Easy Asparagus Pilau recipe is a healthy asparagus rice recipe
This delicious asparagus pilau recipe is extremely easy to make, nutritious and full of flavour. Why not make it this week for your family?
Why is this Asparagus pilau good for weight loss?
This recipe is really easy to make and as it includes plenty of onion and asparagus this makes up a good amount of your daily vegetables.
All rice, as you will probably know is pretty healthy and brown rice is just that bit better with more fibre.
If you follow Slimming World, Weight Watchers (WW), Noom or any other weight loss plan you can usually count this as free or easily within your allowances, of course always check your plan for advice.
Other benefits of asparagus
Asparagus is also a great source of antioxidants and with its high fibre content, it keeps you full for longer. Whilst asparagus is well known for making your urine smell funny it also acts as a diuretic making you wee more.
This is a great way of preventing UTIs and flushing excess salt and fluid from your body. So next time you are feeling like you have retained a lot of water consider eating asparagus.
Adaptions to the asparagus pilau rice
One very easy adaption to this recipe would be to use purple asparagus. It looks lovely, has a slightly different taste and strangely enough is reported to have higher levels of antioxidants too.
Brown basmati rice can be replaced with white basmati rice. Adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Replace asparagus with green beans or broccoli for a different vegetable twist.
Alternatively, what about using your favourite vegetable? It would work well with anything really but you may need to add the vegetable a little earlier depending on how easily it cooks.
Add toasted cashews or almonds for a crunchy texture and extra flavour. These are also great for adding protein for vegetarians. For meat eaters, you could also serve this with soy garlic chicken wings which would go well too.
Drizzle with a yoghurt and mint sauce for a refreshing contrast.
Other recipes you may enjoy
If you have enjoyed this asparagus pilau, why not check out my other recipes with rice.
Do you find recipes like this that are quick, easy and perfect to have for lunch?
I have a directory full of lunch ideas you can find here including many that do not require a microwave if you don’t have access to one at work.
If you haven’t tried my roast plum salad then pop it on your meal plan, I am positive you will love it!
Don’t forget to try my ready-made 7-day meal plans including one full of vegetables!
Easy Asparagus Pilau rice recipe a healthy asparagus recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 Portions 1x
- Category: Main Meal
- Method: Stove top, hob
- Cuisine: Indian
- Diet: Low Calorie
Description
Delicious asparagus pilaf perfect for all weathers. It is easy to make and full of flavour.
Ingredients
250g brown basmati rice
300g trimmed asparagus
2 medium onions (peeled and diced)
2 cloves of garlic (crushed)
3 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 tsp cumin seeds
3 whole cloves
2 Cardamom pods (lightly crushed)
700ml hot vegetable stock
Juice of half a lemon or 2 tbsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper to season
Parsley to garnish
Instructions
Rinse the rice in cold water then leave to soak for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, trim the ends of the asparagus and cut the remaining length into approximately 3cm long pieces.
Using a large lidded saucepan and low-calorie cooking spray fry the onion, garlic, thyme, cumin seeds, cloves and cardamom pods for 5 minutes or until the onion is soft.
Drain the rice that had been soaking and add the grains to the pan and cook for a further one minute.
Add vegetable stock and cover the pan tightly with foil and then the pan lid and turn the heat to low and cook for a further 30 minutes without removing the foil or lid.
Remove foil and lid and add the asparagus to the pan, stir through and then replace foil and lid and cook for a further 5 minutes.
Remove from heat, remove lid and foil, season well and add lemon juice and stir through.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve immediately
Notes
This can be cooled and reheated and will be just as tasty.
Do not be tempted to miss out the lemon juice as it really makes the dish!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Portion
- Calories: 298
- Sugar: 6.8 g
- Sodium: 419.3 mg
- Fat: 2.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 64.7 g
- Protein: 7.6 g
I love asparagus… so come April, I head down to the local farm shop. Can’t wait for this year’s crop to be ready (the fresh stuff always tastes better) to try this recipe again. It was really good… but it will be even better with Norfolk asparagus!