Lebanese Restaurant Rice Pilaf

Lebanese Restaurant Rice Pilaf

Took me three tries but I finally nailed a restaurant style Lebanese rice pilaf. Nothing I tried online came close to this and I guess the secret is the right kind of rice, the right rice/water ratio and of course, plenty of butter and oil! Find yourself 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

Recipe Instructions

Step 1
Soak rice in a bowl of water for 10 minutes; drain and rinse until the water runs clear.
Step 2
Heat 1/4 cup butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil together in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir orzo 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 water over rice mixture and season with salt; stir and bring to a boil. Cover skillet, reduce heat to low, and simmer until rice is fluffy and tender yet firm, about 20 minutes.
Step 4
Heat remaining olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat; cook and stir almonds until toasted and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add remaining butter and stir in tahini until almonds are evenly coated. Mix almond mixture into rice mixture.
Lebanese Restaurant Rice Pilaf
Lebanese Restaurant Rice Pilaf

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 4 cups water
  • ¼ cup 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

Categories

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