keep warm until ready to serve. For drier rice, leave the lid off after fluffing. Sprinkle with the chopped cilantro before serving.

Steps:

• Cook cumin seeds and white part of scallions in 1 tablespoon oil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until scallions are softened, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add rice and cook, stirring frequently, 1 minute. Stir in broth, water, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Cover pan, then reduce heat to low and cook until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove pan from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes.
• Fluff rice with a fork and toss with scallion greens, parsley, and remaining tablespoon oil.

Steps:

• Wash rice in several changes of cold water in a bowl until water is clear, then drain well in a sieve.
• Cook white and pale green scallions and ginger in oil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until scallions are softened, about 3 minutes. Add rice and cumin seeds and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in water and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is tender and water is absorbed, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and add scallion greens (do not stir), then let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork, stirring in scallion greens.

Steps:

• Heat chicken stock in a saucepan until boiling; keep hot until ready to use.
• Heat vegetable oil in a 2 quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onion and bay leaf in the hot oil until onion is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir basmati rice into onion mixture until rice is coated with oil.
• Pour hot chicken stock into the rice mixture. Season with salt; stir.
• Bring rice mixture to a boil; cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Continue simmering until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat and discard bay leaf. Add butter and fluff the rice with a fork.

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add half the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook, turning halfway, until browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Add butter, shallots and remaining oil and cook, stirring, until butter is melted and shallots are softened, about 2 minutes. Add the ginger, garlic, mustard seeds, cumin seeds and cardamom (if using), and stir until very fragrant, 2 minutes.
• Add rice and raisins, season well with salt and pepper and stir to coat, 30 seconds. Add broth, scraping bottom of pot to remove any browned bits.
• Nestle chicken with any accumulated juices into the mixture and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with carrots, then cover and turn off heat. Let carrots steam for 5 minutes.
• Add cilantro and fluff rice with a fork. Divide among bowls and serve with hot sauce and yogurt, if desired.

Steps:

• Put rice in a medium bowl and cover with cold water. Swish with fingers, then pour off water. Repeat 2 or 3 times, until water runs clear. Cover again with cold water and soak 20 minutes, then drain.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter or ghee in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic, ginger, turmeric, saffron, coriander, cumin, cloves, peppercorns and cardamom, and stir to coat. Let sizzle a bit, then add onion and cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter or ghee, the rice and the corn, and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook for 1 minute. Add raisins and 2 cups broth or water and bring to brisk simmer. Taste cooking liquid for salt and adjust if necessary.
• Cover with tight-fitting lid, turn heat to low and let cook 15 minutes. Let rest 10 to 15 minutes off heat. Fluff rice and transfer to serving bowl. Sprinkle with cilantro, scallions and cashews, if desired. Serve with yogurt raita.