Basmati Pilaf With Almonds and Cilantro

What inevitably comes to mind when you think of side dishes? Rice, no doubt. There are a lot of varieties out there, but we like basmati--also known as "popcorn rice" because of it's unique flavor and aroma--the best. It's' the perfect foundation for the bold flavors of cilantro and green onions.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

Ingredients

• 2  teaspoons  olive oil
• 1/3  cup  sliced almonds
• 1  cup  uncooked basmati rice
• 1  garlic clove, minced
• 3/4  cup  water
• 1  (10 1/2-ounce) can beef broth
• 1/4  cup  chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4  cup  chopped green onions
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  black pepper

Preparation

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add almonds, and sauté for 2 minutes or until lightly browned. Add the rice and garlic, and sauté for 2 minutes. Stir in the water and broth, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat; stir in cilantro and the remaining ingredients.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

258 (23% from fat)

Fat:

6.7g (sat 0.8g,mono 4.4g,poly 1.1g)

Protein:

8.4g

Carbohydrate:

40.7g

Fiber:

1.8g

Cholesterol:

0.0mg

Iron:

3mg

Sodium:

540mg

Calcium:

51mg