PARSNIP PILAF

Parsnip pilaf image

Slow cook basmati rice with lentils and spices, roast your veg then serve with a coriander, dill, parsley and mint salsa verde

Provided by Good Food team

Time 1h35m

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

300g basmati rice
1 vegetable stock cube
140g red lentil
1kg parsnip , 200g grated, remainder cut into long chunky wedges
4 tbsp olive oil
zest 2 oranges (use the juice in the sauce)
2 tsp cumin seed
2 tbsp honey
3 onions , sliced
1 tsp each turmeric, ground coriander and caraway
100g raisin
zest 3 lemons (use the juice in the sauce)
25g butter
yogurt , to serve (optional)
25g pistachio
juice 3 lemons
juice 2 oranges
small bunch coriander
small bunch each dill, parsley and mint , stalks discarded

Steps:

Soak the rice in water for 1 hr, then rinse in a sieve until the water runs clear. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil with the stock cube in it. Add the rice and lentils, and simmer for 5 mins until just beginning to soften on the outside. Drain well.
Toss the chunky parsnips with 2 tbsp of the oil, the orange zest, 1 tsp of the cumin seeds and plenty of seasoning in a roasting tin. Roast for 30 mins until golden, then drizzle with honey and roast for 5-10 mins more.
Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a wide flameproof casserole or deep pan. Fry the onions until softened and browned. Stir in the remaining cumin with the rest of the spices and cook for 1 min, then add the grated parsnips and raisins, and cook for 1 min more. Turn the heat right down and stir in the rice mixture and lemon zest with plenty of seasoning.
Melt the butter and remaining 1 tbsp oil in the big saucepan you cooked the rice in. Tip in the rice mixture and roughly flatten the surface. Poke 3 steam holes in the rice with the handle of a wooden spoon. Cover the pan with a tea towel, then put on the lid. Cook for 20-25 mins more, making sure the heat stays quite low.
To make the herb sauce, whizz all the ingredients to a salsa-like mix. Spread the rice on a serving platter, breaking up any crispy chunks from the bottom. Top with the roasted parsnips and herb sauce, and serve with some yogurt, if you like.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 326 calories, Fat 9 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 52 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 20 grams sugar, Fiber 8 grams fiber, Protein 7 grams protein, Sodium 0.4 milligram of sodium