Sour Cherry Rice Food

SOUR CHERRY RICE

Steps:

• Place rice in a medium bowl, and add enough water to cover. Pour off water, and repeat process 2 to 3 more times. Add enough cold water to cover. Add salt, and let stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add rice, and cook until almost tender, 5 minutes. Drain.
• Meanwhile, in a medium nonstick stockpot, combine 2 tablespoons water, butter, yogurt, and 1 teaspoon saffron water. Add rice, layering with the cherries, and cherry liquid. Sprinkle with remaining saffron water and the oil. Cover top of stockpot with a thick kitchen towel, and place lid on top. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, and cook for 30 minutes more. Invert rice onto a large platter. Serve immediately.

SOUR CHERRY RICE

Steps:

• Fill large pot with water; add 2 tablespoons salt and soak rice for two hours; drain.
• In large nonstick pot, add 9 cups water, 2 tablespoons salt and pre-soaked rice; bring to boil stirring gently occasionally to prevent rice from sticking; cook until al dente; Drain.
• Rinse rice with cold water, then shake colander to remove excess water; set aside.
• In skillet, fry onion in 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter until golden; lower flame.
• Add saffron and sour cherries to onions; simmer for 15 minutes, being careful not to burn.
• Cover bottom of nonstick pot with olive oil.
• Separate one piece of pita bread and place it on the bottom of pot.
• Spoon thick layer of rice over pita bread; spoon layer of sour cherry preserves over rice, then alternate layers, forming a mound.
• Poke holes in rice mixture with handle of spatula to allow steam to rise.
• Mix until rice takes on color of preserves.
• Melt remaining 11/2 sticks of butter (6 ounces); pour evenly over rice. (If juice from cherries gathers around edges of pot, skim off excess so tadiq at bottom won't be mushy.).
• Cover with clean towel and put lid on.
• Place pot on medium heat.
• When you hear sizzling at the bottom (after about 5 minutes), bring down heat to low. Cook covered for 45 minutes to an hour.

SOUR CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Pour syrup into a 1-quart heavy saucepan, setting aside cherries.
• Whisk sugar, wine, and cornstarch into cherry syrup until smooth, then bring to a boil over moderate heat, whisking constantly, and boil until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
• Remove from heat, then stir in almond extract and cherries and cool.
• Sauce can be made 4 days ahead and chilled, covered.