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A plate with Greek rice pilaf-pilafi on a table.
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Greek Rice-Pilafi

Our Greek rice-pilafi is a delicious side dish with pine nuts, chestnuts, and cranberries that complements your main course.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Greek
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 666kcal
Author by Jenny Skrapaliori Graves

Equipment

  • oven-proof skillet medium size

Ingredients

  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup rum 
  • ½ cup pine nuts 
  • ½ cup butter total, at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion finely chopped 
  • 1 cup parboiled rice
  • ½ cup chestnuts precooked, cut in half
  • 1-2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 cups broth chicken or vegetable
  • sea salt
  • freshly ground pepper

For serving-optional

  • thyme leaves roughly chopped
  • chili flakes
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a bowl, soak the dried cranberries in the rum for 15 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 340°F / 170°C.
  • Heat one tablespoon of butter in an oven-proof pot over medium-high heat. Add the pinenuts and toast for a couple of minutes while stirring continuously.
  • Heat one tablespoon of butter in an oven-proof pot over medium-high heat.
    Add the pinenuts and toast for a couple of minutes while stirring continuously.
  • Transfer the pinenuts to a plate with a slotted spoon. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and saute the onion until soft and fragrant. 
  • Add the rice and sauté for another 30 seconds, stirring.
    Add the pinenuts, chestnuts, the cranberries, and the rum, and continue sauteing for 1-2 minutes until the alcohol evaporates.
  • Add the broth, season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper, and bring to a boil.
  • Cover the pot for 25 minutes. Remove the rice from the oven and leave it covered for 5-10 minutes to continue cooking. 
  • Open the pan, add the remaining butter, and mix gently until incorporated.
    Season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
    Serve immediately or cover with aluminum foil until serving.

Notes

Alternative Cooking Methods 
Stovetop
If you don’t have an oven-proof skillet or prefer to keep things on the stovetop, you can easily make this Greek Rice Pilaf (Pilafi) in a regular pot.
  1. Follow the same steps through sautéing the onions, toasting the rice, and adding the nuts, cranberries, and chestnuts.
  2. Add the broth, season with salt and pepper, and bring everything to a gentle boil.
  3. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot tightly, and let the pilafi cook for 15–20 minutes, or until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid.
  4. Keep an eye on it — if the liquid evaporates too quickly before the rice is tender, add a few tablespoons of warm broth or water.
  5. Once cooked, remove from heat and let it rest, covered, for 5–10 minutes so the steam finishes the cooking process.
  6. Fluff with a fork, stir in the remaining butter, and serve warm.
Tip: A heavy-bottomed pot works best here — it distributes heat evenly and prevents the rice from sticking or burning.
 
Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Method
To make this Greek Rice Pilaf (Pilafi) in an Instant Pot, follow the same prep steps — soaking the cranberries, toasting the nuts, and sautéing the onions.
  1. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add the butter and olive oil.
  2. Sauté the onions until soft and translucent. Add the rice and stir for about 30 seconds to coat the grains.
  3. Stir in the toasted nuts, chestnuts, soaked cranberries (with any remaining liquid), and the cinnamon stick.
  4. Pour in the broth, season with salt and pepper, and deglaze the bottom of the pot by scraping with a wooden spoon.
  5. Close the lid and set the valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
  6. Allow a 10-minute natural pressure release, then carefully release any remaining steam manually.
  7. Open the lid, add the remaining butter, and gently fluff with a fork.
  8. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving warm.
Tip: Instant Pot models can vary slightly. If the rice feels a bit undercooked, cover and let it sit on Keep Warmmode for 5–10 minutes — the residual steam will finish it perfectly.
 
 
Nutritional Info: These numbers are estimates, meant as a helpful guide. Actual values may vary based on the exact ingredients and products you choose.

Nutrition

Calories: 666kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 678mg | Potassium: 542mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 972IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 3mg