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festive rice

Festive Rice

Make Christmas unforgettable with this festive rice recipe. A perfect blend of flavors & textures that will leave everyone wanting more.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Caribbean, Tobago, Trinidad
Keyword: one-pot, rice
Author: baidawi

Ingredients

  • 3 ½ cups long grain parboiled rice washed
  • 3 ½ cups water
  • Angostura Orange Bitters
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 star anise
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 purple onions diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 inch 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
  • ¼ tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ 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

Instructions

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

Video

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