Zucchini Rice Pilaf -Instant Pot or Stovetop

Exciting news folks... This Zucchini Rice Pilaf is the first zucchini recipe of 2024:@) And I honestly hope there will be many more to come! This recipe comes together pretty quickly and I used my ♥Instant Pot pressure cooker. But it could easily be made on the stove top too. When it comes to pilaf, we can add any vegetables we have or would like. I cooked the rice with some onion and large grated carrot, and added the zucchini and almonds while fluffing the cooked rice. I like for my zucchini to have a little body, and the almonds added some crunch. This was a great side dish and can easily be made vegetarian by subbing vegetable broth for the chicken broth, and maybe add a little olive oil instead of butter if desired.

Notes: 

• I used water and bouillon, you can easily sub broth or stock if you have that on-hand. 
• I used the biggest holes on the grater for the carrots and zucchini, you know your crowd... Grating smaller might help hide the veggies. If you cook the zucchini with the rice, it will almost disappear. And if you peel it, well, nobody will know it's in there at all:@)
• Leftovers? Stir fry some onion, cabbage and garlic. Toss in some broccoli or peas if that sounds good, add soy sauce and wa-la, this is a nice base for fried rice.
• My Zucchini Pinterest Board here.

So far the plants are hanging in there and I like the idea of trying to grow them vertically. I especially like cutting the large lower leaves off as the plant grows upward. It's airier, cleaner, easier to see what's growing, and much more contained. 

More Zucchini and Rice Recipes:

Zucchini & Rice with Butter

Zucchini & Rice w/Tomato Sauce

Zucchini Rice with Cheese

Taco Rice w/Zucchini & Black Beans

Spanish Rice w/Hamburger & Zucchini

Zucchini Rice Pilaf -♥Instant Pot

1 C uncooked long grain rice

1 carrot, shredded

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1 Tblsp dried onion -or- medium onion, chopped

1 Tblsp butter

1 1/2 C water

1 1/4 tsp chicken bouillon granules

1 small/medium zucchini, shredded

Handful of slivered almonds

S&P to taste

1. Add everything ~except zucchini and almonds~ to vessel. Close lid, push rice button, automatic release.
2. *Alternately: add ~except zucchini and almonds~ to pot, increase the water or broth to 2 C. Boil, reduce to low simmer, cover and cook on stove for about 20-22 minutes or until rice is done.
3. Remove lid, fluff rice stirring in zucchini and almonds.
4. S&P to taste.

Let's use up those zukes, and

Have a Happy Day:@)