Good Food Every Day

Rice Pilaf - Alton Brown
Total: 45 min Prep: 15 min Cook: 30 min Yield: 6

Ingredients

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 medium red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt plus 2 pinches
2 cups long-grain white rice
1 pinch saffron, steeped in 1/4 cup hot but not boiling water
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 1-by-2-inch strip orange zest
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup peas, fresh or frozen
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup pistachios, chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350.
Melt the butter in a 3-quart saucier over medium heat.
Stir in the onion, bell pepper and 2 pinches of salt.
Decrease the heat to low and sweat until the onion is translucent and aromatic but not browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and add the rice. Cook, stirring frequently, until you smell nuts, another 3 to 4 minutes.
Add the saffron and its water, the broth, orange zest, bay leaves and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Increase the heat and bring to a boil.
OK, now the weird part: Thoroughly wet a clean towel, kill the heat, scatter the peas on top of the rice, then place the towel across the top of the saucier. Top with the lid, then fold the towel corners up over the lid.
Transfer the saucier (towel and all) to the oven and bake 15 minutes.
Remove and rest at room temperature for 15 more minutes without opening the lid.
Fish out the orange zest and bay leaves. Turn the pilaf out onto a platter, fluff with a large fork and garnish with the raisins and pistachios. Serve family-style, right in the middle of the table.

Jeweled Rice Pilaf with Carrots
ACTIVE: 25 MIN TOTAL TIME: 1 HR SERVINGS: 6

INGREDIENTS
½ cup sliced almonds
1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced ¼ inch thick
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
Pepper
2 leeks, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
2 ½ ounces angel hair pasta, broken into 2-inch pieces (1 cup)
2 cups basmati rice
Pinch of saffron threads
One 3-inch cinnamon stick
3 ¾ cups low-sodium vegetable broth
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving
½ cup chopped pitted Picholine olives
¼ cup chopped parsley

Preheat the oven to 450°. Spread the almonds in a pie plate. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the carrots with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast the carrots until golden and tender, about 15 minutes. While the carrots are cooking, toast the almonds until golden, 3 to 4 minutes; let cool.
Meanwhile, in a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the leeks and angel hair pasta, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in the rice, saffron and cinnamon stick and cook, stirring, until the rice is golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in the broth and bring to a simmer.
Cover the rice and cook over low heat until all of the broth has been absorbed, about 25 minutes. Remove the pan from
the heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes.
Fluff the rice and stir in the carrots, toasted almonds, lemon juice, olives and parsley. Transfer the rice to a bowl and serve with lemon wedges.

MAKE AHEAD
The rice can be refrigerated overnight and rewarmed before serving.