Name: Persian pilaf & roasted root loaves
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 40 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 200g carrots , peeled and cut into 1-2cm chunks -; 200g sweet potatoes , peeled and diced like the carrots -; 200g parsnips , peeled and diced like the carrots too -; 3 tbsp olive oil , plus extra for greasing -; 1 red onion , finely chopped -; pinch of saffron -; 1 tsp ground cinnamon -; 1 tsp ground cumin -; 1 tsp ground coriander -; 2 tsp cumin seeds -; 225g paella rice -; 550-600ml vegetable stock -; 100g dried apricots , diced -; 400g can chickpeas , drained - optional (good for bulking the mixture if you want to feed another mouth) -; 150g shelled pistachios -; 2 large eggs , beaten with a fork -; handful coriander leaves -; 500g tub Greek yogurt , to serve -; couscous and green salad, to serve -; 400g can chopped tomatoes -; 500g carton passata -; 2 tbsp honey -; 2 tbsp red wine vinegar -; 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses -; 1 tbsp harissa paste -; 500g chantenay carrots , scrubbed -; 500g baby beetroots -; 250-300g small shallots , peeled and halved -; 2 tbsp olive oil -; 1 tbsp cumin seeds -

Ingredients for - Persian pilaf & roasted root loaves

1. 200g carrots , peeled and cut into 1-2cm chunks

2. 200g sweet potatoes , peeled and diced like the carrots

3. 200g parsnips , peeled and diced like the carrots too

4. 3 tbsp olive oil , plus extra for greasing

5. 1 red onion , finely chopped

6. pinch of saffron

7. 1 tsp ground cinnamon

8. 1 tsp ground cumin

9. 1 tsp ground coriander

10. 2 tsp cumin seeds

11. 225g paella rice

12. 550-600ml vegetable stock

13. 100g dried apricots , diced

14. 400g can chickpeas , drained - optional (good for bulking the mixture if you want to feed another mouth)

15. 150g shelled pistachios

16. 2 large eggs , beaten with a fork

17. handful coriander leaves

18. 500g tub Greek yogurt , to serve

19. couscous and green salad, to serve

20. 400g can chopped tomatoes

21. 500g carton passata

22. 2 tbsp honey

23. 2 tbsp red wine vinegar

24. 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses

25. 1 tbsp harissa paste

26. 500g chantenay carrots , scrubbed

27. 500g baby beetroots

28. 250-300g small shallots , peeled and halved

29. 2 tbsp olive oil

30. 1 tbsp cumin seeds

31. 3 tbsp pomegranate molasses

32. zest and juice 1 orange

33. 150g pomegranate seeds

How to cook deliciously - Persian pilaf & roasted root loaves

1 . Stage

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Toss the carrot chunks, sweet potato and parsnip with 2 tbsp of the oil on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven until golden and tender – about 20-25 mins.

2 . Stage

Meanwhile put the last tbsp of oil in a deep frying or sauté pan with the onion, and cook gently for around 8-10 mins to soften. Stir in the saffron and rice, then stir in the stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat so the rice is gently simmering and cook, stirring occasionally for 25 mins or until the rice is tender and stock just absorbed – like a paella. Stir in the cinnamon, coriander and both types of cumin, plus the chopped apricots and take off the heat. Leave to cool with the roasted veg while you get the rest of the ingredients and tins ready.

3 . Stage

Roughly chop the pistachios. Grease 8 small loaf tins with a little oil, then cut long strips of baking parchment to line the base and ends of each tin – with overhangs to help you lift out the loaves when they’re done.

4 . Stage

Scrape the cooled rice into a big mixing bowl and stir through the beaten eggs with salt and pepper. Scatter over chickpeas if using, plus the roasted veg and 100g of the pistachios and fold through. Divide the mixture between the loaf tins, and use your hands to neatly round the tops. The loaves can be chilled for up to 2 days before baking now.

5 . Stage

Make the sauce by combining all the ingredients with a little salt and pepper in a saucepan. Simmer for 20 mins until thickened and rich. Again, this can sit in the fridge for up to 2 days.

6 . Stage

An hour before you want to serve, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. For the roasted pomegranate roots, mix the carrots, beetroot, shallots and oil in a big roasting tin with some seasoning. Roast on the top shelf for 15 mins, with an empty tray heating on the bottom shelf.

7 . Stage

Stir the cumin seeds, pomegranate molasses, orange juice and zest through the veg and put back on the top shelf. Sit the Persian rice loaves on the preheated tray, and bake for another 30 mins together. Finally, stir the pomegranate seeds through the veg, and swap the shelves – so the loaves sit on the top, for a last 5 mins of cooking. Meanwhile gently reheat the sauce.

8 . Stage

Carefully lift the loaves out of their tins onto a platter, and scatter with the last 50g of chopped pistachios plus some coriander leaves. Let guests help themselves, sitting the Persian loaves in a pool of tangy tomato sauce – with spoonfuls of the roasted pomegranate roots, couscous, salad leaves and Greek yogurt alongside.