For our midterms in chef class, we were given a bag of mystery ingredients and tasked to produce magic with one dish in ninety minutes. (Note to self: withdraw any requests to be on “Iron Chef.”)  Actually, there’s another show on the Food Network called “Chopped“ which challenges chefs to do something similar in much less time.  They compete amongst each other and whoever doesn’t pass muster with the judges, goes on the ‘chopping block.’  Thankfully, we all ‘made the grade’ and produced some pretty tasty dishes…

My bag contained the following ingredients: sugar snap peas, brown Basmati rice and golden raisins.  Are your tastebuds tantalized?  My palate went to “Asia” and I began creating a recipe which, as my sous chef so gently acknowledged, had way too many ingredients was somewhat complex.  What came to life was a creamy, delicious recipe which could be enjoyed as a side dish or a vegetarian main course.

Curry Confetti Rice

Serves 8

2 cups brown rice, soaked overnight
2 cups water
1 cup organic unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup vegetable stock
1 TB curry powder
1 TB fresh ginger, minced
1 tsp. salt
12 oz. snap peas, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 tomato, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 TB orange zest, split in half
1/3 cup golden raisins, coarsely chopped
1 cup raw cashews, toasted and coarsely chopped
1/3 cup chopped cilantro

Bring water, coconut milk and stock to boil.  Add rice, curry and ginger, stir to combine, and turn down heat to low. Simmer for 40 minutes, or when all liquid has been absorbed.
While rice is cooking, blanch snap peas, drain, and follow with a quick ice bath to stop the cooking.
Once rice is finished, gently fold in snap peas, tomato, salt and 1/2 TB orange zest.  Rice will be somewhat sticky (you can add a smidge more water if you’d like.)
Let it rest for about 5 minutes. To serve, put rice mixture into a one-cup ramekin, invert and release onto plate.
Garnish with raisins, cilantro, cashews and orange zest.  Serve immediately.

Phew, the pressure is off!  Now, what recipe do these ingredients conjure up for you??