COCONUT-RAISIN RICE PILAF

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Coconut-Raisin Rice Pilaf image

Created for RSC 8. This is a great dish to accompany all your favourite curry recipes. If you're feeling lazy, you can use canned coconut milk, but I do encourage you to make your own, like Recipe #190959 - the fresh, aromatic flavour can't be beat, and it's very inexpensive to make. This pilaf recipe was developed to accompany Recipe #161394. Please note that the recipe is not as caloric as the index indicates. It counts the coconut (used to make the coconut milk) twice - once in the actual pilaf recipe, and where I separately state how to make the milk. ;-)

Provided by evelynathens

Categories     Long Grain Rice

Time 30m

Yield 4-5 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
2 cups coconut milk (method to make your own follows)
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup desiccated coconut (dry)
1/2 cup raisins or 1/2 cup currants
salt
8 ounces desiccated coconut (dry)
3 1/2 cups water

Steps:

  • Make coconut milk: In a medium-sized pot, place dessicated coconut and water. Mix and allow to soak for ½ an hour. After ½ an hour, turn heat onto low and bring to a gentle simmer. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and leave pot on element for ½ an hour. After ½ an hour, transfer coconut mixture to blender or processor and process for 45 seconds. Put a large sieve over a bowl and empty coconut mixture into it. Press down hard on coconut solids with the back of a spoon to remove as much coconut milk as possible. This method produced 2 cups of coconut milk. Can be made up to 2 days before recipe and refrigerated, covered. The milk will separate in the fridge, forming a creamy 'fat' layer on top, and a thinner 'liquid' layer underneath. Not to worry, the fat layer will melt into the liquid when heated and form a lovely milk.
  • Heat oil over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Add onion, garlic, ginger and red pepper paste, mashing paste into the rest of the ingredients. Cook onion mixture until softened, but not browned, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Stir in the rice and cook in the oil, stirring, for 2 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and add coconut milk and stock (careful - the pan will be hot!), along with the coconut and combine well. Taste liquid and add salt if you feel the stock didn't provide enough.
  • Return to element and bring to a rapid boil. Boil uncovered over high heat until the level of the liquid is just above the rice, about 5 minutes. Cover immediately, reduce the heat to the lowest setting, and simmer for 10 more minutes.
  • Carefully stir in the currants, cover pot, and continue cooking over low heat another 5 minutes without lifting the lid (total cooking time = 20 minutes).
  • Let the pilaf 'rest' for 10 minutes off the heat. Fluff the pilaf with a fork and serve with your favourite curry.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1278.5, Fat 54.8, SaturatedFat 42.5, Cholesterol 2.7, Sodium 387.4, Carbohydrate 189.8, Fiber 9.1, Sugar 114.4, Protein 12

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