If you haven’t tried smoked rice you should make it your next task.  Seriously, go ahead and get on amazon and order this (I couldn’t find it in any local grocery stores).

I did and it has become my new obsession!

I don’t eat bacon.  I don’t even remember when was the last time I had bacon. That does not mean that I don’t like bacon, it is just a matter of choice. I actually love the flavor of bacon and that smokey smell and taste is what I love the most.

This smoked rice reminded me of all the good flavor of bacon without the guilt! It is that good!

It all started when my friend Mary came to visit from Miami.

We went grocery shopping to see what we were going to cook. Then Mary starts talking about this wonderful rice her sister cooked for her and a group of friends – smoked rice – I never heard of that!

The next day all of them went to buy it!

I got so excited since we were going to Publix – our local chain supermarket. Nada! They didn’t have it.

We went to 3 other different food stores and they didn’t have it either. No smoke rice in St Pete. I was so bummed I wasn’t going to be able to cook it with my friend.

A couple of days went by and I found a box with the rice at my front door, my friend had ordered for me in Amazon!

From the moment you open the package you know it’s going to be good.  The aroma fills the air, it’s like you are opening a package of bacon or meat ready to barbecue but without the guilt!

I decided to pair this rice with raisins for sweetness (thinking about bacon and maple) and lightly toasted almonds for crunchiness (always something crunchy!) and then shallots and carrots since I love onions and carrots with rice.

The combinations of flavors with the addition of cumin is fantastic! The deep smoke flavor in the background and all those fresh ingredients add some sweetness and texture to the dish. You can use this rice as a side dish for salmon, turkey picadillo, veggie burgers or anything that you can think of.

If by any chance you cannot find smoked rice you can buy liquid smoke and add a tsp per 1 cup of water.

You can use this recipe for regular rice as well.

I tried the liquid smoke. It was good however, it was not as good as the smoked rice.

I hope you love this recipe as much as I did!

Here’s what you need…

Smoked Rice with Raisins and Almonds

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 cup of smoked rice (I used this one)

1/3 cup of carrots matchsticks, chopped

1/3 cup of slivered almonds, lightly toasted

1/4 cup  of raisins

2 cups of vegetable or chicken broth

2 shallots (about 1/3 of a cup), diced

1 tbs of olive oil

1 tbs of butter

1 tsp of rice vinegar or white wine

1/2 tsp of salt and black pepper – adjust to taste

1/4 tsp of cumin – optional

fresh Italian parsley- for garnishing

Instructions

Lightly toast the almonds on the pot you will use to cook the rice. Stir constantly until fragrant and set aside.

Place olive oil and butter on the same pot you used to toast the almonds and melt butter at medium-high heat. Add the shallot and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir in the carrots and add the cumin, saute for about 4 minutes or until the shallots start to look translucent, add the raisins. Stir in the rice and toast for a couple of minutes.

Add the vegetable or chicken broth. Add the remaining salt and pepper and the vinegar or the wine once the broth starts to boil.

Reduce the heat to low and let simmer covered for 10 minutes (or the time indicated on your rice package).

Take off the heat and let it rest for 10 more minutes.

Stir in the almonds and chopped fresh parsley.

 

Notes