Best Festive Rice Pilaf Recipes

FESTIVE RICE PILAF

Festive Rice Pilaf image

This is a great vegetarian main dish or omnivore side dish. If you're not on a low-fat diet, you could add lots of other goodies. I love it as is because it's low-fat and delicious for the holidays.

Provided by JeriBinNC

Categories One Dish Meal

Time 1h15m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

2 cups brown rice, preferably Lundberg Country Wild rice blend
2 vegetable bouillon cubes
1/4 cup slivered almonds or 1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 zucchini, minced
1 red bell pepper, minced
1 medium onion, minced
1 large carrot, minced
1 -2 celery rib, minced
1 cup whole kernel corn (frozen is fine)
1 cup dried cranberries (or substitute raisins)
1 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon apricot preserves
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Steps:

Cook the rice according to instructions, but adding the vegetable stock cubes.
In a dry non-stick skillet, lightly sautee veggies until done enough for your taste. Set aside.
When the rice is done, mix rice, almonds, veggies, and cranberries together.
For glaze, combine all ingredients in a nonreactive bowl and mix well. Glaze may be made up to 4 days in advance.
Pour glaze over rice, if desired.
Enjoy! This also works well as a stuffing for winter squash.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 258.8, Fat 3.5, SaturatedFat 0.5, Sodium 84.5, Carbohydrate 52.8, Fiber 4.2, Sugar 9.3, Protein 5.9

CHRISTMAS RICE

Christmas Rice image

My family has enjoyed this delicious rice dish for many years. With chopped red and green peppers, it's both fresh-tasting and festive-looking. It's the perfect light side dish for a big holiday meal. -Chere Bell, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Side Dishes

Time 20m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

1/2 cup finely chopped onion
3 celery ribs, finely chopped
1/2 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
1/2 medium green pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon butter
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups uncooked instant rice
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt, optional

Steps:

In a skillet, saute onion, celery and peppers in butter over medium heat for 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove from the heat; set aside. , In a saucepan, bring broth to a full boil. Remove from the heat. Quickly stir in rice, celery mixture, pepper, and, if desired, salt. Cover and let stand for 6-7 minutes. Stir before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 156 calories, Fat 2g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 7mg cholesterol, Sodium 362mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

FESTIVE RICE

Festive Rice image

My mom and I transformed plain rice by adding feta, cranberries, pumpkin seeds and cayenne. We wound up with a sweet and spicy crowd-pleaser. -Lisa de Perio, Dallas, Texas

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Side Dishes

Time 50m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

2-1/4 cups water
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup uncooked jasmine rice
1/4 cup salted pumpkin seeds or pepitas
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1/4 cup dried cranberries

Steps:

Preheat oven to 325°. In a small saucepan, bring first 5 ingredients to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour over rice in a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake, covered, until all liquid is absorbed, 30-35 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook pumpkin seeds, brown sugar and cayenne pepper, stirring constantly until sugar melts and cayenne coats pumpkin seeds, 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat; transfer to a plate, spreading out seeds to cool., Sprinkle cooked rice with feta, mint, cranberries and spiced pumpkin seeds.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 244 calories, Fat 11g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 23mg cholesterol, Sodium 514mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 5g protein.