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sephardic jeweled rice recipe Rosh Hashanah recipe side dish
Photo credit Micah Siva

One Pot Sephardic Jeweled Rice with Chickpeas

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5 from 9 reviews

This one-pot jeweled rice is fresh, vibrant and perfect for Rosh Hashanah. The addition of chickpeas turns it into a vegetarian one-pot meal. Persian jeweled rice always makes for a stunning centerpiece, and this easy recipe incorporates symbolic High Holiday foods like carrots, raisins and pomegranate. 

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup long grain basmati rice, rinsed
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 large carrot, grated
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • ¼ tsp cumin
  • ¼ tsp Aleppo pepper
  • ¼ tsp orange zest
  • 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1½ cups vegetable broth, low sodium, if preferred
  • 2 Tbsp currants or raisins
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup dried figs, quartered
  • ½ cup chopped pistachios
  • ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Add the onion and cook for 5-6 minutes until it begins to soften and begin to turn translucent.
  2. Add the rice, and stir until coated with oil. Add the garlic, grated carrot, paprika, turmeric, salt cumin, Aleppo pepper and orange zest, stirring for 2-3 minutes to coat the rice.
  3. Pour the chickpeas and vegetable broth into the saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer and cook, covered, for 15 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed. 
  4. Add the currants, cranberries and figs and let sit for 5 minutes for the fruit to hydrate slightly.
  5. Add the chopped pistachios, pomegranate seeds and fresh parsley just before serving.

Notes

  • You can use low-sodium chicken broth, if preferred.
  • Aleppo pepper is a mild chili flake with a deep red color and a savory, fruity flavor. You can substitute this for a pinch of regular chili flakes, which are much spicier, or an extra ¼ tsp sweet paprika. 
  • Author: Micah Siva
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: One-pot
  • Cuisine: Sephardic