5.0 from 3 votes
Basmati & Cauliflower Rice Pilaf with Fruit & Almonds
This healthy rice pilaf is made with a mix of spiced basmati and cauliflower rice, crunchy almonds, and sweet pomegranate arils.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 265 kcal
Course:
Side Dish , Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 1 ½ cups vegetable broth
- ½ small cauliflower crown broken into 5 or 6 chunks
- ½ cup dried cherries
- ½ cup slivered almonds
- 1 cup pomegranate arils
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Coat the bottom of a large saucepan with olive oil and place over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, cinnamon, cumin, cardamom and rice. Toast the rice and spices in the saucepan until the mixture becomes very fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add broth, give the mixture a stir, raise heat to high, and bring the liquid to a boil. Lower heat and cover. Allow to simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes, until all of the liquid is absorbed by the rice. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 5 minutes, covered.
- While the rice cooks, place the cauliflower into the bowl of a food processor fitted with an S-blade. Pulse a few times until the cauliflower is finely chopped into bits about the size of rice grains. You should have about 2 cups (if you have much more than that, save some for another project). Transfer the cauliflower to a medium skillet with 2 tablespoons of water. Place over medium heat and cook, flipping occasionally, just until the cauliflower softens a bit, about 2 minutes.
- Remove the lid from the pot of rice and fluff a few times with a fork. Stir in cauliflower, cherries, almonds, pomegranate arils, lemon zest and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
265kcal
(13%)
Carbohydrates
45g
(15%)
Protein
7g
(14%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
5g
Trans Fat
1g
Sodium
255mg
(11%)
Potassium
343mg
(10%)
Fiber
5g
(20%)
Sugar
12g
(24%)
Vitamin A
496IU
(10%)
Vitamin C
28mg
(31%)
Calcium
65mg
(7%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 265
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 265kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 45g | 15% |
| Protein | 7g | 14% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Sodium | 255mg | 11% |
| Potassium | 343mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 12g | 24% |
| Vitamin A | 496IU | 10% |
| Vitamin C | 28mg | 31% |
| Calcium | 65mg | 7% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.