Best Apple Spiced Rice Recipes

WILD RICE, PECAN SPICED, APPLE & SOURDOUGH BREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Two days ahead: Trim the crust from the bread and cut the remainder into 1/2-inch dice to get 6 cups. Spread the bread on baking sheets to dry overnight. One day ahead: In a large pot, combine the wild rice, 6 cups water, and 2 tsp. salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a low simmer, cover, and cook until tender and the kernels start to open, 50 to 55 minutes. Remove from the heat, drain if necessary, and spread out to cool on a baking sheet. In a large sauté pan, heat 2 Tbs. oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, sauté 4 minutes; add the celery and garlic and sauté until the onions are translucent, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the herbs, pepper, and 1 Tbs. salt. Cool in a shallow dish. Meanwhile, peel, core, and dice the apples. Return the pan to the heat and add the remaining 1 Tbs. oil and 2 Tbs. butter. When the butter sizzles, add the apples and sprinkle in the sugar. Sauté until the apples begin to brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Add 2/3 cup of the cider (reserve the rest), scrape up any brown bits, and let the cider reduce for 1 min. Pour the apples and liquid into the onion mixture and let cool completely. In a large bowl, combine the rice, bread, and apple mixture. Refrigerate. On the day of serving: Bring the stuffing to room temperature. Mix the eggs, 1 cup cider, and chicken broth. Fold the liquid into the stuffing mixture and mix well. It will be fairly wet. Fold in the spiced pecans. Follow the directions for stuffing the turkey and baking the extra stuffing in a pan in the Roasted Turkey recipe.

SWEDISH ROAST CHICKEN WITH SPICED APPLE RICE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
• Blanch the sweet potato in boiling water for two minutes, then drain, rinse in cold water and drain again.
• In a medium bowl, combine sweet potato, onion, apples, shallots, garlic, thyme and mint.
• Combine the 2 tablespoons of water and the olive oil and add to the vegetable mixture, tossing to coat.
• With a mortar and pestle (or with the back of a heavy skillet against a cutting board) lightly crush the cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, cloves, black and white peppercorns (you can use all black if that's what you have) with the teaspoon of kosher salt.
• Add half the spice mixture to the vegetables and reserve the rest.
• Rinse the chicken inside and out and pat dry with paper towels.
• Remove all the excess fat.
• Lightly stuff the bird's cavity with about half the vegetable mixture and tie the bird's legs together with kitchen string.
• Place the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan and rub it all over with the reserved spice mixture.
• Scatter the remaining vegetable mixture around the chicken.
• Roast for about one hour.
• Remove the vegetables that are loose in the pan and set aside in a bowl.
• Continue roasting for another 30 minutes or until your meat thermometer, inserted in the thigh, reaches 160°F.
• During this time, if the pan becomes too dry, add water a few tablespoons at a time.
• Transfer chicken to a board, remove stuffing and add it to the other vegetables, and cover the chicken loosely with foil.
• Keep the vegetables warm.
• Place the roasting pan over heat on the stove top and add the water and stock or white wine.
• Bring liquid to a boil, stirring and scraping to deglaze the pan.
• Pour the liquid into a measuring cup, degreasing as best you can.
• Pour about 1/2 of a cup of the liquid into a sauceboat and keep warm.
• Add, if necessary, water to the remaining de-glazing liquid so that you have one cup.
• Combine the rice, one cup of water, one cup of deglazing liquid and the salt in a medium saucepan.
• Bring to a boil over high heat.
• As soon as the rice boils, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook the rice till done, about 18 minutes.
• Remove from heat and fold rice together with 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of the yogurt and the reserved vegetables.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Combine the remaining yogurt with the pan juices in the sauce boat.
• Carve the chicken and serve with rice, passing the sauceboat for those who need a little extra liquid.

PORK AND CABBAGE WITH WILD RICE AND SPICED APPLE

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the top third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Prepare the wild rice as per package instructions (discarding any included flavor packets). Keep warm and set aside.
• Meanwhile, toss the cabbage, garlic, 1 tablespoon of the oil, 1 tablespoon of the vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper together on a baking sheet. Spread out leaving room for the pork tenderloin in the center.
• Sprinkle the pork with 3/4 teaspoon of the apple pie spice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Heat the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add the pork and cook, turning as needed, until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Place on the baking sheet and brush the top and sides of the pork with 2 teaspoons of the mustard. Roast until the cabbage is tender and the internal temperature of the pork registers 145 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the pork to a cutting board to rest for a few minutes and then slice. Toss the parsley with the cabbage.
• Toss the apples with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice. For the sauce, stir together the sour cream and the remaining 2 teaspoons mustard and 1 teaspoon vinegar. Divide the rice, cabbage, pork and apples evenly among four dinner plates. Spoon the sauce over the pork. Serve each with a glass of milk.

APPLE-SPICED RICE

Steps:

• Combine water and apple juice in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Stir in rice and remaining ingredients.
• Cover and reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20-25 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
• Remove and discard cinnamon sticks.