Curly Kale Pilav

A brilliant way to use up the curly kale in the garden (I have tons, which is much more because it is dead easy to grow, and slugs like it less than broccoli, than it is because I am a good gardener). You could use peas, kale, spinach, broad beans - whatever you fancy... and it is still cholesterol-bustingly good for you.

Ingredients

  • Basmati Rice (1 mug 2 people)
  • Allspice
  • 1 onion
  • Curly Kale
  • Handful Frozen Broadbeans (or peas)
  • Olive Oil

This process of washing and rinsing the rice does run the risk of being a bit of a faff – but as the Moro books says, it makes a massive difference to how good the rice tastes, and I figure that if you embrace these (slightly tedious) culinary tasks, actually they can become quite therapeutic (??!!)

Wash your rice and leave it in the fridge for 3 hours if you can.  To do this – fill up a bowl with cold water, add the rice and give all the grains a gentle but thorough rub to remove the starch.  Rinse in a sieve and repeat again (3 times or so) until the water runs clear.  Then leave your rice covered in a bowl with tepid water and a teaspoon of salt stirred in.

Cut out a piece of greaseproof paper in the same circular size as your saucepan

Slice your onion very thinly and gently fry in a little olive oil (extra virgin) with a large pinch of Allspice – us a saucepan that all the rice will fit it

When the onions are starting to take on a little colour, and are soft – stir in your drained rice and coat with the olive oil (you can add a little extra if you think the rice isn’t coated in oil – if you aren’t watching your cholesterol you could add a tiny teaspoon of butter here)

Add half the Kale and the Broadbeans (or Peas)

Season and add enough water to cover the rice by 5mm

Put the paper and the saucepan lid on top of the rice and give it 5 minutes on a medium to high heat

After this initial 5 mins, turn the heat down as low as possible and give it another 5 minutes (check that the rice is done, it should only need a minute or so more if not)

Add the last half of Kale and your Herbs, give it a stir and leave to stand for 5 minutes

Enjoy!

 

 

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