Pilaf With Tomato Turkish-Style (Domatesli Pilav)

A very simple tomato-based rice side dish recipe from Turkey. From turkishcookbook.com. A flavorful, freshly picked from the garden, preferably organic tomato works best for this recipe. *Update* 17 June 2011: Last week I prepared this substituting quinoa for the rice. Rinse the quinoa first as directed in Step #1 and proceed with recipe as written. The quinoa was completely cooked and liquid evaporated in about 25 minutes.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  cup white rice, washed and drained
• 1  large tomatoes (ripe but firm)
• 1  tablespoon butter
•  salt, to taste

• Garnish

•  fresh parsley

Directions

1. Drain the rice in a fine mesh strainer for 1 full minute under cold water. Set aside to drain. This is best done first thing in the early part of the day.
2. Grate the tomato into a glass measuring cup. I used a cheese grater and grated the toms down to their skin, then discarded.
3. Add enough water to the tomato to equal 2 cups.
4. Pour the mixture into a medium sized pot; add the butter and salt.
5. Bring to boil and stir in the rice.
6. Cover and cook on low heat. This will take about 15-20 minutes. If for some reason the rice starts to dry out, add about 1/4 cup more water and cook an additional 5-10 minutes.
7. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with *fresh* parsley. This side dish works well and is a perfect accompaniment to a heavily seasoned/more intensely flavored main dish because the flavors won't compete.