Microwave Rice Pilaf -- Simple Sustenance While Diego Builds Bridges

Diego sent photographs from his latest project — a pedestrian bridge over a canal in a border community. The bridge is small — forty feet, concrete and steel — but the bridge connects two neighborhoods that were separated by water, and the connecting is Diego's life work, and the life work is the bridge, and the bridge is the family business in concrete form.

When I saw Diego’s photographs — that small concrete bridge joining two neighborhoods across a canal — I felt the weight of all the ordinary days that went into building it. His work is deliberate and steady, one pour at a time, and that evening I wanted to cook something that matched that rhythm: nothing showy, nothing complicated, just a reliable, nourishing rice pilaf made simply in the microwave, the kind of dish that keeps you grounded while the people you love do the work they were made to do.

Microwave Rice Pilaf

Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 18 minutes | Total Time: 23 minutes | Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup long-grain white rice
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

1. Sauté aromatics. Place butter, onion, and celery in a 2-quart microwave-safe dish. Microwave uncovered on HIGH for 2–3 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the onion is softened and translucent.
2. Toast the rice. Add the dry rice to the dish and stir to coat with the butter and vegetables. Microwave uncovered on HIGH for 2 minutes, stirring once, until the rice smells lightly nutty.
3. Add broth and seasonings. Pour in the chicken broth and stir in the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine evenly.
4. Cook the pilaf. Cover the dish tightly with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap (leave one corner vented). Microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes, then reduce to MEDIUM (50% power) and cook for 10–12 minutes, until the liquid is fully absorbed and the rice is tender.
5. Rest and fluff. Let the dish stand covered for 5 minutes. Remove the cover, fluff with a fork, and taste for seasoning. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve immediately.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 220 | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Carbs: 37g | Fiber: 1g | Sodium: 340mg