How to make rice more interesting?

[bitzermaloney]

Have got some salmon fillets to cook and was thinking of serving them with some rice, but want to something a bit tastier than just plain rice. Have got the usual storecupboard ingredients and things like lemon, creme fraiche etc.

Any ideas how I could cook the rice?

TIA

I like to do vegetable rice - add a veggie stock cube to the water and handfuls of whatever veg you have - frozen peas and sweetcorn work well, or chopped sauteed peppers, finely diced carrots, anything really.

Try it the Persian way. Firstly fry off some finely chopped leeks and garlic til softened. Wash basmati rice til water runs clear(ish). Boil in plenty of well salted water til aldente (sp?) by which I mean less than pasta, like it needs a couple more minutes. Drain. Line the bottom of a saucepan with oil and a layer of 5mm sliced potatoes. Pile on the rice into a dome shape with layers of the leeks and lots of dry dill. Put on a medium heat with a lid on til there's a good amount of steam in the pan, then cover lid with a teatowel and turn down to very low heat. Leave for 30 mins to 45 mins. Mix the rice up as you dish out to that leeks and dill are evenly mixed. It should be light and fluffy with a layer of crispy potatoes at the bottom. I know it sounds like a bit of a faf, and I'm half Persian so I'm a bit biased, but it really is the best way of making rice. Can do it this way plain or add any number of other delicious things depending what your main is.

Mmm, that sounds lush! DO you eat the potatoes?

Yes - best bit and always a fight over the last one. If you are really clever and a good cook, like my lovely aunties, you can mix rice, yoghurt, saffron and egg and make a layer of that at the bottom, which then makes like a lovely crispy rice cake thing at the bottom, called tadigh (sp?). Totally lovely.

I would make a sauce for the plain boiled rice by baking the salmon in a casserole dish with onion, ginger, garlic, chilli, some veg ie mushrooms or peppers and soy sauce and lemon juice for moisture. It's yum and very easy.

Thanks for all those. Made vegetable rice in the end, but will definitely try the other ideas, sound fantastic.

next time you have some of those in the cupboard try this or a version of it, omg it is so so so good you can substitute egg for prawn or...it is so nice might have to put it on the menu for next week!!!