Basmati & Cauliflower Rice Pilaf with Fruit & Almonds

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 minutes

§ Cook Time: 20 minutes

§ Total Time: 35 minutes

§ Yield: 6

Ingredients

§ 1 tablespoon olive oil

§ 1 medium onion, diced

§ 2 garlic cloves, minced

§ ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

§ ½ teaspoon ground cumin

§ 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom

§ 1 cup basmati rice

.5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> § 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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.