Pilafi Me Garithes (Greek style Prawn Pilaf)

 
I am not a great fan of cookbooks; in fact, I don’t own any! I usually find cookbooks fanciful and expensive filled with recipes (often complicated), techniques (not practical in my home kitchen) and ‘too perfect’ photographs. But recently, I got my hands on a huge cookbook ‘The Complete Middle East Cookbook’ by Tess Mallos – and I am hooked! Pages and pages of recipes complete with the origin, history and culinary style of the various countries, the cookbook is an expansive insight into Middle Eastern cooking.

Having grown up in Sharjah (the lesser known city of UAE, except for the infamous Sharjah Cricket Cup) I grew up eating many Arabian classics especially the grilled lamb, hummus, shawarma, falafel to name a few. So this cookbook naturally excited me when I discovered how simple and easy it is to create these Middle Eastern flavours right at home.

And now I not only want to cook every single recipe in this book but also use the Middle Eastern spice blends and incorporate it into other international cuisines. So, the first one from this book was the pilaf – a common Greek rice preparation!

There are different types of pilafs using different proteins like prawns, mussels etc… The traditional Greek flavors are quite subtle with a generous use of olive oil, herbs like parsley and a variety of spices. But this dish uses very little in terms of spices and the white wine makes a real difference!

Print Recipe

Greek style Prawn Pilaf

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Greek

Ingredients

• Fresh prawns – 1 kg deveined and shelled (leave the shells on for added flavour if you want to)
• Olive oil – 4-5 tbsp
• Butter – 2 tbsp
• Onion – 1 large finely chopped
• Dry white wine – ½ cup
• Short grain rice – 2 cups
• Salt – to season
• Ground black pepper – to season
• Parsley – 1 cup finely chopped
• Tomato puree – ½ cup
• Lemon wedges – to garnish

Instructions

• Heat oil and butter in a deep pan; add onions and sauté for a minute.
• Add the prawns and sauté for another minute.
• Season with salt and pepper; add wine, tomato puree and water. (water: rice – 2:1; remember to include wine quantity to the total water quantity)
• Bring to boil and add the washed rice along with parsley. Reduce heat and cook till the rice has absorbed all the water.
• Garnish with parsley sprigs and lemon wedges
• Serve hot with yoghurt dips/raitas (I made a green olive raita to keep with the Greek flavors)