101 rice pilaf recipes

Basmati rice pilaf with dried apricots, garam masala, fresh mint, and pistachios. An aromatic Indian-inspired side dish with lemon zest brightness and warm spice depth.

Spicy brown rice pilaf with leftover turkey, toasted cumin seeds, cardamom, cloves, raisins, and cashews. A fragrant way to use up holiday turkey with warm Indian-inspired spices.

Skinless Cornish hen halves basted with brandy, apple juice, and paprika, served over a cinnamon-scented wild rice pilaf with brandy-soaked raisins. Light, elegant, and feeds eight.

Healthy brown rice pilaf studded with grated butternut squash, fennel, and oregano. Low-fat winter side dish with warming cinnamon and white wine in every bite.

A garlic-loaded vegetarian brown rice pilaf steamed with broccoli, squash, green beans, and corn, then tossed with red bell pepper, toasted sesame seeds, and soy sauce. One skillet, one hour.

Rice Pilaf with Apricots, Raisins and Pine Nuts recipe

Spiced Indian Coconut Rice Pilaf with Ghee and Cashews recipe

This is one of our favorites. I add more lemon (yes, with the rind!). It's sooo good! Not bitter. I looked online to find it because I misplaced my "Award winning recipes" cookbook in the move. I use vinegar instead of wine (about half the amount) because we don't stock wine.

Sarimsaaqli palaaw layers tender lamb, julienned carrots, and whole heads of sweet garlic over rice steamed Central Asian style. Each guest gets their own softened garlic bulb to squeeze over the pilaf.

A showstopping Persian jeweled rice (javaher polow) layered with saffron-glazed carrots, barberries, currants, pistachios, almonds, orange peel, and rose water. Topped with a golden tah dig crust.

Southern-style wild rice pilau with browned chicken livers, brown rice, and fresh herbs simmered in low-sodium broth. A rustic, iron-rich side dish that's lighter than you'd expect.

Greek squid baked with rice (kalamarakia pilafi), simmered in white wine, tomato, garlic, and rosemary. Tender squid rings folded into a tomato-stained pilaf.

Rice pilaf salad tosses diced turkey, brown rice, chickpeas, kidney beans, apples, celery, and green olives into a protein-loaded chilled salad. Perfect for Thanksgiving leftovers or make-ahead lunches.

Peaches and cream rice salad with chicken-flavored rice pilaf, diced peaches, whipped topping, and shredded coconut. A sweet, creamy side dish or potluck dessert salad that feeds a crowd.

Polo havidge loobia is a Persian layered rice pilau with sweet carrots, kidney beans, cinnamon, and a crisp potato tahdig crust. Aromatic, vegetarian, and deeply comforting.

Confetti rice salad starts with chicken-flavored rice pilaf tossed with green onions, pimentos, and a sweet vinegar dressing. A colorful, make-ahead cold side dish for cookouts.