Apricot And Pistachio Baked Rice Recipes

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.

RICE WITH PARSLEY, ALMONDS, AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Toss almonds with oil on a small rimmed baking sheet; season with salt. Roast, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Let cool, then chop.
• Meanwhile, rinse rice in several changes of water until water runs clear. Bring rice, lemon zest, and 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan; season with salt. Reduce heat, cover pan, and simmer until rice is tender, 18-20 minutes. Remove from heat, uncover, and scatter apricots over rice. Cover; let sit 10 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork, then mix in almonds, parsley, and lemon juice. Taste and season with more salt if needed.

APRICOT ALMOND PILAF

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir onion and carrot until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in basmati rice and salt; cook and stir until rice is slightly opaque, about 3 minutes.
• Pour in water; stir to combine. Mix in saffron threads, rose water, apricots, and almonds; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until rice has absorbed the liquid, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow pilaf to stand covered for 10 more minutes. Stir before serving.

PISTACHIO AND DRIED-APRICOT RUGELACH

Steps:

• Dough: In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter with cream cheese, granulated sugar, and salt on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add flour and beat on low until just combined. Divide dough into 3 disks; wrap each in plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Filling: In a small saucepan, bring apricots, 1 1/3 cups water, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer until apricots are tender and most of liquid has been absorbed, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer apricot mixture to a food processor and pulse until smooth. Let cool completely. (You should have about 2 cups filling; if not, thin slightly with water, a teaspoon at a time.)
• Meanwhile, finely grind pistachios in food processor. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to a 10-inch circle, 1/8 inch thick. Spread evenly with 2/3 cup apricot mixture. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup ground pistachios. With a pizza wheel, cut circle into quarters, then cut each quarter in half, then in half again, so you have 16 wedges. Starting at outside edge of each wedge, roll up into a crescent shape. Arrange 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with beaten egg, and sprinkle with sanding sugar and 1 tablespoon ground pistachios. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer rugelach on sheets to wire racks; let cool completely. Rugelach can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

FRAGRANT APRICOT RICE

Steps:

• In a hot heavy bottom pan heat butter and oil
• Saute onion, garlic and ginger till translucent add coriander seeds, basil, rice and apricots stir to coat with onion mixture adding wine and cook till wine is absorbed
• Add zest and water simmering covered over low heat for 20-25 minutes
• Fluff with fork and season with salt and pepper
• Top with cashews and garnish with fresh basil

APRICOT AND PISTACHIO BAKED RICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Wash rice in 6 changes of cold water in a large bowl until water is almost clear. Drain in a large sieve.
• Bring 6 cups water and salt to a boil in a 4-quart heavy ovenproof pot with a tight-fitting lid, then stir in rice and cook, uncovered, 6 minutes (rice will still be firm). Drain in sieve.
• Heat oil in dried pot over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then add rice, stirring until well coated, and remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients.
• Bake, tightly covered, in middle of oven until rice is tender, about 18 minutes, then fluff with a fork.