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5.0 from 15 votes

Easy Rice Pilaf

Forget Rice-A-Roni, make homemade rice pilaf with this easy recipe.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
27 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 343 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup chopped leeks or onions
  • 2 tablespoons chopped carrots
  • 2 cups uncooked rice
  • 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Heat the butter in an ovenproof pot over medium heat.
  3. When the butter has melted, add the leeks and carrots, and sauté until the leeks have become tender.
  4. Add the rice, and cook until the rice becomes shiny. Then add the stock.
  5. Place a paper tent over the rice, place the lid on the pot, and bake for about 12 minutes.
  6. Remove the rice from oven and allow it to rest for another 12 minutes.
  7. Then remove the lid and paper tent, stir, and serve.

Notes

  • The Rinse is Non-Negotiable: Don't skip rinsing the rice. This removes the surface starch that would otherwise make your pilaf gummy instead of fluffy. Rinse until the water runs almost clear.
  • Watch Your Heat: When sautéing the rice in butter, maintain medium heat. Too hot, and the butter will burn; too low, and the rice won't get that crucial toasting that helps keep the grains separate.
  • The Parchment Paper Trick: The parchment paper lid (called a cartouche in professional kitchens) creates a microenvironment of perfect steam distribution. If you don't have parchment, aluminum foil shaped to fit works as a substitute.

Nutrition Information

Calories 343kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 57g (19%) Protein 8g (16%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Cholesterol 19mg (6%) Sodium 288mg (12%) Potassium 281mg (8%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 1255IU (25%) Vitamin C 2.4mg (3%) Calcium 32mg (3%) Iron 1.1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 343

% Daily Value*

Calories 343kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 57g 19%
Protein 8g 16%
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 19mg 6%
Sodium 288mg 12%
Potassium 281mg 6%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 1255IU 25%
Vitamin C 2.4mg 3%
Calcium 32mg 3%
Iron 1.1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.