Jammy red onion and chickpea pilaf recipe

Jammy red onion and chickpea pilaf

Milder than white onions, red onions – cooked down to jammy perfection – add a layer of sweetness to this fragrant chickpea pilaf recipe.

See method
  • Serves 6
  • 5 mins to prepare and 25 mins to cook
  • 236 calories / serving

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 red onions, halved and thinly sliced
  • 1½ tsp cumin seeds or ground cumin
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • ½ tsp caster sugar
  • 1 lemon, zest pared in strips with a peeler and sliced into matchsticks
  • 225g basmati rice, rinsed and drained
  • 1 vegetable stock pot, made up to 475ml
  • 400g tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 3 tbsp pomegranate seeds
  • 20g flat-leaf parsley, chopped
  • Lamb leg steaks, cooked and sliced, to serve, (optional)

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Each serving contains

Energy
995kJ 236.0kcal
12%
Fat
5g
low7%
Saturates
1g
low4%
Salt
0.7g
medium11%
Sugars
4g
low5%

of the Reference intake

Carbohydrate 41.8gProtein 6.6gFibre 3.8g

Method

  1. Put the oil and onions in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Cook, stirring often, for 10 mins until the onions have softened. Add the cumin and cook for 5 mins. Increase the heat a little and add the vinegar, sugar and lemon zest. Stir and cook for 4-5 mins until the onions are slightly sticky.
  2. Meanwhile, put the rice in a medium, lidded saucepan with the stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook without disturbing for 10 mins until the water has been absorbed. Turn off the heat and leave to stand for 5 mins with the lid on; fluff up with a fork.
  3. Fold the onion mixture through the rice with the chickpeas, pomegranate seeds and parsley. Delicious served with griddled lamb leg steaks sliced over.Top tip: soak sliced, raw red onion in water before serving to remove the bitterness.

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