Albanian Roasted Red Pepper Rice Pilaf
This Albanian roasted red pepper rice pilaf is vegan and quite simple to prepare. It requires only a few ingredients and light seasonings. I learned this recipe while I lived in Albania for a time. It’s not a land known for many vegan or even vegetarian options and I found I needed to cook my meals at home. One day I happened upon this rice recipe and veganized it. If you are looking for a simple rice dish that is lightly seasoned and very easy to make, then you’ll love this recipe.
While I was in Albania, I split my time in a few different cities: Durrës, Vlorë and Sarandë. I would start many days at a café, then walk on the beach before returning home to make a salad for lunch. After lunch, I would walk around town, visit the sea, and watch the beautiful sunset. I usually enjoyed a bowl of soup for dinner. After watching some television, I would call it a night. This was pretty much my everyday routine there. It was lovely.
This rice pilaf recipe is one of my favorites. It’s a bit of a hidden gem unknown to much of the world. It has an Italian risotto kind of texture with hearty flavors. We will not be adding any beans or tofu or seitan here but feel free to add your choice of protein.
We are first going to sauté leeks, garlic, and rice. Then we’ll add in the rest of the ingredients and let it all simmer. Finally, we’ll add our garnishes and serve the pilaf hot. This recipe pairs great with my easy tossed salad or roasted red pepper soup.
I encourage you to share your experience in the comments below if you tried this Albanian Roasted Red Pepper Rice Pilaf or made it differently. If you took a photo, please share with me on my instagram account ‘zesty_zahra’ and I will share your stories there. I am always happy to learn about people’s food choices and preferences!
Albanian Roasted Red Pepper Rice Pilaf
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- ½ cup Leeks thinly sliced
- 4 cloves Garlic finely diced
- 1 cup Arborio Rice washed
- 2 cups Water
- 1 cup Roasted Red Peppers diced
- ¼ tsp Smoked Paprika Powder
- ½ tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1 tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- 2 tbsp Fresh Parsley finely diced
Garnish
- Fresh Parsley
Instructions
- Heat a medium size pan over medium heat. Add oil and leeks and sauté for 3 minutes or until golden brown.
- Add garlic and sauté for 1 additional minute. Then add rice and sauté for another minute.
- Add water, roasted red peppers, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Mix everything together and bring it to boil.
- Reduce heat to low and let simmer until water is absorbed.
- Remove from heat, stir in fresh parsley, and serve hot.