Broad Bean and Courgette Pilaf Recipe

This Broad Bean and Courgette Pilaf Recipe takes about ½ an hour to prepare,   30 mins to 1 hour to cook

Ingredients for Broad Bean and Courgette Pilaf:

• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• 50ml/2fl oz vegetable oil
• 1 onion, peeled, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled, crushed
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 10 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
• 2 cloves
• 225g/8oz basmati rice, soaked in water for 20 minutes and drained
• 200g/7oz broad beans
• 400ml/14fl oz vegetable stock
• 4 courgettes sliced  into one inch pieces
• olive oil, for brushing
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 50g/2oz butter

To serve:

• chopped fresh parsley
• lemon juice
• yoghurt

Method for Broad Bean and Courgette Pilaf:

1. Heat a dry frying pan and add the cumin and coriander seeds. Fry over a medium heat, moving the spices around the pan frequently to prevent them from burning, for 2-3 minutes, or until aromatic and lightly browned. Transfer to a mortar and grind with a pestle.
2. In a pan, heat the vegetable oil and fry the onion and garlic over a medium-low heat for 6-8 minutes, or until softened. Add the ground toasted spices, the cinnamon stick, ground turmeric, cardamom pods and cloves and cook for 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the rice, broad beans and stock, cover the pan with a lid and cook over a low heat for 12-15 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
4. Meanwhile, heat a griddle pan until smoking. Brush the courgettes with the olive oil, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper then cook on the griddle for 2-3 minutes on both sides, or until charred and softened. Set aside.
5. To serve, stir the butter into the pilaf until melted, then spoon into serving bowls and top with the griddled courgette pieces.
6. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, a squeeze of lemon juice and a dollop of yoghurt.