Best Turkish Pilaf Recipes

TURKISH PILAF

Steps:

• In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the green pepper and mushrooms and saute for 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, stirring until blended. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until all the liquid has evaporated.

TURKISH PILAF WITH VERMICELLI (SEHRIYELI PILAV)

Steps:

• Wash the rice several times with warm water and drain. Cover the rice with warm water and leave it for 15-20 minutes and drain. If you do not have time for this, just wash the rice and then drain.
• Place the butter and oil in a saucepan or pot and add the vermicelli or orzo. Over low-heat, fry until their color starts changing to golden brown. Do not over fry, take the pot from the stove as soon as you see the golden brown color and add the rice. Then, again place the pot on the stove and stir for 3-4 minutes over medium heat.
• Finally, add the hot chicken stock / water (If you leave the rice in water before cooking, use 1 ½ cup hot water otherwise use 2 cups). Add the salt and close the lid and cook over low heat, until the rice absorbs all the water. Meanwhile you can stir once or twice.
• Let the pilaf stand for about 5-10 minutes before serving.
• Pilaf goes well with any kind of dish.
• P.S: You can also add 1 tsp of lemon juice with the water, to make the pilaf shine.

TURKISH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PILAF (PATLICANLI PILAV)

Steps:

• Cut eggplants into large cubes with skin on. Place in a colander and sprinkle liberally with salt. Leave for 30 minutes.
• Rince and dry eggplant with paper towels.
• Half onion lengthwise and slice.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a heavy pan and fry eggplant cubes until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.
• Add the remaining oil and gently fry the onion until transparent. Add tomatoes, seasoning, herbs and fried eggplant. Bring to a boil.
• Wash rice until the water runs clear. Drain and place on top of the eggplant mixture. Add chicken stock.
• Bring to a boil without stirring. Reduce heat, cover pan and leave to simmer gently for 30 minutes.
• Turn off heat, place a few paper towels over the rim of the pan and replace the lid (This is important don't ignore this part or your pilav won't be as fluffy!).
• Stir gently and turn into a heated serving dish.
• Serve with yogurt and then enjoy the delicious taste.

TURKISH SHRIMP PILAF

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large nonstick fry pan.
• Fry the onion, peppers and garlic over low heat for 10 minutes until softened but not browned.
• Add the rice, spices and mint or basil.
• Stir over the heat for 2 to 3 minutes, then add enough water to cover the rice.
• Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer, uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, or until rice is just tender, but still has a little bite to it.
• Add the shrimp, currants and a little salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook for about 4 minutes more, until the shrimp are heated through, then add the lemon juice and chopped parsley.
• Serve pilaf warm or cold with salad greens.

PILAF WITH TOMATO TURKISH-STYLE (DOMATESLI PILAV)

Steps:

• Drain the rice in a fine mesh strainer for 1 full minute under cold water. Set aside to drain. This is best done first thing in the early part of the day.
• Grate the tomato into a glass measuring cup. I used a cheese grater and grated the toms down to their skin, then discarded.
• Add enough water to the tomato to equal 2 cups.
• Pour the mixture into a medium sized pot; add the butter and salt.
• Bring to boil and stir in the rice.
• Cover and cook on low heat. This will take about 15-20 minutes. If for some reason the rice starts to dry out, add about 1/4 cup more water and cook an additional 5-10 minutes.
• Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with *fresh* parsley. This side dish works well and is a perfect accompaniment to a heavily seasoned/more intensely flavored main dish because the flavors won't compete.

TURKISH PILAF WITH TOMATO

Steps:

• Place the rice and salt in a small bowl and pour in boiling water to cover; set aside until water cools; drain, wash with cold water and drain again.
• Bring butter, tomato juice, salt to taste and optional cinnamon stick if desired, to boil in a heavy saucepan; add rice, stir, cover and boil for 2 minutes.
• Lower heat and simmer rice until all the liquid is absorbed; turn off the heat, cover the pan with a clean handkerchief or kitchen towel, replace the cover and set aside for 30 minutes before serving.

GRILLED SOUTHERN TURKISH TAMALES & TURKISH PORK KABOBS WITH MEDITERRANEAN ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• 1. 1.) Prepare Mediterranean orzo pilaf. Bring chicken broth to a boil in a large Dutch oven; stir in orzo. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and cover. Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add green bell peppers, green onions and garlic; sauté for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Drain any excess broth from orzo. Combine orzo and buttered sautéed vegetable mixture into a 2-quart round casserole dish, fold in diced tomatoes and sliced black olives; set aside.
• 2. 2.) Wash out Dutch oven clean, dry inside out completely to prepare Southern Tamale leaves. Fill Dutch oven to 2-inches from rim with hot water. Bring water to a rapid boil. Turn off heat and add collard leaves. Let sit for 3 - 5 minutes. Quickly remove leaves from water and place leaves flat along side each other onto a few layers of paper towels. Place a large spoonful of Mediterranean orzo pilaf mixture in the center of each collard leaf. Fold the ends over the pilaf mixture to form a sealed packed. Secure each with toothpick for added protection. Place tamales onto a plate; set aside. Reserve remaining Mediterranean orzo pilaf to serve later with completed meal.
• 3. 3.) Prepare pork kabobs. Season all sides of pork with a little salt and ground black pepper. Tread seasoned pork, eggplant, zucchini and red bell peppers alternately on each of 10 bamboo skewers, leaving about 1-inch space free from tops of each skewer. Brush each lightly with Italian dressing. Heat coal or gas grill for medium heat level. Place kabobs on lower rack of grill along side each other. Cover and grill kabobs over medium heat 10 minutes, turning and brushing with Italian dressing every 2 minutes. Add tamales onto outer edge or upper rack of grill and cook, for an additional 5 minutes longer for kabobs, brushing kabobs with Italian dressing and turning tamales one time within 2 ½ minutes, or until pork is no longer pink and vegetables plus tamales are tender.
• 4. 4.) To serve, place grilled kabobs and tamales onto serving platters, along side of Mediterranean orzo pilaf, or serve even portions of each onto 6 individual serving plates.

SAVORY TURKISH PILAF

Steps:

• Heat the butter over medium heat and sauté the lamb until brown.
• Remove the meat from pan and keep hot.
• In the same butter, cook the onion until it is soft but not brown.
• Add the nuts and rice and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add the tomato through the bouillon; the dish will sizzle.
• Stir and cover tightly.
• Reduce heat to the lowest possible heat and cook until the rice is tender and all the liquid absorbed (20-30 minutes).
• Return the lamb to the rice and heat thoroughly.
• Let stand, covered, in a warm place 15 minutes without cooking.
• Sprinkle on parsley or mint.

TURKISH WEDDING PILAF (DUGUN PILAV)

Steps:

• Wash rice until water runs clear.
• Drain well.
• Heat olive oil in a pan and add drained basmati and pine nuts.
• Stir over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• Add stock and salt to taste.
• Check until boiling then reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes and check to gauge when cooked.
• Turn off heat, place paper towels over rim of pan and replace lid tightly.
• Leave at least 10 minutes before removing lid. May be left up to 30 minutes without spoiling, depending of course on the quality of the grain.
• Fluff with fork and serve, or spoon into an oiled mould, press firmly and unmould onto serving dish.

TURKISH RICE PILAF (IC PILAV)

Steps:

• 1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter of warm the oil. Add the onion and sauté until just translucent, about 7 minutes.
• 2. Add the allspice and cinnamon or coriander and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
• 3. Add the rice and stir over medium heat until the grains become translucent and coated with the fat, about 3 minutes.
• 4. Add the heated stock or water and the 1 tsp salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is cooked, about 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the rice rest, covered, for 10 minutes.
• 5. Add the currants (or cranberries) to the rice and fluff with a fork. Season to taste with salt and pepper (if using). Transfer to a warmed platter, sprinkle with the parsley or dill (if using) and serve.

TURKISH PILAF WITH SAFFRON & GOJI BERRIES

Steps:

• Finely chop the garlic and set aside to activate (see tip). Meanwhile, pour 2 tbsp boiling water over the saffron and set aside to infuse. Heat 2 tsp of the oil in a large, non-stick sauté pan with a lid, then add the turkey and fry for 5 mins, stirring frequently, until it starts to brown.
• Stir the rice and cinnamon into the pan, then pour in 400ml boiling water and the bouillon, and stir well. Add the celery, thyme, goji berries and lots of ground black pepper. Cover the pan tightly to prevent steam escaping, and cook over a low heat for 20 mins.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a non-stick pan and add the onion. When it starts to soften, cover the pan for 5 mins to steam it a little more. Take off the lid and slowly fry for 12-15 mins until golden, stirring frequently.
• After the rice has cooked for 20 mins, check the water level - if the rice is still too nutty and the liquid has all been absorbed, add up to 100ml more water. Stir in the saffron, cover again, and cook for 5-10 mins until the rice is tender.
• Add the garlic and spinach, cook briefly to wilt the leaves, then turn off the heat. Toss through the fried onions and almonds. Cover the pan and leave to rest for 5 mins before serving.

TURKISH CHICKEN AND CARDAMOM RICE PILAF WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Combine yogurt, lemon and spices in a bowl, add chicken, thoroughly coat all the pieces in the marinade and let sit up to 24 hours covered in the fridge. You need at least 2 hours of marinating before cooking. Broil or grill on both sides until done. Serve with chopped cilantro and more lemon.

TURKISH PILAF

Steps:

• 1. Bring water to a brisk boil in a medium saucepan. Add brown rice, stir well, and cover pan. Reduce heat to low and let the rice simmer for 45 minutes over low heat.
• 2. Stir in all remaining ingredients, and serve immediately while still warm.