Saffron Spiced Pilaf with Roasted Figs
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Total Cook: 40 mins
A simple and wonderfully fragrant Persian-inspired supper of saffron, cinnamon and cumin-spiced rice simmered with summer veg. Served topped with meltingly sweet roasted figs and cool dollops of creamy yogurt.
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767 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 1 onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 courgette
  • 1 cayenne chilli
  • 300g rainbow chard
  • 250g cherry tomatoes
  • 1 vegetable stock cube
  • A pinch of saffron powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 150g white basmati rice
  • 45g butter
  • 4 figs
  • 150g Greek style yogurt
From your kitchen
  • 300ml boiling water
  • Sea salt
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Freshly ground pepper
You'll need
  • Measuring jug
  • Large pan with lid
  • Roasting tin
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Preheat your oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Fill and boil your kettle. Peel and finely chop the onion. Peel and grate the garlic. Trim and chop the courgette into small cubes. Halve the chilli, flicking out the seeds and white pith if you prefer less heat, and finely chop it.

  • 2.

    Pull the chard leaves off their stalks. Finely chop the stalks and roughly chop the leaves. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half.

  • 3.

    Fill a jug with 300ml boiling water. Crumble in the stock cube, add a pinch of saffron powder and stir.

  • 4.

    Pour 1 tbsp olive oil into a large pan and warm to a medium heat. Slide in the onions and fry for 2 mins, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic, chilli, courgette, chard stalks. Tip in 1 tsp ground cumin, drop in the cinnamon stick and add a good pinch of salt and pepper. Fry for 6-8 mins, till the veg have softened.

  • 5.

    Tip in the cherry tomatoes and rice, and pour over the saffron stock. Stir, bring to the boil, then cover with a lid and reduce to a low simmer. Cook for 8 mins, then stir through the chard leaves. Pop the lid back on and continue to cook for 5 mins. Remove from the heat, stir through the butter, cover and set aside, off the heat, to steam for 5 mins to finish cooking the rice.

  • 6.

    Meanwhile, slice the figs into quarters and scatter them into a roasting tin. Slide the figs into the oven to roast for 10 mins.

  • 7.

    Pile the pilaf onto a couple of plates. Serve topped with the roasted figs and dollops of yogurt.

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