Festive rice pilaf "A la Polita" with all ... the trimmings!!!

Serve this delicious rice pilaf as a side dish next to the roast turkey or other meat you might have at your Christmas table! A dish that is very popular in Greece and it is brought to us from the Greeks of Asia Minor. Colourful and full of festive flavours, it will satisfy your guests and family and it is great idea to serve at any formal occasion

Greek-style mildly spiced tomato rice pilaf with shrimps

Inspired by traditional recipes which are very popular during the fasting periods in Greece this is really a delicious rice recipe! Full of colours and aromas for this simple dish which, though, will please you to the full! Fresh shrimps always are the best option but of course you can also use frozen shrimps which are already cleaned of their shells and make things easier and faster

Spicy bulgur "pilaf" with aubergines as an alternative to a classic dish with rice

Bulgur (which is nothing more than broken wheat) was always a big part of the Greek cuisine especially when ingredients like rice were not easy to be found. To be honest I was never a fan of bulgur (or couscous for that matter or other similar ingredients). I have tasted it but I didn't like it and I was avoiding to cook it at home, simple as that! On the other hand, I do love rice a lot and often, when bulgur was included in a recipe, I was using rice instead when possible:-)) But I decided that it was time to try it out and this chance appeared when I first discovered this recipe last year. I was curious to see how a Greek popular recipe with rice (rice pilaf with aubergines) would taste with bulgur. I can't say that I loved the dish but I didn't hate it either and actually I have cooked the recipe 2-3 times since then but still I'm not convinced that bulgur and I would meet again soon! There is nothing wrong with the recipe, on the contrary! It's only the fact that some things in life are not for everybody... But for those who love such ingredients this is a great dish to try out!

FESTIVE SEASON 2013-2014: Christmas crusty layered rice pilaf

A colourful and impressive side dish for any roast meat and poultry to make your Festive table even more enjoyable! Fragrant spices and dried fruits work together perfectly for a delicious stuffing for this unusual dish

RICE WEEK: Layered one-pot aromatic rice with lentils, chicken and dried fruits

So delicious and colourful this recipe! Full of taste and so nutritious it can become a family hit offering a very filling meal! All flavours come together in a very nice balance and the fact that it is in the pot in layers makes it so interesting with every bite you have tasting of the different ingredients

RICE WEEK: Fluffy rice pilaf with a creamy chestnut, mushroom and almond sauce infused with Vodka

This is one of my favourite rice pilaf recipes and one that I often cook on various occasions (formal or not) to accompany meat and poultry dishes! Personally, because I love rice so much, I don't mind having it as it is without any meat on the plate! If you too like rice, try out this recipe and I'm sure it won't disappoint you! Not to mention that it is also a great idea for your Festive table

RICE WEEK: Double cooked risotto with feta cheese and herbs

I love rice! I probably love it as much as I love potatoes and probably more than I love pasta! My favourite type is the yellow long grain one but the last few years I have a thing about the wild rice too. Today's recipe is one of my favourites with this precious little grain and it is so easy to prepare. Definitely it can be served as it is but it also makes a great accompaniment to various roast or potted meats and poultry

RICE WEEK: Easy rice pilaf with mussels cooked in wine, mustard and tomato sauce

This is a quite popular dish around the country and especially in Northern parts, like Thessaloniki, where mussels are a super delicacy cooked in so many different delicious ways! There are variations of the recipe and my favourite is the one where pine nuts and black raisins are added into the mussels sauce getting this special "a la Polita" flavour brought to us from the Greeks of Asia Minor. The rice suggested in the recipe is the Basmati but, since it is not our favourite type of rice, I have tried the recipe using the old, good long grain one

RICE WEEK: Rice pilaf with chicken livers, chickpeas and raisins

A delicious rice pilaf which arrived to us thanks to the Greeks of Asia Minor who are the experts of this type of cuisine. This is one of the finest of Northern Greece traditional dishes and although it can be served any time, during the Winter months it gives this special hearty feeling. Cooking the ingredients with less liquids you can have a delicious stuffing for roast turkey or chicken 
 

 

RICE WEEK: Risotto with beetroots and fresh tarragon

A different dish for risotto with the addition of refreshing beetroots, flavoured with tarragon. A very tasty and colourful recipe to enjoy

RICE WEEK: Baked tomato rice with raisins, pine nuts and fresh herbs

An old Indian proverb says that "grains of rice should be like two brothers - close to each other but not stuck together".... The sure thing is that in our every day cooking life we need to know which type of rice suits better to each recipe. Like this dish today which is a very hearty and delicious rice pilaf with, probably, the most popular variety of rice in Greece, the yellow long grain one. The sweetness of the raisins and the crunchy pine nuts give an extra flavour. A good company to various meat or poultry dishes

Summertime rice pilaf with courgettes, peppers and tomatoes

A delicious, light but filling recipe which screams "Summer!" and which can be cooked easily and without special effort! Courgettes are still in season so don't delay and cook this recipe as soon as possible. Try it out also adding in the mixture chopped aubergines or even tender grape vine leaves! It sounds weird but trust me, they add a special flavour to the dish

Oven risotto with cherry tomatoes, spinach and smoked bacon

A nice and easy way to cook the rice and enjoy a filling dish any day of the week. The cooking starts in the pan as we do with all the risottos and ends up in the oven making the rice really creamy! It can be served as it is along with a nice salad or as an accompaniment to grilled chicken for an even fuller meal

Spring-time risotto with wine, orange and strawberries

This is really a special recipe full of aromas and flavours! A nice savoury dish with the strawberries and the orange involved adding an extra taste and freshness! It is amazing how fruits can get together so well with classic ingredients creating such a luscious and creamy food!

Cuttlefish with leeks and rice

One more recipe to cook this tasty and nutritious (although not so popular with many people) seafood and taste something really delicious! Rice and leeks cooked together is a classic Greek dish anyway but the addition of the cuttlefish makes it more tasty and more filling than ever. Nice combination of ingredients to serve as a main meal and enjoy something different

Baked rice pilaf with chicken, broccoli and creamy cheese sauce

A clever and very tasty dish to have any day combining poultry, rice and vegetables in one dish!  For extra flavour you can add various fresh herbs in the rice but also peas or/and mushrooms

Lamb liver and kidneys in wine sauce with rice pilaf

Something special and very tasty especially for those who don't mind the innards of lamb. Those who follow this or other blogs dedicated to the Greek cuisine or those who have spent their holidays in Greece (especially Easter time) they know that most Greeks love specialties in which lamb's innards are involved. I know it is not everybody's cup of tea (not so much mine either to be honest) but this recipe comes to change your idea about it and I think it succeeds

Creamy risotto with squids, ginger and lemon

Spicy but elegant too in flavour, this is a delicious rice dish to enjoy! Very hearty and filling it is capable to change your mind about the squids if you are not a big fan of them

Bulgur with mushrooms and wine

Tasty and nutritious vegetarian dish so to try something different beside the classic rice pilaf. It can be served as a light main meal or as a side dish to any meat, poultry or fish recipes

Rice pilaf with pumpkin, flavoured with ginger

Pumpkin with rice... A classic Autumn/Winter time dish! A delicious combination of simple ingredients that gives such a joy to those who are fond of such kind of recipes. As always, it can be served plain or as a side dish next to roast poultry or other meat. Usually in risotto recipes most people use olive oil. Personally, although I love olive oil, in risottos I find it too strong in taste and smell and that's why I prefer to use margarine instead. The choice is yours