Armenian Rice
Hot cooked rice tossed with browned butter and toasted pine nuts. Quick side dish with swaps, storage tips, and serving ideas.
I was served this wonderful rice at a thank-you dinner served by an Armenian family. I was in a choral group at the time, and the daughter of the family needed a choral group to conduct for her doctoral degree in choral conducting. Our group volunteered their time, and we were fed for our troubles.
Submitted by: L from Los Angeles, California
Yield: 4 servings
- Toast pine nuts in butter over low to medium heat and watch them closely so they brown without burning.
- Fold the buttered nuts into hot, cooked white rice so the butter melts evenly and coats the grains.
- This simple side is quick, easy to scale, and works with vegan or nut-free swaps and leftover rice.
Preparation Instructions:
Saute pine nuts in the butter until they take on a golden color. Be sure they don't burn, which can happen in an instant, if you are not watchful. Stir butter and nuts into hot white rice and serve. Yum!
thespicehouse.com
More About This Recipe
This dish goes well with Spiced Lamb Kebabs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of rice should I use?
Use hot, cooked white rice with separate grains for best texture. Long-grain varieties like basmati or jasmine work well, but medium-grain is fine. Avoid very sticky short-grain rice unless you want a clingy result.
How do I toast pine nuts without burning them?
Use a small skillet over low to medium heat. Stir or shake the pan constantly and watch carefully. Remove the nuts from the pan as soon as they turn light golden because they can go from perfect to burnt very quickly.
Can I substitute the pine nuts?
Yes. Try chopped almonds, pistachios, walnuts, or toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Each gives a different flavor and texture. Adjust the amount to taste.
How can I make this dish vegan or nut free?
For a vegan version, swap the butter for olive oil or a plant-based butter. For nut-free, replace pine nuts with toasted seeds like pumpkin or sunflower, or omit them and add fresh herbs for flavor.
Can I prepare this ahead and how do I reheat it?
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. To reheat, add a splash of water or a little butter, cover, and warm on the stovetop over low heat or microwave until heated through. Rice can be frozen 1 to 2 months but may change texture.
Can I cook the rice and pine nuts together from raw rice?
The recipe is built for already cooked hot rice. If you prefer to cook together, make a pilaf: toast the nuts in butter, add uncooked rice and stir to coat, then add the measured cooking liquid and simmer until done.
How many people does this recipe serve and can I scale it?
Four cups of cooked rice typically serves 4 to 6 as a side. Scale the butter and pine nuts up or down proportionally. Keep the ratio roughly the same to preserve flavor and texture.
Why should the rice be hot when I mix it with the butter and nuts?
Hot rice helps the butter melt and coat each grain, so the flavor spreads evenly. It also keeps the nuts crisp and the dish warm when served.
What kind of rice should I use?
Use hot, cooked white rice with separate grains for best texture. Long-grain varieties like basmati or jasmine work well, but medium-grain is fine. Avoid very sticky short-grain rice unless you want a clingy result.
How do I toast pine nuts without burning them?
Use a small skillet over low to medium heat. Stir or shake the pan constantly and watch carefully. Remove the nuts from the pan as soon as they turn light golden because they can go from perfect to burnt very quickly.
Can I substitute the pine nuts?
Yes. Try chopped almonds, pistachios, walnuts, or toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Each gives a different flavor and texture. Adjust the amount to taste.
How can I make this dish vegan or nut free?
For a vegan version, swap the butter for olive oil or a plant-based butter. For nut-free, replace pine nuts with toasted seeds like pumpkin or sunflower, or omit them and add fresh herbs for flavor.
Can I prepare this ahead and how do I reheat it?
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. To reheat, add a splash of water or a little butter, cover, and warm on the stovetop over low heat or microwave until heated through. Rice can be frozen 1 to 2 months but may change texture.
Can I cook the rice and pine nuts together from raw rice?
The recipe is built for already cooked hot rice. If you prefer to cook together, make a pilaf: toast the nuts in butter, add uncooked rice and stir to coat, then add the measured cooking liquid and simmer until done.
How many people does this recipe serve and can I scale it?
Four cups of cooked rice typically serves 4 to 6 as a side. Scale the butter and pine nuts up or down proportionally. Keep the ratio roughly the same to preserve flavor and texture.
Why should the rice be hot when I mix it with the butter and nuts?
Hot rice helps the butter melt and coat each grain, so the flavor spreads evenly. It also keeps the nuts crisp and the dish warm when served.
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