The next time you’re faced with a big bowl of leftover rice and have no idea what to do with it, look to classic rice pilaf for inspiration. Rice pilaf is made by sautéing aromatics in fat, adding rice, and cooking the whole thing in broth, which infuses the dish with savory flavor. Here, you’ll start by cooking shallots and garlic in butter, adding mushrooms and fresh thyme, and then deglazing the pan with chicken or vegetable broth. Because the rice is already cooked, you’ll add it in at the end, which still gives you all the wonderful creaminess you expect from a good pilaf. This creamy mushroom and herb-flecked skillet makes the perfect partner to anything you’re cooking for dinner, be it pork chops, grilled chicken, or even a platter of roasted vegetables. Better yet, top the pilaf with a poached or fried egg to make it the star of your plate. continue reading »