| Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 25 mins | Difficulty: Easy | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 305 | 7g | 1g | 56g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 5g | 4g | 6g | 0.82g |
There’s a dance that occurs in my kitchen when I prepare Vegetable Rice Pilaf with Celery Seed. A vibrant symphony of colors and flavors, playfully harmonized and lovingly infused into each grain of rice. This is a dish that echoes my Cuban heritage, carrying with it the warm notes of the tropics and the culinary finesse of Spain.
A Dish that Dances
The beauty of Vegetable Rice Pilaf with Celery Seed lies in its subtle complexity – The same way that dance hides meticulous technique beneath seamless fluidity. Every element in this dish plays a key role, subtly layering flavors that, when brought together, create a spectacle as captivating as a perfectly choreographed Salsa.
A Dance of Health
But this dance isn’t just about taste; it’s about health and wellbeing too. This vegetable rice pilaf recipe, much like the dances I teach in Miami, balances fitness with fun. It’s packed with antioxidant-rich vegetables like bell peppers and zucchini, along with grains that provide necessary carbohydrates for energy. The addition of celery seeds not only gives the dish a delicate pepperiness but also brings along numerous health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and keeping inflammation at bay. Just like my dance classes, this dish is a beautiful balance of taste and health – a gastronomic salsa, if you will.
This recipe is reminiscent of a popular Spanish dish called Paella. The concept is the same – a rice-based dish loaded up with a medley of ingredients, though our version swaps out the typical meat and seafood for an array of colorful veggies. It’s a great way to serve up a meatless main dish that’s still hearty and filling.
I enjoy serving this Vegetable Rice Pilaf with Celery Seed as a main dish, but you could also pair it with a variety of tapas selections. Here are a few ideas I love. This rice dish is also a great companion to a spread of finger foods at a party.”
To me, a kitchen is a dancefloor, and our ingredients are partners, coming together to create a truly memorable performance. This Vegetable Rice Pilaf with Celery Seed is one such production, harmoniously marrying the spirit of Miami, the zest of Cuba, and the refinement of Spain. I invite you to step into your own kitchen-dancefloor, play some salsa music, and lose yourself in the dance of creating this dish.
What You’ll Need
- 1 1/2 cups of long grain white rice
- 3 cups of vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 large red bell pepper, diced
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of celery seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 cup of fresh parsley, finely chopped
Method
Step One
Start by gathering all your ingredients. This includes: long grain white rice, vegetable broth, olive oil, a large onion, large carrots, a large red bell pepper, a zucchini, cloves of garlic, bay leaves, black pepper, celery seeds, salt and fresh parsley.
Step Two
Next, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the diced onion, carrots, bell pepper, and zucchini. Sauté the vegetables until they are tender, about 5-7 minutes.
Step Three
While the vegetables are cooking, rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This will remove any excess starch and help prevent the rice from becoming sticky.
Step Four
Once the vegetables are cooked, add in the garlic, bay leaves, black pepper, celery seeds, salt, and the rinsed rice. Stir everything together, ensuring the rice is well coated in the oil and seasonings.
Step Five
Pour in the vegetable broth and bring the skillet to a simmer. Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to low, and let everything cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed all the broth.
Step Six
After the rice is cooked, remove the skillet from the heat, discard the bay leaves and fluff the rice with a fork.
Step Seven
Finally, stir in the fresh, finely chopped parsley. Serve the Vegetable Rice Pilaf with Celery Seed hot. Enjoy your meal!
