Best Southern Rice Pilaf Stuffing With Ham Pecans And Greens Recipes

SOUTHERN RICE PILAF STUFFING WITH HAM, PECANS AND GREENS

Steps:

• Bring 3 cups broth and bay leaf to boil in medium saucepan. Mix in wild rice; reduce heat to low, cover and cook 30 minutes. Mix in white rice. Cover; cook until both are tender and liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes more. Transfer rice to large bowl. Discard bay leaf.
• Melt butter in heavy large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add ham, onions and celery and sauté until onions are tender, about 10 minutes. Add collard greens and marjoram and sauté until greens wilt, about 3 minutes. Add mixture to rice. Mix in cubed stuffing, pecans and nutmeg. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Mix eggs into stuffing.
• To bake stuffing in turkey: Fill main turkey cavity with stuffing. Mix enough chicken broth into remaining stuffing to moisten (about 1/2 to 3/4 cup broth, depending on amount of remaining stuffing). Spoon remaining stuffing into buttered baking dish. Cover with buttered aluminum foil. Bake stuffing in dish alongside turkey until heated through, about 30 minutes.
• To bake all stuffing in pan: Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Mix 1 1/2 cups broth into stuffing. Transfer to prepared dish. Cover with buttered foil and bake until heated through, about 30 minutes.

PECAN RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute pecans in 2 tablespoons butter until toasted; remove from the pan and set aside., In the same pan, saute onion in remaining butter until tender. Add rice; cook and stir until rice is lightly browned, 3-4 minutes. Stir in the broth, 2 tablespoons parsley, salt, thyme and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes., Add carrots; simmer until rice is tender, 3-5 minutes longer. Stir in toasted pecans and remaining parsley. Fluff with a fork. Freeze option: Reserving pecans for later, freeze cooled pilaf in a freezer container. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Microwave, covered, on high in a microwave-safe dish, adding 2-3 tablespoons water to moisten, until heated through. Toast pecans; add to pilaf.

GLAZED CORNISH HENS WITH PECAN-RICE STUFFING

Steps:

• Tuck wings under hens; tie drumsticks together. Rub skin with butter; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place hens breast side up in a shallow roasting pan., Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 hour. Meanwhile, place apple juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook until reduced by half. Remove from heat. Stir in honey and mustard. Set aside 1/2 cup for serving., Brush hens with apple mixture. Bake, basting occasionally with pan drippings, until a thermometer reads 180°, 25-35 minutes longer. Cover hens loosely with foil if they brown too quickly., For pecan rice, heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add rice, cumin and curry; cook and stir until rice is lightly browned, 2-3 minutes. Stir in broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until rice is tender, 15-20 minutes. Stir in pecans, onions and raisins., Cover hens; let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serve with rice and reserved sauce.

WILD RICE STUFFING WITH APPLES, PECANS AND CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Combine the wild rice with 4 1/2 cups stock or water in one saucepan and the brown rice with 1 1/2 cups stock or water in another smaller saucepan. Add salt to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer the brown rice for 35 to 40 minutes, until the rice is tender and all of the liquid has been absorbed. Turn off the heat, place a clean kitchen towel over the pot and return the lid. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Simmer the wild rice for 40 to 50 minutes, until the grains have begun to splay. Drain through a strainer if there is liquid in the pot, and return to the pot. Place a clean kitchen towel over the pot and return the lid. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
• While the grains are cooking, prepare the remaining ingredients. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the celery and a generous pinch of salt, and continue to cook until the onion is completely tender, another 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook, stirring, until it is fragrant, another 30 to 60 seconds. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large bowl. Add the cooked grains and stir together.
• Return the skillet to the stove and heat over medium-high heat. Add the butter, and when the foam subsides add the apples. Cook, stirring or tossing in the pan, until lightly colored, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add to the bowl with the grains. Add the remaining ingredients and stir together. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a lightly oiled or buttered baking dish and cover with foil.
• Warm the stuffing in a 325-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.