Iran Chicken Pilaf Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a frying pan, then fry the onion for 5-6 mins until softened. Add the chicken pieces, fry for a further couple of mins just to colour the outside, then stir in curry paste and rice. Cook for another min.
• Pour in the chicken stock and throw in any larger bits of frozen veg. Bring to the boil, lower the heat, then cover the pan with a lid. Cook for 10 mins, then stir in the remaining veg. Scatter over the spinach, cover, then cook for 10 mins more until all the stock is absorbed and the rice is tender. Give everything a good stir, season to taste, then tuck in.

Steps:

• Put the rice in a bowl with water and let stand for 2 hours.
• Dry the rice.
• Heat the butter in a skillet,put the onions,the pine nuts, the chicken, salt, pepper, curry powder and cinnamon.
• Mix well and then add the rice, the chicken broth, apricots and the sultans.
• Reduce the heat and simmer until rice is done.

Steps:

• Toss chicken with paprika, cinnamon and cardamom.
• In large nonstick skillet, heat 2 Tbsp olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the chicken, cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from skillet, set aside.
• In same skillet, heat remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil over medium heat.
• Add onion; cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in rice pilaf mix, contents of Spice Sack, broth, apricots, and orange zest; bring to a boil.
• Cover; reduce heat to low.
• Simmer 15 minutes.
• Stir in reserved chicken and almonds.
• Cover; continue to simmer 5 to 10 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

Steps:

• Season chicken cubes with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil and butter in a Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat; add in chicken then brown until cooked through; remove to plate.
• Add in the onions and 1 teaspoon sugar; saute stirring with wooden spoon for about 15-20 minutes until browned (the onions must be browned!) adding in garlic the last 4-5 minutes of cooking.
• Add in curry powder and turmeric; stir for 1-2 minutes to release flavours.
• Add in basmati rice and stir with wooden spoon for 2-3 minutes.
• Slowly add in the chicken broth and water (for firmer rice use a little less water or broth) stirring with a wooden spoon to combine.
• Return the chicken back to the pot along with the raisins, frozen peas and almonds; stir and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• At this point adjust the curry powder to taste.
• Cover with tight-fitting lid and simmer on top of stove over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked and all broth is absorbed.
• Season with salt and lots black pepper.

Steps:

• Season the chicken pieces with salt & pepper.
• Using half the Ghee/butter brown the chicken, set aside.
• Fry the onion until transparent in the remaining butter/ghee, add apricots & raisins cook 5 miniutes.
• Stir in the cinnamon then add the 1/4 cup water to lift the browned sediment.
• Place half the cooked rice in an oven proof dish placing the chicken on top.
• Spread the apricot mixture over the chicken and top with remaining rice.
• Cover the dish tightly and bake in 350 oven for 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked & tender.
• While the chicken is cooking mix the saffron with 2 tbsp boiling water, leave to steep.
• Just before serving sprinkle saffron liquid over the top of the casserole , stir gently mixing the chicken, rice & saffron.
• Serve heaped on a platter.

Steps:

• Bring water and salt to a rolling boil in a large saucepan.
• Add cinnamon stick, cloves, cracked peppercorns, cardamom seeds, and juniper berries.
• Add two cups of basmati or other long-grain rice, slowly, so the water doesn't stop boiling. Cook for about eight to ten minutes, stirring from time to time to keep the rice from sticking to the bottom, until the rice is just barely done.
• Pour everything into a strainer or colander and let the rice drain. Leave the spices in the rice.
• While the rice is boiling, chop the dried fruit. Throw the fruit on top of the rice draining in the colander.
• Thinly slice one-half of a large onion and sauté it until golden in 5T of unsalted butter with several pinches of saffron or one teaspoon of turmeric.
• While onions are cooking, grease a round casserole with a bit of butter and turn the spiced rice and fruit into a large bowl.
• Turn the golden onions into the bowl and mix everything up.
• Spoon the mixture into the casserole and pat the rice firmly in place with the back of a spoon.
• Drizzle 3 Tbsp of melted butter over the top and cover with two thicknesses of aluminum foil and seal the edges well. Add a lid if your casserole has one. Set the casserole in a preheated 350°F oven and let it bake for an hour.
• Then remove it from the oven and let it sit for 15 minutes or so before removing the foil and unmolding it onto a platter. (Lay the platter on top of the rice and, using a thick dishcloth or potholders, flip the thing over).
• Surround with the Persian chicken.