Lamb And Rice Pilaf With Dried Apricots And Pine Nuts 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 PILAF WITH LAMB

Steps:

• Important:You will need a 5 quart roaster or Dutch oven with a well fitting lid to hold in heat & moisture.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Melt butter in roaster over medium high heat.
• Add onions,bell pepper & salt & sweat (not brown) for a few minutes.
• Stir in rice & pine nuts & gently toast while stirring until rice smells nutty.
• Add Saffron & water, bay leaf & chicken broth. Increase heat to high, when broth starts to boil, stir ingredients once, place lid on roaster & place in oven for 15 minutes.
• When oven time is up, remove roaster from oven & rest for another 15 minutes but DO NOT remove lid (rice is still cooking).
• When rice is in oven, prepare the lamb by mixing with thyme & rosemary.
• Season & brown lamb gently & break it into pieces about the size of a clove of garlic. When rice is rested, add lamb & peas & mix through with a fork, fluffing rice as you look to remove the bay leaf.
• Serve onto a warm platter or plates.

DRIED APRICOT PINE NUT PILAF

Steps:

• In a saucepan cook the onion in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is softened, add the rice, and cook the mixture over moderate heat, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in the salt, the water, and the broth, bring the liquid to a boil, and cook the mixture, covered, over low heat for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed. Add the apricots, fluff the rice with a fork, and let the mixture stand, covered, off the heat for 5 minutes. Stir in the pine nuts, the parsley, and pepper to taste. Serve the pilaf with pot roast, lamb, or poultry.

LAMB AND RICE PILAF WITH DRIED APRICOTS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add lamb, carrot and halved onion; sauté until lamb browns, about 10 minutes. Add 8 cups water, quartered tomato, and bay leaf. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and boil gently, uncovered, until liquid is reduced to 4 cups, turning lamb often, about 45 minutes. Transfer lamb to cutting board; cool slightly. Strain lamb cooking liquid into bowl; spoon off any fat from surface. Discard lamb bone and vegetables. Cut lamb into 1-inch pieces.
• Combine chopped onion and remaining 1 teaspoon oil in same pot. Sauté over medium-high heat until onion is golden, about 4 minutes. Add rice, apricots, and garlic; stir 1 minute. Stir in reserved lamb cooking liquid, lamb pieces, and chopped tomato. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmr until rice is tender and most liquid is absorbed, about 25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl; sprinkle with cilantro and pine nuts and serve.

NUT RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Prep notes: Peel and finely slice the onion or shallots. Peel and mince the garlic. Roughly chop the nuts. Measure out the spices into a small bowl so they're ready to add. Measure out the wine and broth. Mince the parsley.
• Heat a large frying or saute pan with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, swirl the pan to coat it with the oil, and when the oil is hot (it will shimmer a bit), add the onion and the salt. Cook, stirring frequently until the onion is soft, about 3 minutes.
• Increase the heat to high and add the nuts. Cook, stirring constantly, until the nuts start to toast. The onions will brown a bit, which is good; if they start to burn or char at all reduce the heat and move to the next steps.
• Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Evenly sprinkle on the coriander , cumin, and pepper. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add the rice and stir to combine--the rice should be well coated with the oil and the onions.
• Pour in the wine and cook, stirring, until the rice can completely absorbed the wine, about 2 minutes.
• Slowly pour in the broth and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook until the rice is tender to the bite, about 50 minutes.
• Fluff the pilaf with a fork. Add salt to taste, if needed. Stir in the minced parsley and garnish with whole leaves, if you like. Serve the rice pilaf hot or warm (the range of possible temperatures here makes this an excellent option for buffets).