Basmati Rice Pilaf With Apricots

Submitted by Oolala

"This rice takes on an exotic flare when laced with spices, dried fruits and nuts, from the food network's kitchen cookbook "Making it Easy.""

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup dried apricot, chopped
• 2 slices lemon zest, wide strips
• 2 cups water, cold
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup basmati rice, uncooked, lightly rinsed and drained
• fresh ground black pepper
• 1⁄3 cup mint leaf
• 1⁄4 cup pistachios, can use cashews, unsalted and toasted

directions

1. Put the apricots and lemon zest in the 2 cups of cold water. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the garam masala, and toast, stirring , until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the onion and 1/4 of the salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender and translucent, about 6 minutes.
2. Stir in the rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to brown, about 4 minutes. Stir in the water along with the apricots, lemon zest, the remaining 1 teaspoons salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, wrap a clean dish towel around the saucepan lid, and cover the saucepan.
3. Meanwhile, toast the nuts and set aside.
4. Cook the rice for 10 minutes, set aside for 5 minutes undisturbed, then remove the lid and fluff with a fork.
5. Mound the pilaf on a serving dish and tear the mint over it and top with nuts.

Reviews

[UmmBinat]

Really yummy. This method makes the apricots soft. I used sea salt, to taste, no mint as I didn't have any on hand, pistachio nuts, plus the rest of the ingredients.