
Monkey Business Images/Monkey Business/Getty Images
In most areas of the Middle East, cooking rice is an art form. Rice has the role of forming the filling in many dishes, making the meat and vegetables stretch. But in many Middle Eastern cultures, rice is as important as bread, taking the position as the most important grain. Middle Eastern rice is always prepared fluffy, never sticky like risotto or sushi rice. It can include a variety of ingredients that vary by region, but most Middle Eastern rice dishes are made from basmati rice and contain garlic, olive oil, raisins, pine nuts and meat.
Heat the 2 tsp. olive oil in the saucepan over high heat.
Reduce the heat to medium and add the 1 cup chopped onion, 3 tbsp. pine nuts and 2 minced garlic cloves. Sauté until the onion is translucent and the garlic begins to pop in the pan.
Add the 1 cup uncooked basmati rice, 2 tsp. ground cumin, 2 tsp. ground coriander, 1 tsp. ground turmeric and 1/2 tsp. ground cayenne pepper and sauté for five minutes or until the rice begins to turn translucent on the ends.
Stir in the chicken stock and the 1/2 cup raisins. Cover the pot and allow the rice and ingredients to simmer for 30 minutes.
Stir in the 1 1/2 lbs. cooked turkey or lamb, 30 oz. chickpeas or black beans and season the rice with salt and pepper to taste.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow it to stand, covered, for five minutes.
Fluff the rice with a fork and serve it hot.
Related Articles

How to Cook Beef Topside in a Slow ...

How to Cook Arroz Chaufa

How to Cook Rice in a Rice Cooker

How to Re-Heat Cooked Rice

How to Cook Rice in Foil

How to Cook Tender Rolled Flank Steaks ...

How to Cook Dominican-Style Steak

Can You Bake Sliders?

How to Cook the Neck of a Deer
How to Make Creole Rice

How to Cook Rice in a Thermos

How to Make Chinese Crispy Rice Cakes

How to Make Pollo Asado-Marinated ...

How to Make Fried Ramen Noodles

How to Cook Italian Rice

How to Bake With Rice & Potato Flours

How to Cook Biko Without Using an Oven
How to Cook Golden Rose Rice

How to Slow Cook Chicken With Tomatoes ...

How to Roast Italian Sausage
References
Writer Bio
Natalie Smith is a technical writing professor specializing in medical writing localization and food writing. Her work has been published in technical journals, on several prominent cooking and nutrition websites, as well as books and conference proceedings. Smith has won two international research awards for her scholarship in intercultural medical writing, and holds a PhD in technical communication and rhetoric.
Photo Credits
Monkey Business Images/Monkey Business/Getty Images