The combination of earthy beans, sweet, roasted pumpkin pieces and aromatic basmati rice is irresistible. Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 200g podded older broad beans
- 200g pumpkin, peeled and cut into pieces
- 5 Tbsp grapeseed or sunflower oil (divided measure)
- Salt
- Pinch of powdered allspice
- 1 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 2 cups of cold, cooked basmati rice
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- Water, as required
- Salt and ground pepper
- Handful of fresh chervil (flat-leaf parsley is a reasonable substitute), chopped
Method:
- Drop podded beans into a pot of boiling unsalted water and cook until tender.
- Drain and, when cool, slip the beans from their outer leathery skins. Discard skins, put beans aside and keep warm.
- Par-cook diced pumpkin in a steamer or microwave.
- Drain, then toss the pieces in 2 Tbsp oil with salt and allspice, and roast at 200°C until the pieces of pumpkin begin to caramelise (about 10 minutes).
- Remove, and keep warm.
- Meanwhile heat the remaining 3 Tbsp oil in a large pan, add the mustard seeds and cook, stirring until they pop.
- Add the turmeric, then the rice. Stir continuously to coat the rice with the spicy oil.
- Add the lemon juice and as much water as needed to allow the rice to steam – depending on the rice, about a quarter of a cup.
- Cover, reduce heat to low and leave for about 10 minutes until the rice is very hot and all the liquid has evaporated.
- Add the broad beans and pumpkin pieces. Mix carefully, adding salt if necessary and black pepper. Scatter with chervil.
- This can be served as a dish in itself, but is very good with cold roast chicken.
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