Peanut Butter Rice

As much as I enjoy a simple pot of fresh cooked and buttered white rice to go along with my meals, I'm always on the hunt for other quick and easy ideas for rice. That's why I zoomed in almost immediately upon this ridiculously simple but wonderfully inventive recipe for peanut butter rice when I recently received a copy of A Taste of Tanzania: Modern Swahili Recipes for the West by Miriam Rose Kinunda. Why had I never thought of this before? Just stir in some natural peanut butter and salt into the rice cooking water, and you've got a pot of delicately flavorful rice that not only adds a little protein to your dinner but also quite nicely tempers the heat of a spicy curry if you happen to be serving one. This easy idea is in my permanent repertory of rice dishes now. I'm interested to try it with other nut butters like almond or cashew, but I do find that the peanut butter has a much more pronounced taste that will go along with other stronger flavored meals.

I am quite charmed by A Taste of Tanzania and consider myself quite fortunate to have received it. This collection of "Modern Swahili Recipes for the West" is a gem indeed.

Peanut Butter Rice

Recipe by Lisa Turner Adapted from A Taste of Tanzania: Modern Swahili Recipes for the West Cuisine: African Published on February 22, 2014 Simple and delicately flavorful rice cooked with peanut butter — great for serving with spicy curries Print this recipe Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups white basmati rice 2 1/2 cups water 1/3 cup natural peanut butter 1 teaspoon sea salt Instructions: Thoroughly rinse the rice under cold running water. Let the rice air dry in the strainer for 15 to 20 minutes, tossing the grains occasionally. In a medium saucepan, stir the peanut butter and salt into the water. Bring to a boil. Add the rice, turn the heat down to low, cover, and simmer undisturbed for 15 to 20 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve hot or warm. Makes 6 to 8 side servings

Other rice dishes you are sure to enjoy from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Brown Rice and Quinoa Cakes with Parmesan
Cracked Black Pepper Rice
Indian Yellow Rice
Mushroom Risotto

On the top of the reading stack: Rawsome Vegan Baking: An Un-Cookbook for Raw, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Beautiful and Sinfully Sweet Cookies, Cakes, Bars & Cupcakes by Emily von Euw

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