Spiced Tomato & Herb Rice Pilaf

Ingredients

- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 Anaheim pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 ripe tomatoes, diced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon tomato powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 lime, cut into wedges (for serving)

Instructions

1. Rinse the Rice:
- Place 2 cups of long-grain white rice into a fine mesh strainer.
- Rinse thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch and prevents the rice from becoming sticky.

2. Sauté Base Ingredients:
- Heat 3 tablespoons of avocado oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
- Add the finely chopped onion and diced Anaheim pepper. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the onion is translucent and the pepper is softened.

3. Add Aromatics:
- Stir in the minced garlic and continue to sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.

4. Incorporate Tomatoes and Spices:
- Add the diced tomatoes, dried oregano, smoked paprika, chili powder, ground cumin, and tomato powder. Stir well and cook for an additional 2 minutes, allowing the spices to bloom and the tomatoes to release their juices.

5. Combine Rice with Sauteéd Mixture:
- Stir in the rinsed rice, ensuring each grain is well coated with the tomato and spice mixture.

6. Simmer with Chicken Stock:
- Pour in 4 cups of chicken stock and 1 1/2 teaspoons of fine sea salt.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low.
- Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and let simmer for 18 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.

7. Fluff and Finish:
- Remove from heat and allow the rice to sit, covered, for another 5 minutes.
- Fluff the rice gently with a fork. Stir in the chopped fresh cilantro and thinly sliced green onions.

8. Serve:
- Transfer the pilaf to a serving dish. Garnish with additional cilantro if desired.
- Serve with lime wedges on the side for a refreshing citrusy finish.

Total Time

PT40M
40 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Rice pilaf, Tomato rice, Cilantro rice, One-pot meal, Dinner recipe, Spiced rice, Herb rice, Easy dinner, Rice side dish, Flavorful rice

Recipe Yield

Serves 4 adults

Calories

The total calories for the entire dish are approximately 1,600 calories.

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