Parsnip Pilaf

Slow cook basmati rice with lentils and spices, roast your veg then serve with a coriander, dill, parsley and mint salsa verde

• Cooking Time Prep 30 mins
  Cook 1 hr, 5 mins
• Skill Level Moderately easy
• Servings Serves 8 - 10

Nutrition per serving

• Kcalories

  326

• Protein

  7g

• Carbs

  52g

• Fat

  9g

• Saturates

  2g

• Fibre

  8g

• Sugar

  20g

• Salt

  0.4g

Ingredients

• 300g basmati rice
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• 140g red lentils
• 1kg parsnips, 200g grated, remainder cut into long chunky wedges
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• zest 2 oranges (use the juice in the sauce)
• 2 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 tbsp honey
• 3 onions, sliced
• 1 tsp each turmeric, ground coriander and caraway
• 100g raisins
• zest 3 lemons (use the juice in the sauce)
• 25g butter
• yogurt, to serve (optional)
• For the herb sauce
• 25g pistachios
• juice 3 lemons
• juice 2 oranges
• small bunch coriander
• small bunch each dill, parsley and mint, stalks discarded

Directions

1. Soak the rice in water for 1 hr, then rinse in a sieve until the water runs clear. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil with the stock cube in it. Add the rice and lentils, and simmer for 5 mins until just beginning to soften on the outside. Drain well.
2. Toss the chunky parsnips with 2 tbsp of the oil, the orange zest, 1 tsp of the cumin seeds and plenty of seasoning in a roasting tin. Roast for 30 mins until golden, then drizzle with honey and roast for 5-10 mins more.
3. Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a wide flameproof casserole or deep pan. Fry the onions until softened and browned. Stir in the remaining cumin with the rest of the spices and cook for 1 min, then add the grated parsnips and raisins, and cook for 1 min more. Turn the heat right down and stir in the rice mixture and lemon zest with plenty of seasoning.
4. Melt the butter and remaining 1 tbsp oil in the big saucepan you cooked the rice in. Tip in the rice mixture and roughly flatten the surface. Poke 3 steam holes in the rice with the handle of a wooden spoon. Cover the pan with a tea towel, then put on the lid. Cook for 20-25 mins more, making sure the heat stays quite low.
5. To make the herb sauce, whizz all the ingredients to a salsa-like mix. Spread the rice on a serving platter, breaking up any crispy chunks from the bottom. Top with the roasted parsnips and herb sauce, and serve with some yogurt, if you like.

Categories: All Christmas, Vegetables