AVOCADO PILAFF (HOT)

A sublime vegetarian dish, perfect for Autumn/Winter

Sublime Hot Avocado Pilau 

Avocados seem to be everywhere but at this time of year, some really are not ready-to-eat.  This splendidly moist and multi-textured rice dish is the perfect solution to waiting around for avocados to soften and then finding they've gone past their best.  Heated, the avocado softens, becoming even more buttery and beautiful.

67 prefers brown rice for this recipe -- its flavour, nuttiness and health-giving properties give the dish a delightful oomph. As long as the brown rice is cooked properly, it will be fine.  White rice is also good, as is orzo, the rice shaped pasta which is easy to digest.

This is the hot version of the popular Avocado Pilau Salad, posted this summer.  It is adapted from one of the first tv chefs, Robert Carrier.  Take advantage of the avocado glut -- prices are expected to rise due to shortages. 

Cost: £3

Feeds: 3-4 as main; 6 as side

Ingred:

   8 oz/225 grams brown rice, cooked as below

   

   1 tbsp butter

   1 tbsp olive oil

   4 tbsp finely chopped onion (whites of green onions, yellow onions or shallots: all fine) 

   1 stalk celery, peeled, and finely chopped

     4 oz/100 g thickly sliced mushrooms

   1/2 tsp grated garlic

   4 oz/100 gm fresh diced tomato flesh (from peeled & deseeded toms) OR if you can't be fussed, 6 oz/150 gm baby toms 

   2 oz/50g (untoasted) pine nuts

   4 tbsp dry sherry/white wine/grape juice  

   1/4 tsp dried marjoram or thyme

   freshly ground black pepper

   1 good sized avocado

   juice and grated peel of half a lemon

   Garnish: Parsley

Method:

1. Cook rice and keep warm.  (Brown: rinse well in a sieve and allow water to run until it comes out clear.  Drop into lots of boiling salted water, cook at a rolling boil 25 mins.  Drain and rise with boiling water from a kettle.) (White: rinse well in a sieve and allow water to run until it comes out clear.  Drain.  Add double the amount of good stock - veggie if you're feeding vegetarians.  Cook according to packet instructions.)
2.  10 minutes before end of rice cooking time, peel and dice avocado, mixing carefully with lemon juice
3. Saute onion & celery in butter and olive oil, about a minute
4. Add garlic, mushrooms, tomatoes, pine nuts and herb of choice.  Stir & cook until mushrooms are nearly done.
5. Add sherry/wine/grape juice.  Simmer a few minutes.
6. Add rice to veg;mix well and gently heat through.  (You may need to add a tbsp or two of stock if using brown rice).
7. Add avocado and toss gently; every spoonful should contain avocado and vegetables. 
8. Garnish with a few branches of fresh parsley, chopped parsley scattered over   

Tips:

• For the ill and infirm or small children, replace alcohol with good stock. Use white rice or orzo (rice shaped pasta) and cut back on the pinenuts. You could also add a handful of currants soaked overnight in orange juice
• Good as a main course but goes well with chicken or fish.  

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This recipe has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.