- New Book Launch! Eggless Possibilities - The must-have COOKBOOK for every vegan kitchen - Buy Now - Paperback Shipping in the USA Only.
Moroccan Festive Rice for the Holidays!
Ingredients
For the toppings:
2 tbsp olive or avocado oil
1 red onion, chopped
3/4th cup dry cranberries
3/4th cup sliced almonds
2 tsp raw brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt and pepper to taste
3 tbsp water
2 tbsp fresh parsley to garnish
Rice is simply a delicious side just as it is. But dressing it up, and adding some elements to it, especially from the Moroccan cuisine, can really take it to the next level with no effort at all! This festive and colorful rice is such a beautiful dish to add to your holiday table. It looks elegant and fancy and it has all the colors of the holiday. The best part of course id the textures from the toppings we added. Crunchy, chewy, sweet, and fresh at the same time. Perfect for the fall, and for all year round. I can not wait for you to give this one a try! For my basmati rice full recipe: https://batelskitchen.com/basic-white-basmati-rice/
Instructions
1). Prepare a basic white basmati rice, set aside
2). To prepare the topping: Heat up a skillet with 2 tbsp oil, add the chopped onion and sprinkle a touch of salt to help it sweat faster. After about 3-4 minutes, just before starting to get color, add the sliced almonds and dry cranberries, mix until golden, for about 5 minutes more.
3). Season with brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and pepper to taste, mix and add a drop of water to help the sugar dissolve. Mix for 2 minutes more and turn off the heat.
4). To plate: Transfer the rice to a nice long platter, and spread it evenly. Then scoop from the topping and place it in the center of the plate. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.
You can watch how to make this rice on my YouTube Channel:
This easy and so beautiful festive rice will go so well with other sides that can be amazing for the holidays, such as my Fancy Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Top Gremolata, as well as my Garlic & Mushroom Green Beans Recipe You Wont Stop Eating! And of course my Stunning Roasted Cabbage with Dijon Tahini Dressing- You’ve Never Tasted Something Like This Before!
Questions you might have:
-
How many servings are in this dish? The topping is perfect for 2 big rice side platters
-
Can I make the topping ahead of time? YES! – You can make and freeze it up to 2 weeks before using it.
-
Can I substitute the ingredients? Yes, use raisins, and other nuts instead
-
Can I make this topping ahead of time? Yes, up to 2 weeks in the freezer before using
How to warm up this festive rice?
If I don’t serve this rice immediately, I store the rice in an oven safe dish an place it in the fridge for up to 2 days, covered very well.
And then to reheat, I place in a preheated 350 F. oven covered, but I add about 1-2 tbsp of water in order to create steam. The rice should be nice and warm after about 25-30 minutes.
The topping can be room temperature, or place it in a Pyrex dish to warm up as well, uncovered.
This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you
