Lebanese Restaurant Rice Pilaf

It took me three tries, but I finally nailed a restaurant-style Lebanese rice pilaf. Nothing I tried online came close to this. I guess the secret is the right kind of rice, the correct rice-to-water ratio, and of course, plenty of butter and oil! Find a good Lebanese yogurt marinade, grill some meats, and get a hold of some hummus. If you're from southeast Michigan or anywhere else with a large Middle Eastern population, you will feel like you're eating at your favorite place. Trust me.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 203 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon salt
• 4 cups water
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• ½ cup butter, divided
• 1 tablespoon tahini
• ½ cup orzo pasta
• 3 cups parboiled long-grain white rice
• 1 tablespoon slivered almonds, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Fill a large bowl with water. Add rice and let soak for 10 minutes; drain and rinse until water runs clear.

Step 2

Heat 1/4 cup butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir orzo in hot butter-oil mixture until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add drained rice and increase heat to medium-high. Cook and stir orzo-rice mixture until rice is coated in butter-oil mixture and starts to turn translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Pour 4 cups water over rice mixture and add salt; stir and bring to a boil. Cover the skillet, reduce heat to low, and simmer until rice is fluffy and tender yet firm, about 20 minutes.

Step 4

Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat; cook and stir almonds until toasted and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/4 cup butter and tahini until almonds are evenly coated.

Step 5

Mix almond mixture into rice mixture.