Spring Carrots With Yellow Rice

Annacia's Note:

This is a tasty and easy side dish that is also pretty. The julienne carrots are original to the recipe but I use frozen round cut carrots that are still in my freezer from last summer's garden (we had a lot of carrots!) and they work perfectly. That pretty much eliminates all prep time. It reads like a lot of steps but it isn't and goes quickly. I also cut way down on the butter and still get good results and I also find that the given cooking times for the veggies is overlong for my taste. I got this from Epicurious.

• Total Time: 53 mins
• Prep Time: 8 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 1⁄3; cups chicken stock
• 1⁄8; teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 pinch salt
• 2⁄3; cup rice
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion , minced
• 1 lb carrot , peeled and cut into 1/4-inch julienne
• 2 teaspoons fresh marjoram or ½ teaspoon dried marjoram , crumbled
• ¼ teaspoon dried Greek oregano , crumbled
• 1 tablespoon wine vinegar
• ½ teaspoon sugar
• 1 pinch cinnamon
• ½ cup chicken stock or ½ cup water
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley

Directions:

1. Combine 1 1/3 cups stock with turmeric and salt in heavy 2-quart saucepan and bring to boil over high heat.
2. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover and cook until liquid is absorbed, about 25 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and fluff with fork. Cover and keep warm.
4. Melt butter in heavy large skillet over low heat.
5. Add onion, cover and cook until softened, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Add in carrots, increase heat to medium-low and cook uncovered 5 minutes.
7. Add marjoram and oregano and cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
8. Stir in vinegar, sugar and cinnamon and cook a few minutes to blend flavors.
9. Add 1/2 cup stock and simmer gently until carrots are crisp-tender and liquid is evaporated, about 20 minutes.
10. Stir carrots into rice. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead to this point and refrigerated. To reheat, turn into buttered baking dish, cover with foil and bake in preheated 325°F oven until hot, about 30 minutes.)
11. Mix in parsley.

Reviews

[Lalaloula]

This was a yummy, fresh and healthy dish that both my sis and me really enjoyed. I used a mix of rice, wild rice, barley, oat kernels and buckwheat as that's what I had on hand and it added a nice chewy texture and nutty flavour to the meal. I really enjoyed the cinnamon and marjoram, but would have liked a tad more flavour. Maybe next time Ill just double or triple the stated amounts. As I didnt have enough carrot, I used a mix of both carrot and parsnip, which was yummy.
All in all a lovely dish, which was easy to prepare and tasted yummy. Thank you so much for sharing it here with us, Annacia!
Made and reviewed for Zaar Stars December 2010.

[daisygrl64]

This was very good. I only hated Julienne the carrots LOL next time I will buy a bag already done! Besides that it was easy and enjoyed by the family. Made for Zaar Chef Alphabet Soup Game July 09

[Mikekey]

Very good! Went well with a fish dish cooked in coconut milk. I like the subtle sweetness with the sugar and vinegar. ( I used rice vinegar, because I didn't have wine vinegar). I also cut cooking time because I wanted the carrots crunchy. Will be making this again, with a roast chicken. Thanks for posting this!