Try Basmati Rice for a Healthy, Flavorful Thanksgiving Side Dish
Nancy Jiang
Last year, I shared a Brazilian collard greens recipe for a non-traditional Thanksgiving side dish. For this November, I recommend a healthy and delicious basmati rice recipe that is inspired by the flavors of Kenyan and Persian rice dishes.
What makes this dish so fantastic for Thanksgiving is the natural fragrance of the basmati rice and the delightful sweetness from the Sultana raisins, barberries, and dry Turkish apricots. It's a perfect side dish for your turkey.
I've always loved Persian Basmati rice, but I shied away from making it because I was told you must soak the rice in advance and then give it a good wash after boiling. That sounded too complicated.
Recently, I took an African cooking class where basmati rice was the star. Inspired by what I learned there, I decided to take a leap of faith and skip the soaking and rinsing routines. And, surprisingly, my basmati rice turned out just as fluffy and tasty without those steps.
I can't tell you how excited I am about this discovery, and I can't wait for you to try it!
Ingredients
300 gm/1.5 cups of basmati rice
520 gm/2.2 cups of water
35 gm/ 2.5 Tbsp. butter
160 gm/1 cup of chopped onion
10 gm/2 Tbsp. barberries
6 gm/1.5 Tbsp. fresh ginger
6 cloves
6 green cardamon pods, lightly crushed
3 gm of salt
½ tsp. saffron thread, soaked in 1 Tbsp. hot water for 5-10 minutes until almost dissolved (optional)
35 gm/ 6 dried apricots cut into small pieces (optional)
40 gm/ 3 Tbsp. Sultana raisins (optional)
Preparation
- Sauté onion, ginger, clove, and cardamon in butter until the onion is translucent. Mix in the barberries, raisins, apricots, and saffron.
- Add mix to rice, making sure to coat rice with the seasoning and butter.
- Transfer everything to a rice cooker and add 2.2 cups water.
- If you don’t have a rice cooker, you can use a covered pot on the stove. Bring the water and rice to a boil, then turn to low heat and cook for about 25 minutes.
This recipe serves five. Note, you can find all the ingredients at Bakkal International Foods (5690 Roswell Road, NE, Sandy Springs).