Flavorful, light, and ready in just a few minutes, curry and vegetable pilaf rice is a colorful and inviting dish, perfect to enjoy on its own or to accompany oriental dishes like coconut milk chicken or curry shrimp. Pilaf rice is a dish prepared using the absorption cooking method, meaning the rice (typically basmati) is not boiled in abundant water, but cooked in a pan with a quantity of liquid equal to twice the volume of the rice itself, plus a fifth. In practice, for a 200 ml glass of rice, 440 ml of liquid (either water or broth) is needed. The cooking is done over low heat and with the lid on until completely absorbed. This technique, of Turkish origin but widespread in many oriental cuisines, ensures well-separated and flavorful grains. The basic recipe for pilaf rice (which you can find here) can be customized as desired: for example, I added curry and diced vegetables, such as carrots and zucchini, for a tasty and fragrant result. Curry and vegetable pilaf rice is a great alternative to traditional first courses and is also perfect as a flavorful side dish for rich main courses with sauces and stews. With its vibrant colors and intense spice aroma, it will win over everyone at the table, making every meal a journey through the flavors of the Orient.
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4People
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Turkish
- Seasonality: All Seasons
- Energy 178.09 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 21.48 (g) of which sugars 1.89 (g)
- Proteins 3.52 (g)
- Fat 8.42 (g) of which saturated 1.09 (g)of which unsaturated 0.22 (g)
- Fibers 1.98 (g)
- Sodium 519.09 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 310 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Curry and Vegetable Pilaf Rice
- 1.5 cups Basmati rice
- 1 green onion
- 1.25 cups zucchini
- 2/3 cup carrots
- 1 teaspoon curry
- 2.5 cups vegetable broth
- 3 extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pinch salt
Tools
- 1 Strainer
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Pan with thick bottom and lid
- 1 Fork
How to Prepare Curry and Vegetable Pilaf Rice
To prepare the curry and vegetable pilaf rice, start by placing the basmati rice in a strainer and rinsing it thoroughly under running water (1). This way, it will lose its starch, and the grains will be more separated. Then take care of the vegetables: wash the green onion and slice the green part into rounds; set them aside since they will be used for garnishing the dish. Slice the rest of the green onion (2) and then finely chop it (3).
Scrape the carrots and cut them into fairly small cubes (4). Wash and trim the zucchini and also cut them into cubes (5). In a large pan with a well-fitting lid, pour in the oil and add the green onion and curry. Let them gently sauté, being careful not to burn the green onion (6).
Then add the vegetables (7) and a pinch of salt. Let them cook over low heat for about 5 minutes until they become soft (8). At this point, add the rice (9).
Immediately pour in 600 ml of hot vegetable broth (10). Cover with the lid, set the heat to medium-low, and cook for about ten minutes (also refer to the instructions on the package) without opening the lid. After the 10 minutes, turn off the heat and check that the rice has absorbed all the water (11). Let it rest covered for another 2-3 minutes, then fluff it with a fork (12).
Serve the curry and vegetable pilaf rice immediately, garnished with the fresh green onion set aside; you can serve it as an unusual first course or as a side dish to oriental main courses.
Storage
You can store pilaf rice in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 days, sealed in an airtight container. You can then briefly reheat it in the microwave.
Tips and Variations
Curry pilaf rice can be customized as you like: you can add peas, bell peppers, nuts, ginger, cumin, raisins,…
