Crispy Persian Vegetable Rice
If vegetable biryani and tahdig had a love child, it would be this crispy Persian Vegetable Rice. It’s a super festive side dish but I also like it as a 1 pot meal with a little something on the side like Gambas al Ajjillo or a runny fried egg.
Crispy Persian Vegetable Rice
Category
Side Dish
Servings/Yield
6
Author
Helen Park
If vegetable Biryani and tahdig had a love child, it would be this crispy Persian Vegetable Rice. It’s a super festive side dish but I also like it as a 1 pot meal with a little something on the side like Gambas al Ajillo or a runny fried egg.
Ingredients
1 cup basmati rice
-
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 ½ cups cauliflower florets, about ¼ of a head
½ cup cut green beans, 1”
½ cup shaved fennel, cut 1”
-
1 tsp fine sea salt
-
½ cup Persian Spice Crunch + more for sprinkling on each portion (see notes below)
-
½ cup olive oil
Directions
Rinse the basmati rice until the water runs clear and leave to soak for 10 minutes.
In a 10” nonstick pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil with the cauliflower florets on high heat. Caramelize the cauliflower, tossing occasionally.
Add the green beans, fennel, and salt and toss to combine.
Drain the rice well and add it to the pan with the Persian Crunch.
Add 1 ½ cups of water and stir to combine.
Cover the pan with a fitting lid and bring to boil.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
Turn off the heat and leave the pan to steam with the lid on for 10 more minutes.
Remove the lid, the rice should be cooked through and fluffy. Run a silicon spatula carefully around the very edge between the rice and the pan and drizzle in ¼ cup of olive oil.
- Turn the heat back on to low and allow the rice to start to crisp up on the bottom for 5 minutes.
Try giving the pan a shake to see if the bottom has released and drizzle the remaining ¼ cup of oil around the edge between the rice and the pan. Continue crisping for 5 more minutes.
Using a flat plate slightly larger than the pan, cover the pan and invert the pan and plate.
Set them onto a flat surface and gently lift an edge of the pan, using the spatula to help the crispy rice release if needed.
Continue lifting to reveal the lovely browned crispy crust with fragrant rice and tender vegetables.
Serve while warm and crispy with more Persian Crunch to sprinkle onto each portion.
Recipe Note
Recipe Notes
If you don’t have Persian Spice Crunch in your collection yet, ½ cup of fried shallots tossed with a tablespoon each of dill leaf and Moruno will be a delicious version until your next delivery arrives.
In case your rice sticks or breaks before you can get it out in 1 piece, don’t worry. Arrange the rice as neatly as you can on the plate and place your crispy pieces on top. It will still look and taste good.
Check out our other Nowruz menu items to plan for:
Sumac Roasted Fish (Mahi ba Somagh)
Khoresh-e Ghormeh Sabzi
Bean, Herb, & Noodle Soup (Ash-e Reshteh)
Persian Vegetable Frittata (Kuku Sibzamini)
Tahdig
Persian Rice Cookies (Nan-e Berenji)
Questions? Contact helen@laboiteny.com
