Festive Rice

Take Christmas lunch to the next level with this amazing festive rice recipe. In this recipe we use a combination of herbs, spices, aromatics and Angostura Orange Bitters to create an absolutely mouthwatering medley!

Festive Rice

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups long grain parboiled rice (washed)
• 3 1/2 cups water
• Angostura Orange Bitters
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 purple onions (diced)
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1″ piece ginger (minced)
• 8 pimentos (diced)
• 4 sweet peppers (diced)
• 1 carrot (diced)
• 12 leaves sage (finely chopped)
• 5 sprigs fine thyme (finely chopped)
• 1 cup dried cranberries or raisins
• 1 cup pecans (chopped)
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
• 2 tbsp lemon zest
• 1 tsp MSG (optional)
• salt & black pepper (to taste)
• 4 tbsp oil
• 3 tbsp sesame oil or olive oil (optional) 

Method

1. Add rice to water with bay leaf, cinnamon and star anise.
2. Bring rice to a simmer on medium/high heat then reduce to lowest heat. Cover then allow to cook for 10 minutes.
3. Once rice is finished cooking, use a wooden spoon, spatula or fork to fluff.
4. In a hot pot add oil, then add onions, carrots, pimentos and ginger. Season with salt then sauté for 2 minutes.
5. Add garlic, sage, thyme, 1 tablespoon of lemon zest and dried cranberries to pot. Add msg then continue to sauté for 2 minutes.
6. Add a few liberal dashes of Angostura Orange Bitters. Stop when the ancestors say “that’s enough”
7. Add turmeric powder and cardamom powder then toss.
8. Add half of the rice to the pot then combine with aromatics.
9. Add remaining rice along with lemon zest to pot then combine until fully mixed.
10. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
11. Finish with sesame oil or olive oil (optional).
12. Serve & Enjoy!

Related Recipes

• Ochro Rice
• Egg Fried Rice
• Festive Rice Pilaf