Rice Archives - An Edible Mosaic™

Red Rice Recipe with Grapes and Pistachios

September 17, 2018 by Faith 1 Comment

Using the pilaf cooking method to make this Red Rice Recipe with Grapes and Pistachios brings out the natural nuttiness in rice; this recipe features a balance of sweet and savory flavors, as well as various contrasting textures.

When I lived in the Middle East, I learned the pilaf method of cooking rice. In this method, before cooking rice is soaked in tepid water to remove the excess starch, and is then toasted in ghee (clarified butter). Sometimes onion and/or small thin pasta is also toasted along with the rice (think Rice a Roni-style). The rice is cooked in salted water or seasoned chicken broth, which lends depth of flavor. Once you try rice prepared this way, you’ll be surprised at how flavorful it can be. (I included several rice recipes that use the pilaf cooking method in my cookbook.)…

Orange and Toasted Almond Saffron Rice Pilaf with Golden Raisins

November 10, 2017 by Faith Leave a Comment

Aromatic with orange and spices, this Orange and Toasted Almond Saffron Rice Pilaf with Golden Raisins is the perfect balance of sweet and savory! The secret ingredient that takes it over the top is a little splash of orange blossom water right before serving. In keeping with my exotic, intimate holiday meal, this one of the side dish stars of the show. Some kind of pilaf is a necessary component along with my Persian-Inspired Cornish Hens with Pomegranate Walnut Sauce; it acts as a bed to soak up all that glorious stew-like liquid....

Jewel-Toned Sweet and Savory Basmati Rice Pilaf with Pomegranate

December 17, 2015 by Faith 12 Comments

Jewel-Toned Sweet and Savory Basmati Rice Pilaf with Pomegranate is an impressive-looking side dish that’s easy to make and pairs well with just about anything! I grew up with traditional holiday side dishes like mashed potatoes, stuffing, candied yams, and green bean casserole. They were ubiquitous at every holiday dinner, and I (more or less) enjoyed them all. These are the classics that, for me, harken back to my first holiday memories, so they’ll always feel special, but now I’m ready for a little bit of a change. Or at the very least, I’m ready to incorporate a couple fresh new side dish ideas into […]...

Coconut-Sesame Rice

September 19, 2013 by Faith 14 Comments

Coconut-Sesame Rice is savory, subtly sweet, and full of nutty flavor. Would you believe I absolutely hated rice as a kid? I attribute this to the fact that my mom served what she called “Mushroom and Wine Rice” to my sister and I the first time we remember ever having rice. Although I think it sounds delicious now, this is not something your average five-year-old will generally devour; needless to say, I grew up thinking I hated rice....

Guest Post – Heather of Kitchen Concoctions {And Carrot Risotto}

March 6, 2013 by Faith 9 Comments

Today I am thrilled to share a guest post with you from the lovely and talented Heather of Kitchen Concoctions! She has a very interesting culinary background that you can read on her about page called Little ol’ Me. Not only am I smitten with her delicious recipes and wonderful photography, but she and I are kindred souls, so I knew I had to invite her to guest post over here. Welcome, Heather, and thank you so much for your beautiful post!...

Beef Biryani Stuffed Inside Basmati Rice

September 18, 2009 by Faith 27 Comments

Not long after we married, my husband introduced me to pilaf-style biryani, one of his favorite rice dishes that has meat and veggies cooked together with the rice; topped with toasted almonds or other nuts, it is really delicious. For the longest time that’s the only form of biryani we ever made. Then one evening at a Pakistani restaurant we ordered biryani and the rice came out in a dome-like shape, with the actual biryani nowhere to be found. Once we dug into the rice we saw that it was stuffed with the biryani. This dish was so beautiful and impressive, I immediately knew I wanted to recreate it […]...

Arabic Stuffed Zucchini (Kousa Mahshi)

August 6, 2009 by Faith 28 Comments

I learned to make this dish while visiting my mother-in-law in Syria. She is a truly amazing woman; she excels at whatever she puts her hands to, and of course she is a fantastic cook! Since I’m a beginner at speaking Arabic and she’s a beginner at speaking English, our time together in the kitchen involved a lot of pointing, gesturing, nodding, and excitement when the other person finally understood what was being communicated. But that just made it all the more memorable. In Syria, the zucchini is a lot smaller than the zucchini typically found here (a 6” zucchini there is pretty big!), so […]...

Turkey-Sausage and White Bean Jambalaya

July 27, 2009 by Faith 15 Comments

For a fun fusion recipe, this dish is a cross between Louisiana Cajun/Creole jambalaya and Spanish beans and rice. Turkey sausage and beans are used instead of the jambalaya mix of chicken/seafood/andouille sausage (I would love to use andouille but I don’t know of any brand that doesn’t contain pork…anyone who knows of a pork-free andouille product, please let me know!). Other than this dish being delicious and healthy, it’s great to make because it’s a one-pot meal that feeds a crowd. Turkey-Sausage and White Bean Jambalaya (Yield: 12-15 servings) 2 TB olive oil, divided 14 oz turkey sausage, cut into […]...