Zucchini Pilaf Recipes

Steps:

• In a skillet, saute basil and butter for one minute; then add chicken stock and bring to a boil.
• Stir in the rice and carrot.
• Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add zucchini slices and simmer another 10 minutes or until zucchini is tender.

Steps:

• For the rice: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place almonds on a baking sheet, and bake until lightly toasted, about 10 minutes. Remove, and set aside to cool.
• In a small pan over medium heat, add butter and rice. Stir until the rice is lightly toasted, 5 to 8 minutes. Add vegetable broth, allspice, and salt. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to very low so the broth barely simmers; use a heat diffuser if necessary. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the zucchini.
• For the zucchini: Place a large sauté pan over medium heat, and add olive oil. Add onion, and cook, stirring, until translucent and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the zucchini, coriander, cumin, cayenne and salt. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add rice and currants, and mix well. If the rice looks dry, add two tablespoons water. Cover, and cook until the zucchini and rice are tender, about 15 minutes. The rice mixture may be uncovered and quickly stirred once or twice, covering it immediately after.
• For the yogurt garlic sauce: In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, garlic, mint and a pinch of cayenne. Mix well, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• When the rice and zucchini are ready, top with cilantro, toasted almonds and fresh black pepper. Serve immediately, with yogurt-garlic sauce passed separately.

Steps:

• 1. Sauté zucchini and garlic in olive oil until just wilted. Remove from skillet
• 2. Add butter to pan and sauté rice until it starts to turn golden brown.
• 3. Place rice into a saucepan. Add broth, wine and salt and bring to a boil. Place zucchini on top BUT DO NOT STIR!
• 4. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until rice is done, about 20 minutes. Serve sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan. NOTE: Please don't use the stuff in The Green Can. :-)

Steps:

• Make köfte:
• Coarsely grate zucchini in a food processor fitted with the medium shredding disk. Toss with 1 teaspoon salt in a colander. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Pulse garlic, parsley, and cilantro in food processor until finely chopped.
• Wrap zucchini in a kitchen towel (not terry cloth) and twist to wring out as much liquid as possible.
• Mash chickpeas:
• With a fork, then toss with zucchini, garlic mixture, spices, bread crumbs, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Roll 2-tablespoons portions into balls and chill köfte in a 4-sided sheet pan while making bulgur.
• Make bulgur:
• Cook onion and garlic in oil and butter in a deep 10-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in bulgur, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring, until fragrant and a shade darker, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in beets (but not greens) and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until water is absorbed and beets are tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in greens and cook until just wilted, about 1 minute. Fluff bulgur with a fork, then sprinkle with almonds.
• Fry köfte:
• Heat 1 inch oil in a deep 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Fry köfte in 2 batches, turning once, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Make sauce:
• Stir together yogurt, garlic, cilantro, and 1/8 teaspoon salt.
• Serve warm köfte and bulgur with sauce.