Apricot Saffron Bulgur Recipes

APRICOT COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan add a 2 count of extra-virgin olive oil. Add the red onion, apricots and almonds and saute gently over low heat until translucent and slightly fragrant. Add the couscous then dump in the warm chicken broth. Stir with a fork to combine, add lemon zest and cover. Let sit for 10 minutes, then uncover and add the scallions, mint, and cilantro. Fluff again with a fork. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Toss gently to combine.
• Serve family-style on a large platter and garnish with fresh cilantro.

CHICKEN WITH APRICOTS, LEMON AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Season chicken generously on both sides with salt and pepper. (If time permits, do this an hour before cooking or up to 24 hours in advance. Keep refrigerated, but remove from refrigerator 1 hour before cooking.)
• In a large skillet over medium heat, place chicken pieces skin-side down in one layer. Let chicken cook slowly to brown well on one side, about 15 to 20 minutes. When skin is crisp and lifts easily from the pan, it is ready. Flip and cook 2 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, make saffron water: In a small cup, combine saffron with lemon juice and 1/4 cup water. Set aside to steep.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Transfer chicken, skin-side up, to a baking dish. Pour off some fat from the skillet, reserving about 2 tablespoons. Add onions, salt lightly and cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add saffron water and threads, tomato purée, cayenne, coriander, fennel, cardamom and wine to onions and bring to a simmer.
• Pour onion mixture over chicken. Tuck apricots and lemon slices among the chicken pieces. Cover tightly and bake for 1 hour. Remove cover and bake until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. (Recipe can be prepared to this point up to 2 days ahead. When ready to serve, reheat in a 350-degree oven, in a covered pot, 30 to 45 minutes.)
• To serve, garnish with cilantro and mint leaves. Sprinkle with pine nuts and serve hot.

BULGUR WITH APRICOTS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Toast almonds in a dry small heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant and pale golden, about 2 minutes.
• Cook onion in oil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until softened and beginning to brown, about 8 minutes. Add bulgur and cook, stirring, 2 minutes.
• Stir in water, salt, and pepper and simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Remove from heat, then add apricots and butter and stir until butter is melted. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Stir in parsley and almonds.

BULGUR PILAF WITH DRIED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Cook onion in oil in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes.
• Add spices and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients with 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer, covered, until liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes.
• Fluff with a fork before serving.

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.

APRICOT-SAFFRON BULGUR

Steps:

• Prepare bulgur according to directions on package (usually boil 2x as much water as you will make bulgur, take off heat, add bulgur, stir, let sit 5 mins).
• Stir saffron into bulgur (you can do this at any time, you can add saffron into the water as it boils -- I usually do -- or you can add it after the bulgur is made -- which I did when I forgot it!).
• While bulgur is cooking, sauté onions in butter over med-high heat, as soon as onions begin to get soft (2 mins) add apricots. Lower heat to med-low and sauté for an additional 10 minutes.
• Add sliced almonds to the apricot/onion mix.
• When bulgur is ready, add apricot/onion/almond mix; fluff and serve!