We Tried Trader Joe’s Chicken, Lentil & Caramelized Onion Pilaf

If you're looking for a side dish to go with Trader Joe's Middle Eastern Style kebabs (koobideh), Trader Joe's new pilaf is a pretty decent option. Trader Joe's Chicken, Lentil and Caramelized Onion pilaf ($4.49) is flavored with saffron, cinnamon and cumin and cooks up pretty quick in the microwave. It's similar to something we…

ByMichelleJanuary 4, 20240Comments

Main Course Recipes

Red Lentils and Rice with Yogurt, Preserved Lemon and Pomegranate

I'm beginning to think I should call my husband the Grad School Gourmet. For a poor grad student back East, he ate pretty surprisingly well. Instead of packets of instant noodles, he'd buy giant bags of beans and rice to get by. He usually ate these lentils and rice with a little fresh tomato on…

ByMichelleDecember 20, 20160Comments

Recipes Side Dishes

Bhutan Red Rice with Chickpeas & Currants

The other night I decided what to make for dinner around 5 o’clock. For someone who likes having a plan, that was late. A bag of chickpeas was thawing the in the fridge, so I made half a batch of hummus and then had to do something with the rest. Flipping to the index in the Jerusalem cookbook there it was, Basmati and Wild Rice with Chickpeas, Currants and Herbs. I went to the cupboard. No wild rice. Just as well, I wasn’t gonna wait around for 45 minutes for it to cook anyway. Currants? Check. Herbs? Well, cilantro. Close enough. Time to riff.

ByMichelleApril 9, 20131Comment

Book Reviews Recipes Side Dishes

Bulghur Pilaf from Yotam Ottolenghi’s Plenty

Getting more whole grains in your diet is easier than ever with the wide availability of bulghur, quinoa, barley and spelt, but it's also easy to fall into a rut with the most basic preparations for these grains. My regular bulghur pilaf is pretty simple, relying on onion, crimini mushrooms and chicken stock for its flavor. That simplicity makes it a great side dish when your main, say baked chicken, has a more dominant flavor profile. But why should a side dish have to take a back seat?

ByMichelleFebruary 6, 20120Comments