Healthy Christmas Pilaf

The countdown has already begun for Christmas. I am sure everyone is busy with shopping and getting ready to welcome guests and friends. There is so much activity around. Love the cold breeze that's the only sign of winter in my part of the world. Just love this climate and the festive season. With 2 celebrations around the corner let's gear up to enjoy every bit of it.

I know it's been a while I have been away from blogging. It's just that my family needed me more and blogging just took a back seat naturally. I am glad to be back but still will not be regular. Kindly bear with me dear readers and blogger friends. I will make up for everything soon.

For the time being let's enjoy this healthy version of pilaf. For all the health conscious friends around the world this is for you. Enjoy!!

INGREDIENTS

Basmati Rice -2 cups

Vegetable stock - 3 cups

Onions - 4 finely sliced

Olive Oil - 2 tbsp

Coriander Powder - 2 tsp

Pistachios/ Cashew nuts - 100 gm

Coriander leaves- 1 cup finely chopped ( loosely packed)

Lime - 1

Pomegranates - 2 medium

To prepare Vegetable Stock

Water - 3 1/4 cups

Bay Leaf - 1

Onion - 1

Garlic - 5 whole

Ginger - 2 cm piece ginger, peeled but whole

Whole Pepper - 6

Carrot - 1/4 cup  chopped roughly

METHOD

Soak rice in water for 30 minutes and drain.

Halve the pomegranates and set the seeds aside.

To prepare the vegetable stock mix all the ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Strain the vegetable stock.

Pour 3 cups of vegetable stock in a kadai/pan. Reserve excess and add if required only.

Bring the stock to a boil and add salt .

Add rice. Do not stir. Cover and cook. When it comes to a boil reduce the flame to low and cook. After 10 minutes or when you see crates formed on top of the rice slowly stir it without breaking the rice. Cover and cook till rice is cooked and fluffy.

Heat a pan and lightly toast the cashews/pistachios. Reserve.

In a pan heat the olive oil. Add the coriander powder and stir well.

Add the onions and lemon juice. Stir fry till onions change colour and looks sticky. 

Add the onions, cashews/pistachios, coriander leaves and pomegranates to the rice and serve hot with Thai style vegetable stew.

Tips:

If the rice is not soaked for 30 minutes, more stock or water will be required to cook it.

To open the pomegranates without making it messy. Make deep slits from top to bottom on the pomegranates on all sides. Then fill a wide bowl with water. Now holding the pomegranates under water pull it open. Remove the white membrane. Now you will see that the seeds settle at the bottom and the white membranes float. Use a sieve to remove the floating parts. Pour out the water and there you have the lovely red seeds and no mess.

Merry Christmas!