Harvest Rice

Harvest rice is one of those side dishes that sounds simple but surprises everyone at the table. Brown rice gets tossed in a hot skillet with sauteed carrots, apples, plump raisins, scallions, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Sweet, savory, and nutty all at once.

The trick is cooking the carrots first until they’re tender-crisp, then adding the apples and onions just long enough to soften without losing their bite. Everything goes fast once the skillet is hot, so have your cooked rice ready before you start.

This works beautifully alongside roasted chicken or pork, and it’s hearty enough to stand on its own for a light vegetarian meal.

Chef Tips

• Use a firm apple variety like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. Soft apples turn to mush in the hot skillet
• Toast the sesame seeds first in a dry pan for deeper, nuttier flavor before adding to the rice
• Slice the carrots thin so they cook quickly and stay tender-crisp in the short cook time

Variations

• Fall harvest version: Add dried cranberries instead of raisins and a pinch of cinnamon
• Asian-inspired twist: Splash in a tablespoon of soy sauce and swap sesame seeds for toasted cashews
• Add protein: Stir in cubed tofu or shredded rotisserie chicken to make it a full meal