Best 7 Persian Style Basmati Rice Pilaf Recipes

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Basmati rice pilaf is a classic Persian dish that is both flavorful and elegant. Originating in Persia, this dish has become popular worldwide due to its distinctive nutty flavor, separate grains, and unique aroma. The key to creating a perfect Persian-style basmati rice pilaf lies in using high-quality ingredients and following the traditional cooking methods. This article will guide you through the process of preparing this delightful dish, providing step-by-step instructions and essential tips to ensure a successful outcome. From selecting the right basmati rice to layering and steaming the dish, we'll cover all the techniques needed to achieve perfectly cooked, fluffy, and aromatic Persian-style basmati rice pilaf.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

JEWELED PERSIAN RICE PILAF



Jeweled Persian Rice Pilaf image

This gloriously flavored and fabulously beautiful Jeweled Persian Rice Pilaf makes the most superb side dish. The basmati rice is soft and fluffy and cooked in stock to give it a great depth of flavor. It is lightly spiced with cinnamon, cumin, and cardamom, then finished with cranberries, lemon, and pistachio. This makes a wonderful side for lamb and chicken. Or serve it with fish for something a little bit different. If you are new to Iranian food this is a great place to start.

Provided by Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts

Categories     Side

Time 35m

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 small onion
2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cup rice (- See note 1)
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp black pepper
pinch ground cumin
pinch ground cinnamon
2 1/4 cups broth/stock - chicken/vegetable
2/3 cup dried cranberries or raisins
1/4 cup hot broth
1/2 cup pistachios (- shelled)
Finely chopped parsley (- for garnish)

Steps:

  • Peel and finely chop the onion.
  • place a large saucepan over medium high heat, add the oil and then saute the onion for 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent.
  • Add the rice and stir a minute, until the rice looks glassy.
  • Add in the tomato paste, salt, black pepper, ground cardamom, turmeric, ground cumin, cinnamon, and broth,
  • Cover the saucepan with a lid and bring to a simmer.
  • Immediately turn the heat down to low and cook the rice for 15 minutes.
  • Do not remove the lid, just remove the saucepan from the cooktop and leave it undisturbed, for 10 minutes.
  • Whilst the rice is resting, soak the dried cranberries in the extra broth.
  • Remove the lid to the saucepan and use a fork to fluff the rice.
  • Add in the soaked cranberries and the pistachio nuts.
  • Serve garnished with fresh parsley.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 487 kcal, Carbohydrate 82 g, Protein 9 g, Fat 15 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Sodium 857 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 17 g, ServingSize 1 serving

PERSIAN-STYLE BASMATI RICE PILAF



Persian-Style Basmati Rice Pilaf image

I like to add in a pinch of cayenne pepper and saffron also but that is optional, this is very good! :)

Provided by Kittencalrecipezazz

Categories     Rice

Time 45m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic (optional)
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 1/2 cups uncooked basmati rice
1/2-3/4 cup raisins
2 teaspoons turmeric (can use more to taste)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat; add in onions and almonds, saute for 6-7 minutes or until the onion are tender and the almonds are golden, adding in the fresh garlic the last 2-3 minutes of sautéing.
  • Stir in rice, raisins, turmeric, cinnamon, salt and broth; bring to a boil; cover and reduce heat.
  • Simmer for about 20-25 minutes or until rice is tender.
  • Season with black pepper.

PERSIAN RICE PILAF



Persian Rice Pilaf image

A very fruity version of rice pilaf that makes an excellent companion to the 16th century recipe for Recipe #124579. It should be started before the chicken, so they are ready at the same time.

Provided by greenery

Categories     Rice

Time 2h

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

16 cups water
1 tablespoon salt
1 cinnamon stick
4 whole cloves
6 peppercorns, cracked
1 teaspoon cardamom seed (best to buy pods and break them open)
4 juniper berries (mashed)
2 cups basmati rice (or other long grained rice)
3 tablespoons dried apricots
3 tablespoons dried cherries
3 tablespoons golden raisins
1/2 large onion
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 pinches saffron (or one teaspoon turmeric)
butter, for greasing
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

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.

BASMATI RICE PILAF



Basmati Rice Pilaf image

Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli

Categories     side-dish

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 cups basmati rice
4 cups cold water
2 teaspoons whole cumin seeds
3 cardamom pods, lightly crushed, black seeds reserved, pods discarded
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 cinnamon stick
12 black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 3 tablespoons, cut into slices, optional
1 large red onion, peeled and finely diced
Kosher salt

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.

BASMATI RICE PILAF



Basmati Rice Pilaf image

Serve this fluffy, flavorful rice with our Tandoori-Style Chicken.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Pasta and Grains     Rice Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 4

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 small yellow onion, minced
1 1/2 cups basmati rice, rinsed and drained
Coarse salt and ground pepper

Steps:

  • In a medium pot, heat oil over medium. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, 5 minutes. Add rice; cook, stirring, until rice is translucent at edges, 2 minutes.
  • Add 2 1/2 cups water and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 280 g, Fat 3 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 5 g

BASMATI RICE PILAF



Basmati Rice Pilaf image

Wonderful flavor and textured rice dish.

Provided by Carol Castellucci Miller

Categories     Side Dish     Rice Side Dish Recipes     Pilaf

Time 40m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 ½ cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
¼ cup finely diced onion
1 bay leaf
1 cup uncooked basmati rice
salt to taste
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 244.3 calories, Carbohydrate 40.4 g, Cholesterol 7.9 mg, Fat 6.9 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 4.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.5 g, Sodium 279.4 mg, Sugar 0.6 g

BASMATI RICE PILAF



Basmati Rice Pilaf image

Make and share this Basmati Rice Pilaf recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Kittencalrecipezazz

Categories     Rice

Time 35m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 -5 tablespoons butter or 3 -5 tablespoons margarine
1 large onion, chopped
1/2-3/4 cup slivered almonds
1 cup basmati rice
1 cup finely chopped carrot
1/2 cup currants (or to taste)
1 1/2 teaspoons finely minced orange rind
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
black pepper
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (use more for more spicy, or omit the pepper flakes)
1 3/4 cups good quality chicken broth
1/4 cup water
salt (optional)

Steps:

  • In a medium saucepan, melt butter.
  • Saute the onion and almonds over medium heat until onion is soft (not brown) and the almonds are golden.
  • Stir in rice; cook stirring for about 4 minutes to release flavor.
  • Stir in chopped carrot, currants, orange peel, cinnamon, black pepper and red pepper flakes.
  • Carefully stir in chicken broth and water into the rice mixture, stir slightly with a wooden spoon.
  • Bring to a boil, and reduce heat.
  • Cover the saucepan and simmer until all liquid is absorbed, and the rice is tender (about 20 minutes).
  • Season with salt.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality basmati rice. Look for long, slender grains that are free of blemishes.
  • Soak the rice for at least 30 minutes before cooking. This will help the rice to cook evenly and prevent it from becoming sticky.
  • Use a heavy-bottomed pot for cooking the rice. This will help to distribute the heat evenly and prevent the rice from burning.
  • Add salt to the water before cooking the rice. This will help to season the rice and prevent it from becoming bland.
  • Do not stir the rice while it is cooking. Stirring the rice will break the grains and make the rice mushy.
  • Once the rice is cooked, let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the rice to absorb the remaining water and become fluffy.
  • Serve the rice with your favorite Persian dishes, such as kebabs, stews, or grilled vegetables.

Conclusion:

Persian-style basmati rice pilaf is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served with a variety of main courses. It is a popular dish in Iran and other countries in the Middle East, and it is also becoming increasingly popular in other parts of the world. If you are looking for a new and exciting way to cook rice, I encourage you to try this recipe. You won't be disappointed!

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