Simple Almond Rice Pilaf

This almond rice pilaf is such a easy aspect dish, however it’s completely scrumptious! Made with only a handful of components and prepared in simply over thirty minutes, it is good for every thing from vacation dinners to busy weeknights.

White wooden surface set with a bowl of Almond Rice Pilaf and a blue napkin.

On the subject of aspect dishes, easy would not must imply boring! This almond rice pilaf is about so simple as it will get, however it’s additionally so scrumptious. You may’t go flawed an indulgent mixture of rice and orzo, savory aromatics, and crunchy almonds.

Bounce to:

I’ve a pair different rice pilaf recipes on this web site, together with my wild rice pilaf and my butternut squash jeweled rice, and whereas they’re scrumptious, they seem to be a bit on the difficult aspect. This almond rice pilaf alternatively is simply as flavorful, however solely requires ten components and will be prepared in about thirty minutes!

Table of Contents

Components You will Want

Olive oil. Different high-heat oils will technically work on this recipe, however I like to recommend utilizing olive for the absolute best taste.
Onion.
Garlic.
Vegetable broth. You should use nearly any number of vegetable broth on this recipe, however I prefer it finest with a rooster type veggie broth, similar to Higher Than Bouillon’s No Hen Base.
Lengthy grain white rice. I LOVE making this recipe with basmati rice, however different forms of lengthy grain white rice may even work. Favor brown rice? You will want to extend the quantity of liquid to about 3 ½ cups and the simmer time to about 45 minutes.
Orzo pasta.
Almonds. You should use sliced or slivered almonds for this recipe. Personally, I desire sliced, because the skins add extra texture and colour variation, however it’s completely as much as you!
Salt and pepper.
Contemporary parsley.

How It is Made

The next is an in depth picture tutorial on find out how to make this dish. Scroll all the way in which down if you would like to skip proper to the recipe!

Diced onion and minced garlic cooking in olive oil in a pot.

Step 1: Warmth your olive oil in a big pot, then add diced onion. Sweat the onion till it turns into very smooth and begins to brown.

Rice, almonds, and orzo being toasted in a pot.

Step 2: Add minced garlic, alongside together with your rice, orzo, and almonds to the pot. Toast every thing for about three minutes, stirring continually.

Broth being poured into a pot of rice, almonds and orzo.

Step 3: Stir the broth into the pot, then increase the warmth to excessive.

Rice pilaf ingredients simmering in broth.

Step 4: Decrease the warmth till the liquid is simply cooking at a low simmer. Cowl the pot and let the combination simmer till all the liquid has been absorbed.

Tip: Think about using a pot with a transparent lid, so you’ll be able to see when all the liquid has been absorbed by the rice.

Step 5: Take away the pot from warmth and let it sit with the lid on it for about 5 minutes after it has completed cooking.

Hand with a fork fluffing Almond Rice Pilaf in a pot.

Step 6: Take the lid off of the pot, then fluff the rice pilaf with a fork. Add salt and pepper, if wanted, together with some contemporary parsley.

Bowl of Almond Rice Pilaf with a blue napkin and stack of plates in the background.

Your almond rice pilaf is able to get pleasure from! I like pairing this dish up with a savory vegan most important, like my vegan meatloaf or vegetable wellington.

Leftovers & Storage

Leftover rice pilaf will maintain in an hermetic container within the fridge for about three days, or within the freezer for about three months. The easiest way to reheat it’s to switch it to a microwave-safe bowl and canopy it with a humid paper towel. Microwave it in a single minute increments, stirring in between every zap, till sizzling. When you’re reheating it from frozen chances are you’ll not have the ability to stir it till after the primary couple of zaps, and that is high-quality!

Variations

Add dried fruit. Stir in some dried fruit, similar to raisins, dried cherries, apricots, or cranberries.
Lemony rice pilaf. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and a little bit of lemon zest after the pilaf has completed cooking.
Herbed rice pilaf. Add a sprig of rosemary and/or thyme to the pot throughout cooking. Be sure you take away it earlier than serving!

Regularly Requested Questions

Can this recipe be made gluten-free?

It may! Use gluten-free orzo pasta, or swap the orzo out with a further half cup of rice.

Can I change the almonds with one other kind of nut?

Sure! The dish clearly will not be almond rice pilaf, however it would nonetheless be scrumptious. Strive walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts.

What if my rice nonetheless is not cooked after twenty minutes?

If there’s nonetheless liquid within the pot, simply let it proceed to cook dinner. If all the liquid is gone however the rice remains to be crunchy, then one thing went flawed. Often this implies both the components have been mis-measured, or an excessive amount of steam escaped from the pot. It’s best to have the ability to save the dish by stirring in some further broth and letting it proceed to simmer with the lid on.

Extra Rice Recipes

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Bowl of Almond Rice Pilaf with a serving spoon.

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This almond rice pilaf is such a easy aspect dish, however it’s completely scrumptious! Made with only a handful of components and prepared in about thirty-five minutes, it is good for every thing from vacation dinners to busy weeknights.

Prep Time 5

Prepare dinner Time 30

Complete Time 35

Components

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup dried lengthy grain white rice
½ cup dried orzo pasta
½ cup sliced or slivered almonds
3 cups vegetable broth
Salt and pepper, to style
2 tablespoons finely chopped contemporary parsley

Directions

Coat the underside of a medium pot with the olive oil and place it over medium warmth. Give the oil a minute to warmth up, then add the onion. Sweat the onion for about 5 minutes, till it turns into smooth and translucent, stirring often.
Stir within the garlic, rice, orzo, and almonds. Toast the combination within the oil for about three minutes, stirring typically, till it begins to odor nutty.
Stir within the broth. Increase the warmth to excessive and convey the liquid to a boil.
Decrease the warmth till it is simply at a low simmer. Cowl the pot and let the combination cook dinner till the liquid has all been absorbed, about twenty minutes.
Take the pot off of warmth and let it sit with the lid on for about 5 minutes.
Take away the lid from the pot and fluff the combination with a fork. Season it with salt and pepper to style, and stir within the parsley.
Serve.

Diet