SYR: Basic Syrian Rice
Source of Recipe
"A Fistful of Lentils", by Jennifer Felicia Abadi
--(Riz)
1 cup long-grain white rice
6 cups cold water
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup yellow onions -- finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons warm water
PINE NUT GARNISH (Optional):
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons pine nuts
VERMICELLI GARNISH (Optional:
1/2 cup vermicelli
or
1/2 cup thin soup noodles
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 cup boiling water
Place the rice in a medium-size bowl, add 4 cups of the cold water, and let soak for 10 minutes.
Heat the oil in a medium-size, heavy-bottomed saucepan for about a minute over medium heat. When the oil is warm, add the onions and cook, stirring, until wilted and golden, 3 to 4 minutes, do not allow to brown or burn.
Add the remaining 2 cups cold water and the salt to the saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.
Drain the rice in a fine mesh strainer and add to the boiling water. Stir once gently and continue to boil briskly, uncovered, until the water is cooked down to the surface level of the rice, about 5 minutes.
Cover tightly, reduce the heat as low as it will go, and steam until all the water is fully absorbed and the rice is tender but not mushy, 10 to 20 minutes.
Fold the rice over very gently with a soup spoon. Sprinkle the top with the warm water to moisten. Serve hot, with the pine nut or vermicelli garnish, if desired.
If using the optional pine nut garnish, just before serving the rice, heat the oil in a small, heavy frying pan over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and stir constantly until the nuts are brown, about 2 minutes. (Watch carefully so that they don't burn.) Put the rice in a serving bowl or platter and sprinkle with the hot nuts. Serve immediately.
If using the optional vermicelli garnish, break the noodles into small pieces, about 1/2 inch long. Heat the oil in a small heavy frying pan over medium heat. When the oil is very hot, add the noodles and stir constantly until the pieces are brown. Add the water, stir, and cook until the noodles are soft, about 8 minutes. Mix half of the noodles into the rice. Place the rice in a serving bowl or platter and garnish with the remaining hot noodles. Serve immediately.
MAKING A'HATA:
If you want to make the traditional "crusty rice", follow the recipe for the Basic Syrian Rice, sauteing the onions in an additional 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Once the rice is fully cooked through (10 to 20 minutes), continue to cook, covered, for an additional 50 minutes to 1 hour over low heat, checking every 10 minutes to make sure that the bottom of the rice is browning, but not burning. Remove from the heat. Scoop out the soft part of the rice and place in a bowl. Scrape out the crunchy brown rice (the a'hata) and serve either on the side in a separate small bowl or sprinkled on top of the soft rice.
Serves 4 to 5 (Makes 2 1/2 cups)
Source: "A Fistful of Lentils", by Jennifer Felicia Abadi
Categories: Grains, Jewish, Syrian
Recipe typed for you by Judi Mae Phelps.
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