Spiced Vegetable Pilaf with Lemon Yogurt Sauce

Ingredients:

Pilaf

  • 1 cup basmati rice

  • 1/3 cup orzo

  • 3 cups chicken stock

  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder

  • 2 tsp garlic powder

  • 1 Tbsp salt

  • 1 tsp black pepper

  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley + more for garnish

    Vegetables

  • 1 bunch of carrots (6-9 medium carrots)

  • 1/4 cup honey

  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar

  • 2 tsp cinnamon

  • 1 tsp sumac

  • 1/2 head of cauliflower

  • 2 tsp turmeric

  • 1 tsp garam masala

  • 1 tsp cumin

  • olive oil

  • salt and pepper

    Lemon Yogurt Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

  • 1 tbsp water

  • juice of 1/2 lemon

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1/2 tsp pepper

  • 1/2 tsp sumac

    Instructions:

  • Start by making your rice pilaf. Add chicken stock, turmeric powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to a pot. Mix to combine and bring to a boil. Add rice and orzo to the stock and lower heat to a simmer. Cover with a lid and allow to simmer for 20 mins. Remove pot from heat and allow to sit covered for another 10 mins. Fluff with a fork, mix in parsley, and set aside.

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

  • Peel the carrots and cut into 1/2" thick slices at an angle. Toss carrot slices in a medium bowl with a heavy drizzle of olive oil, honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, sumac, and a generous seasoning of salt and pepper. Arrange carrot slices on half of a foil lined baking sheet.

  • Cut the cauliflower into medium sized pieces, about 1/2" thick floret slices. Toss cauliflower in a medium bowl with a heavy drizzle of olive oil, turmeric, garam masala, cumin, and a generous seasoning of salt and pepper. Arrange cauliflower on the other half of the baking tray.

  • Make sure the vegetables are in a single layer for optimal roasting! Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until tender and getting slightly crispy on the edges.

  • Make the lemon yogurt sauce by mixing greek yogurt, water, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and sumac. Adjust thickness by adding more or less water or yogurt.

  • Assembly the pilaf by adding a big scoop of rice to a plate or bowl, top with spiced vegetables, and then drizzle the lemon yogurt sauce over it. You could also make one big platter of this to share!