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Italian Rice Pilaf with Toasted Almonds

posted by Liz Berg on September 2, 2023

A Pilaf Recipe is a perfect way to round out any meal. This Italian Rice Pilaf with Toasted Almonds is simple enough for a weeknight meal, yet impressive enough for company!

This Rice Casserole is a frequent flyer at our house. With growing boys in the house, there was always a need for a filling side dish, usually potatoes or rice. This was a hit from the start.

Italian Rice Pilaf with Toasted Almonds in a shallow casserole dish.

Table of Contents hide

5 Frequently Asked Questions

6 You May Also Like

7 Italian Rice Pilaf with Toasted Almonds

Why You Must Make

This Mushroom Rice Pilaf has been an Indianapolis favorite since it appeared in our local Junior League cookbook, (Affiliate Link) Winners: Winning Recipes from the Junior League of Indianapolis.

I’ve had it at dinner parties and made it for company. It’s an easy recipe, but special enough for guests.
Cooked in the oven, this rice is easy to make ahead, park in the fridge, then bake up when guests arrive. You must extend the baking time if it comes straight from the refrigerator to the oven.
It’s a delicious, easy way to shake up your side dish repertoire.

Rice Pilaf Ingredients with labels on a sheet pan.

Ingredient Notes

Kitchen Staples – Butter, Long Grain Rice
Mushrooms – Your favorite variety. Buy sliced to save a step.
Red Bell Pepper – Chopped
Italian Seasoning – Mine is a mixture of oregano, basil, marjoram, thyme, and rosemary (I use Penzey’s brand)
Green Onions – Also known as scallions, chopped
Chicken Broth – Use vegetable broth for a vegetarian dish. I use Pacific brand as it’s not overly salty. If you use unsalted broth, you’ll need to add salt to your dish before baking or it will be very bland.
Slivered Almonds – Toast in the oven or in a skillet to bring out their essential oils for more flavor if you’d like.

How to Make

Expert Tips

I love easy, make-ahead dishes when planning a dinner menu, whether for a big family gathering or a dinner party. I love to focus on an unforgettable entree and a spectacular dessert. The rest should be delicious, memorable, yet easy! So it’s great to have a handful of terrific side dishes that can practically be made blindfolded. Well, maybe not that easy since there is some mushroom sauteing involved!

The almonds can be toasted ahead of time, then the rice, mushrooms, onions, and season cooked in butter, before pouring it all into a baking dish.
It’s easy to tweak to your taste. Don’t like almonds? Leave them out. Love mushrooms? Add another variety to the mix.
The broth and almonds are added, then the whole shebang is popped into the oven. As Ina would say, “How easy is that???”

Overhead view of Italian Rice Pilaf in a round casserole.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pilaf?

According to the Food Lover’s Companion, pilaf is a rice or bulghur dish that originated in the Near East. It’s made by browning the rice in butter or oil before cooking it in broth. There are often other additions like vegetables or proteins like meat or poultry. It can be eaten as a side dish or entree.

What is the Difference Between Pilaf and Risotto?

Pilaf bakes into a dryer, loose-grained rice dish whereas risotto is made with European rice, Arborio, which is starchier, a smaller grain, and round. Much more liquid is used to make risotto compared to pilaf and the results are much creamier.

What Type of Rice is Best for Pilaf?

Long grain rice like Jasmine or Basmati is best for pilaf.