WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARROZ AND PAELLA?

The main difference is that arroz simply means rice and refers to a variety of rice dishes, while paella is a specific Spanish dish cooked in a wide, shallow pan with ingredients like saffron, seafood, chicken, and vegetables. All paellas are arroz dishes, but not all arroz dishes are paella!

WHAT IS ARROZ BLANCO?

Arroz Blanco is Spanish for "white rice." It’s a simple, plain rice dish typically cooked with water, salt, and sometimes a bit of oil or butter. It’s often served as a side dish to complement flavorful main courses.

DO I HAVE TO ADD THE PUMPKIN?

No, you can leave it out or add other veggies like cooked mushrooms, beans, cauliflower, or corn.

SHOULD I RINSE THE RICE?

It is a personal preference but it's a good idea to rinse the rice before cooking. Rinsing helps remove excess starch, which can make the rice too sticky. It will result in a fluffier texture, especially for dishes like arroz with pumpkin and coconut, where you want the rice to remain light and separate. Just rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear.

ARROZ WITH PUMPKIN AND COCONUT

Description

If you’re looking for a dish that’s light, fluffy, full of flavor, and easy, it's Arroz with Pumpkin and Coconut. Creamy coconut milk, caramelized pumpkin, and fluffy rice come together in the ultimate rice dish to serve as a main meal or side dish.

Ingredients

Scale

FOR THE PUMPKIN

1-2 cups of diced pumpkin or butternut squash

a good drizzle of olive oil

2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

FOR THE RICE

1 onion finely diced

oil for frying

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

2 cups jasmine rice, or basmati rice

1 can of full-fat coconut milk (400 ml / 13.5-ounce can)

1 1/2 cups vegetable broth or water

1 teaspoon salt

TO GARNISH

pumpkin seeds, pecan nuts, and fresh cilantro

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Instructions

Prep the Pumpkin:
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss the diced pumpkin with olive oil, a sprinkle of salt, and sugar. Spread it out on a baking sheet in a single layer and roast for 20–25 minutes, or until the pumpkin is caramelized and tender. For extra crunch, add the pumpkin seeds to the tray 5 minutes before the end of the baking time. This will lightly toast them to perfection.
Sauté the Onion:
While the pumpkin roasts, heat a splash of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook until soft and translucent—about 5 minutes.
Add the Turmeric:
Stir in the turmeric for that golden hue (and a subtle earthy flavor boost).
Cook the Rice:
Add the rice to the pot, stirring to coat it in the onion-turmeric mixture. Pour in the coconut milk, vegetable broth (or water), and salt. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to low and cook covered for 20 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes until the rice is tender and has absorbed all the liquid.
Assemble the Dish:
Fluff the cooked rice with a fork, then gently fold in the roasted pumpkin. Sprinkle the top with fresh cilantro, the toasted pumpkin seeds, and pecans for that nutty crunch.
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MAKING THE RICE IN A RICE COOKER:

If you’re making this recipe in a rice cooker, use ½ cup less water than the original recipe calls for.

Rinse the Rice:
Rinse the rice as directed in the recipe to remove excess starch.
Combine Ingredients:
Add the coconut milk, vegetable broth (or water), salt, turmeric, and rice into the rice cooker and give them a quick stir. (no onions are used when making it in a rice cooker)
Cook:
Set the rice cooker to the white rice setting and let it cook.
Steam:
Once the rice cooker finishes, keep it sealed and let the rice steam for another 5-10 minutes.
Fluff and Serve:
Open the lid, fluff the rice with a fork, and gently fold in the roasted pumpkin and any optional toppings like cilantro, pumpkin seeds, or pecans.
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Notes

Don’t Skip the Sugar: A pinch of sugar on the pumpkin helps it caramelize, creating irresistible sweetness and texture.

Rice Choice Matters: Jasmine rice is the aromatic queen, but basmati works for a fluffier finish.

Toast Those Seeds: Adding the pumpkin seeds to the baking tray for the last 5 minutes ensures they’re lightly toasted and extra flavorful.

Top It Right: Toasted pecans and pumpkin seeds add crunch. Fresh cilantro flavor elevates this dish from good to great.

Method: Stove Top
Cuisine: American