How To Make a Simple Rice Pilaf (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between regular rice and rice pilaf? ›

According to Larousse Gastronomique, pilaf (aka pilau) is a method of cooking rice in which the rice is “browned in oil or butter with onion, then cooked in stock; halfway through cooking, vegetables, meat, or fish may be added.” The author goes on to say that pilaf is “always spiced,” often with saffron.

The word pilaf refers to several aspects of the dish. Mostly it means cooking rice with broth and aromatics – those vegetables and such that make things taste good.

Aromatics — onion and garlic are vital for giving this rice dish delicious flavor and the signature flavor components of a pilaf. Rice — you need long-grain rice for the best pilaf. You can use basic long grain rice or another variety you love. Broth — both chicken broth and vegetable broth would work.

Rice for pilafs, fried rice, and salads all benefit from washing. Even when you're steaming rice for dishes like kimbap or sushi, when you want the grains to stick together slightly, you still want to rinse off excess starch, which can result in unpleasantly mushy rice.

Overall, potatoes contain more vitamins and nutrients than rice. And if given the choice between rice or potatoes, 9 times out of 10, we would certainly go with potatoes simply because they are more versatile and can be made in many different ways.

The most commonly used, of course, is water, but you can also use a stock such as vegetable stock or chicken stock for extra flavor. Just keep in mind that if you are cooking white rice, using stock may change its color.

Mushy or soggy rice is simply overcooked rice that has absorbed too much water. Water over-absorption causes the rice grains to split open, ruining the texture and creating a starchy, gummy result.

The beauty of this simple Middle Eastern rice is that it pairs well with many things. I like to serve rice pilaf with lamb kabobs or baked chicken thighs, beef short ribs, or vegetable kabobs.

You can make a pilaf with almost any grain. Rice is the most familiar, but pilafs are wonderful made with bulgur, quinoa, tiny pieces of pasta, barley, kasha, millet, or couscous.

A completely vegetarian blend of parboiled long-grain rice, herbs, spices and toasted pasta.

What is the brown stuff in rice pilaf? ›

For this recipe we add some orzo pasta, which looks like a very large grain of rice, and is toasted to a golden brown to add some color and dimension to this side dish, as well as a fun texture.

Another huge factor in distinguishing basic rice from pilaf is the liquid you cook it in. Basic rice traditionally uses water. Boringgg. Pilaf is cooked in broths or stocks, AKA savory liquid made from spices, or simmered meat and veggies.

Brown Rice Pilaf is a healthy dish. For one, brown rice is higher in fiber and has more nutrients than white rice. Both onions and garlic are superfoods that have properties beneficial to cardiovascular health. If you use veggie stock and oil, instead of butter, this recipe is vegan and vegetarian-friendly.

The word pilaf itself stems from the Turkish word pilav which derives from the Persian word pilaw, reflecting the widely accepted notion that pilaf has origins in Persia. During the 8th and 9th centuries, pilaf was made over a fire and with barley — a dish favored by nomadic sheep herders.

It typically features long-grain rice, onions, garlic, and flavorful herbs like oregano and parsley. The rice is often sautéed with the onions and garlic before being cooked in a delicious broth.

Brown rice is a whole grain that still has the hull, the bran layer and the germ intact, allowing it to have high levels of fiber and other nutrients. White rice, on the other hand, does not have any of the aforementioned, which makes it less nutrient-dense, although enriched rice has more of certain nutrients.

Rice Pilaf is typically a blend of rice, spices and toasted pasta. Pilafs can also have ingredients added such as other grains, nuts, fruits, vegetables, meat or seafood -- the variations are as endless as your creativity! RICE BLENDS.