Brown Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms, Watercress

Brown Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms, Watercress and Pine Nuts (v). Hello friends. So how are you today?

Cooked in a seasoned broth, this delicious Middle Eastern dish will leave you feeling full and satisfied. The heightened fibre content of the brown rice will aid with high cholesterol and blood pressure, whilst the nutrition-rich watercress adds a peppery kick.

How To Make Brown Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms, Watercress and Pine Nuts:

Serves 4

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

250g brown basmati rice

700ml vegetable stock

100g pine nuts

100g shiitake, chestnut or button mushrooms, roughly chopped

2 tsp turmeric

1 tbsp vegetable oil

2 tsp garam masala

1 onion, chopped

2 tsp paprika

25g butter (can be left out or swapped for vegan butter for vegan or dairy free option)

15g watercress, roughly chopped

15g rocket, roughly chopped

Juice of half a lemon

4 eggs

1 red chilli, finely diced

3 spring onions, finely chopped

100ml white wine vinegar

2 tsp salt, plus more to taste

Black pepper

Brown Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms, Watercress and Pine Nuts Method:

1.) Firstly, bring the vegetable stock to the boil. In the meantime, place a large frying pan on a medium-high heat. Add the pine nuts and toast for a few minutes until lightly browned, tossing occasionally. Remove from the pan and set aside in a bowl.

2.) Return the pan to the heat. Add the chopped mushrooms and dry-fry, stirring occasionally, until they have released liquid and begun to brown. Remove from the pan and add to the bowl with the pine nuts.

3.) Add the vegetable oil to the pan and turn up the heat to high. Add the rice and stir to coat thoroughly with the oil. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring occasionally, then add the onions and continue to cook until the onions have softened and turned translucent. Add the pine nuts, mushrooms and spices and remove from the heat.

4.) Carefully add the rice mixture to the saucepan with the stock along with 2 tsp of salt and a pinch of ground black pepper. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat, and cover the pan. Cook for around 40 minutes or until the rice is tender. Remove from the heat and leave to stand for 10 minutes. While the rice is standing, bring another pan of water to the boil then add the white wine vinegar. Once the water has boiled again, turn down to a gentle simmer and carefully crack in the four eggs. Cook the eggs in the simmering water for 3.5 minutes, then remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and allow to drain on some paper towel.

Last But Not Least To Serve:

Stir the watercress, rocket, lemon juice, chilli, spring onion and butter into the brown rice, adding seasoning to taste. Split evenly between four serving bowls and top each with a poached egg, finishing with a sprinkling of sea salt and black pepper. Serve immediately.

Brown Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms, Watercress and Pine Nuts (v). So tasty.

Recipe credits courtesy of : 

This recipe was developed by development chef Keri Astill-Frew. 

Keri has worked in top restaurants across the UK including a Michelin star hotel in Lancashire and a variety of fine dining restaurants and gastro-pubs in Dorset and Sussex. 

She is passionate about watercress, both as an ingredient and for its fantastic health benefits, and is devoted to developing new and delicious ways for you to incorporate more of it into your diet. 

Also for more information and many more recipes please visit Watercress.

Recipe Photography courtesy of Lara Jane Thorpe

So what do you think of this Brown Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms, Watercress and Pine Nuts (v) recipe?

Did you also see yesterday’s post?

Bibimbap – Korean Mixed Rice With Meat And Vegetables.

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Claire Justine

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Claire Justine Oxox- Over 50s Lifestyle Blog. You can also read more about me on my Over 50s Lifestyle Blog Page.

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