Editorial sample recipeIranianintermediateVegetarianGluten-FreeHalal

Iranian Pumpkin And Garlic Spiced Rice Skillet

Name: Iranian Pumpkin And Garlic Spiced Rice Skillet
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Iranian
Ingredients: 2 cups Basmati rice, rinsed until water runs clear; 1 lbs Butternut squash, peeled and cut into 0.75-inch cubes; 1 large Yellow onion, thinly sliced; 4 item Garlic cloves, minced; 0.75 tsp Ground cinnamon; 0.5 tsp Ground turmeric; 3 tbsp Ghee; 0.25 tsp Saffron threads, steeped in 3 tbsp warm water; 1.5 tsp Salt

A comforting Mazandaran-inspired Persian skillet rice dish layering parboiled basmati rice with golden sautéed pumpkin cubes, garlic, cinnamon, and warm saffron.

Prep: 20 min
Cook: 35 min
Total: 55 min

AI-generated illustration of Iranian Pumpkin And Garlic Spiced Rice Skillet

AI illustration

Technique to learn

Layered Damp-Towel Steaming

Steaming partially cooked rice with pre-cooked toppings under a towel-wrapped lid to traps steam and yield fluffy, distinct grains.

Instructions

Step 1: Bring 6 cups of salted water to boil in a pot, add rinsed basmati rice, boil rapidly for 6 minutes until edges are tender but core remains firm, then drain in a colander.

Step 2: Heat 2 tablespoons of ghee in a pan over medium heat, add sliced yellow onion, and cook for 7 minutes until rich golden brown.

Step 3: Add minced garlic, ground cinnamon, and ground turmeric to the onions; stir for 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 4: Add squash cubes to the onion pan and sauté over medium heat for 5 minutes until edges brown slightly; remove from heat.

Step 5: Add remaining tablespoon of ghee and 2 tablespoons water into bottom of a deep non-stick pot.

Step 6: Layer half the parboiled rice into the pot, top with squash-onion mixture, cover with remaining rice, drizzle steeped saffron water over top, cover lid tightly with a clean kitchen towel, and steam on lowest heat setting for 20 minutes.

Cooking tips

Draining rice at the parboiled stage prevents it from turning mushy during steam cooking.
Wrapping pot lid in a towel absorbs escaping moisture to keep steamed rice grains light and distinct.
Original home-cooking adaptation inspired by Iranian; regional versions vary.
Use halal-certified meat, poultry, stock, sauces, cheese and other processed ingredients. Check labels and avoid cross-contamination. Recipe screening is not halal certification.

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