Moroccan Rice With Apricots And Pine Nuts Food

BASMATI RICE PILAF WITH DRIED FRUITS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Place the rice in a medium bowl and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Using your hands, gently swish the grains to release any excess starch. Carefully pour off the water, leaving the rice in the bowl. Repeat four to five times, until the water runs almost clear. Using a fine mesh strainer, drain the water from rice. Place the strainer over a bowl and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a pot over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring regularly, until softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add the cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, and garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds longer. Add the rice to the pot, and cook, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes. Add the water, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes. Off the heat, remove the lid and sprinkle the dried fruit over the rice (do not mix in). Place the lid over the pot and let stand for 10 minutes. Toss in the toasted almonds, fluff the rice with a fork, and serve.

MOROCCAN RICE WITH APRICOTS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Place the apricots in a heatproof bowl; cover them with boiling water and set aside to soften, about 30 minutes.
• Chop and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat; add in the pine nuts, stirring for 2 minutes, or until lightly browned.
• Add in the scallions, rice, reserved apricots, parsley, salt, saffron, cayenne, cardamom, and cumin.
• Cook, stirring until well mixed and heated through, about 10 minutes; taste and adjust seasonings.
• Serve.

MOROCCAN RICE (PILAF)

Steps:

• Saute: Place the onion and the olive oil in a large pot and sauté under medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add cumin, allspice, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, pepper and rice and stir until rice gets a white color, about 2-3 minutes.
• Simmer: Add the stock (or water), salt and saffron, cover the pot and wait until it starts to boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook covered until almost all of the water is absorbed, about 5 - 10 minutes.
• Rest: Turn off the heat, add the dried fruits and almonds and stir/fluff up gently with a fork. Cover the pot and let the pilaf rest for 15-20 minutes.

BASMATI RICE PILAF WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• 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 teaspoon of the salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender and translucent, about 6 minutes.
• 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 teaspoon 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 saucepan. Cook for 10 minutes, set aside for 5 minutes undisturbed, then remove lid and fluff with a fork. Mound the pilaf on a serving platter or in a shallow bowl, tear the mint over, and top with the nuts.
• Game Plan: Toast the nuts while the rice cooks.

MEDITERRANEAN SPICED RICE WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, over medium heat, warm the olive oil, add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
• Stir in the chicken stock and water; bring to a boil.
• Add the rice; reduce heat, cover and cook for 15 minutes or until rice is almost tender.
• Stir in seasonings, apricots and green onion; cook an additional 5 minutes to blend flavors.

SAFFRON-CARDAMOM RICE

Steps:

• Melt 1 teaspoon butter in small skillet over medium heat. Add pine nuts; sauté until golden, about 5 minutes. Cool.
• Melt remaining 2 teaspoons butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add rice and stir 2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups water, raisins, sugar, salt, saffron and cardamom. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand covered 10 minutes. Stir in pine nuts.

MOROCCAN RICE

Steps:

• Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear; drain.
• Place rice in a microwave-safe rice cooker or bowl.
• Add enough stock until it covers the rice by 2cm.
• Cover with a lid or a double layer of plastic wrap and Cook on High/800watts/100% for 5 minutes.
• Cook on Medium/500watts/50% for a further 7 minutes.
• Remove from microwave and set aside.
• Meanwhile place oil, onion, almonds, pine nuts, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and chili powder in a microwave safe rice cooker or bowl.
• Cook uncovered stirring every minute on High for 3 to 4 minutes or until the nuts are toasted and the mixture is fragrant.
• Add raisins, orange rind and juice.
• Cook on high for 1 minute.
• Add the nut mixture and coriander to the rice and stir gently to combine.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper.

MOROCCAN RICE PILAF

Steps:

• 1. Melt butter on medium-low heat in a small ovenproof pot. Stir in onions, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until onions are translucent (but not browned or caramelized).
• 2. Add cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and rice, and stir well so that the rice is evenly coated with butter. Cook for 1 more minute.
• 3. Stir in stock and dried fruit. Bring to a boil on high heat. Once the stock comes to a boil, cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and let simmer 15 to 18 minutes or until rice is light and fluffy and has absorbed nearly all of the liquid.
• 4. Just before serving, stir in salt, pepper and almonds, and fluff with a fork. Serve immediately while still hot.