Joshua McFadden's Spiced Brown Rice with Chickpeas

Joshua McFadden's Spiced Brown Rice with Chickpeas

According to Joshua McFadden, “this quick-to-prep dish is simple, comforting, and nutritious enough to be a main dish, though it’s lovely as a side partner to a pork chop or chicken breast, or as a filling for stuffed peppers.” While you wait for this one-dish recipe to cook, your house will fill up with the delicious aromas of turmeric, cardamom, coriander, cumin, mustard seeds, and more.

This recipe was adapted with permission from Grains for Every Season: Rethinking Our Way with Grains by Joshua McFadden.

All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwaves and home kitchens to make sure they work — and work well.

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Select your microwave wattage in the dropdown. The cook times in this recipe will automatically change accordingly.

To find your microwave’s wattage, look at the front panel, the side of the door, in the back, in the user manual, or Google the model number. If both an input and output wattage are listed, use the output.

Wattage translates to how powerful the microwave is. The higher the wattage, the faster your food will cook. The lower the wattage, the longer the cook time.

When in doubt, start with less time — you can always add more.

700w

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Product Size

  • Small Dish
  • Medium Shallow
  • Large Shallow
  • Medium Deep
  • Large Deep

Prep Time

8 mins

Cook Time

34 mins

Free Time

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 ½” (7.5cm) chunk fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon brown mustard seeds
  • ½ cup (100g) brown basmati or other long-grain rice
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • Pinch of dried chile flakes
  • ¾ cup (180ml) chicken broth or water
  • ½ 15.5oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained well
  • Plain yogurt, for serving
  • Lime wedges, for squeezing
  • Small handful fresh mint, parsley, and/or cilantro leaves, for garnish

Preparation

  1. Add the coconut or olive oil, onion, ginger, garlic, turmeric, cardamom, coriander, cumin, and mustard seeds to the Anyday Deep Dish. Cover with the lid (knob lifted) and cook in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until onions are translucent and spices are very fragrant but not burned.
  2. Add the brown rice, salt, chile flakes, and chicken broth or water to the dish. Cover and cook at Power Level 4

    Certain foods cook best in the microwave at lower power levels. 

    Different microwaves have different settings. See your microwave manual (or look it up online) to learn how to change your microwave’s power level.

    For many microwaves: enter the cook time, press the “Power” (or “Power Level”) button, and select a number between 1-10. Other microwaves may require selecting the Power Level first, and then entering the cook time.

    Microwaves list power levels in different ways. Here’s a guide to help you adjust:

    PL 10 = 100% = High (default)

    PL 9 = 90% = High

    PL 8 = 80% = Med-High

    PL 7 = 70% = Med-High

    PL 6 = 60% = Medium

    PL 5 = 50% = Medium

    PL 4 = 40% = Med-Low

    PL 3 = 30% = Med-Low

    PL 2 = 20% = Low

    PL 1 = 10% = Low

    You will know if the power level has been successfully changed if you hear periodic changes in the microwave’s tone after it begins cooking.

    for 30 minutes, or until rice is tender and has fully absorbed the liquid. Let rest covered for 5 minutes to gently finish steaming.
  3. Stir in the chickpeas. Cover and cook at full power for another 2-3 minutes until warmed through. Taste and adjust with more salt or chili flakes.
  4. Serve with a dollop of yogurt, a squeeze of lime, and a handful of fresh herbs.

Serving suggestions & tips

  • If rice is still too hard after the cook time, add a few tablespoons of water and continue cooking at the recommended power level in 2-minute increments.
  • If it’s taking longer than expected, increase the power level by 1. If it’s bubbling over or the lid is lifting, decrease the power level by 1.
  • Microwave ovens vary, even with the same wattages. Adjust cooking times as needed.