Receta Saffron Almond Rice Pilaf
Saffron Almond Rice Pilaf
Today's the big day and I almost didn't make it! Last week my computer bit the dust again and this time it was final. Grumpy took me to Best Buy and we found the netbook I wanted to hold me over until we can afford to buy me a nicer laptop to do all my blog work on. Friday night I had the netbook and Saturday I made this dish all over again! It certainly wasn't a problem that I had to make it all over again because it was de-licious!
It is our reveal day for the Secret Recipe Club - Group A. My assigned blog was The Slow Roasted Italian and I was very pleased! I have been reading Donna's blog for a little while now. The first two things that attracted me to her blog when I found it were her photos and her cocktails. She did a recent round up of her drinks so you should definitely check them out! Even if you don't drink - you can admire her photos! I didn't make one of her cocktails this time but I sure do plan to sometime! I already knew I wanted to make this rice dish that she made. Donna's dish, Saffron Walnut Rice Pilaf had been on my list to make already so this was my chance to do so for the SRC! This dish reminded me a lot of one my mom used to make when I was a young girl and that was the big attraction to make it. I doubt my mom used saffron in her dish, but I do know that I love the addition and flavor it adds! I also made this more like my mom would make it when it came to the nut and stir ins.
I enjoyed this trip down memory lane with this dish. Grumpy gave me a funny look when he saw the black olives in the rice, but he gave it a try and went back for seconds, so I don't think they were a bad thing! There is some left over that I plan to take with my lunch today and I know the smell that it will create when reheating it will be wonderful and if anyone is like me when someone is reheating something that smells so good, they will be jealous. :)
As I was reading over the recipe for this rice, Donna mentioned that she diced the onions finely (and I see she didn't use too many either!) because Mr. W doesn't like to many onions. Hmm, he has that in common with Grumpy. I LOVE onions and tend to add a lot and when I do I hear it from Grumpy!
Saffron Almond Rice Pilaf
- adapted from The Slow Roasted Italian's recipe for Saffron Walnut Pilaf
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- generous pinch saffron threads
- couple dashes of salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 small red pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives
- 1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted
- chopped fresh parsley
Bring vegetable broth to a boil. Turn off heat, add saffron, salt and pepper then set aside.
In a medium saucepan, saute the onion in the 2 tablespoons of butter until softened. Add the basmati rice and stir over medium high heat until the rice begins to brown. Add the broth mixture to the rice, return to a boil then turn heat down to simmer, cover pot, and simmer about 10 minutes or until rice has absorbed water and is no longer crunchy.
To toast almonds - while rice is cooking place the almonds in a 350 degree oven. Watch carefully and stir often as they will burn quickly. Once browned, remove from oven and transfer to bowl until ready to add to pilaf.
Remove rice from heat and stir in red pepper, black olives, almonds, and parsley. Serve immediately.
*Note - you do not need to saute the red pepper - so don't be tempted to add it to the onions. It will be mushy if you do. Just stirring them in after the rice is cooked is good enough as the heat and steam from the cooked rice will soften them a little. It is nice to have them had a little crispiness in the dish - the nuts add that awesome crunch too - I chopped mine up a little after toasting them.