Mediterranean Apricot Pilaf

An easy to prepare Mediterranean delight- Apricot Pilaf. Just pick few easily available ingredients from your kitchen and in 20 minutes yummy pilaf is ready. A quick and perfect main course dish when unexpected guests knock the door :) 

Cooking time : 20mins

Serves: 2

Ingredients 

Basmati/ long grain rice - 1 cup

Dried Apricots -  6 no's (chopped)

Almonds - 5 no's

Onion - 1 small, (finely chopped)

Garlic - 3 pods ( finely chopped) 

Green chilli - 1 (finely chopped)

Mint leaves - 1 tbsp (finely chopped)

Water - 2 cups

Clarified butter/Ghee

Salt

For garnishing 

Almonds  - 5 no's

Onion - 1/2 ( long sliced)

Dried Apricots - 2 ( finely chopped) 

Mint leaves - 2 ( finely chopped)

 

Preparation

1.  Wash and soak rice for 10 mins. Then drain the excess water and keep it aside.
2.  In a heavy bottom pan, heat ghee in low flame.
3. Fry sliced onions for garnishing, till it turns brown in color. Remove onions from ghee and add almonds and fry well.
4. In to the same pan, add finely chopped onions and saute till it becomes soft. Then add garlic, green chilli,  and salt. Fry for 1 min.
5. Add dried apricots and stir well. Add soaked rice and stir for 3-4 mins till the water gets dried completely and rice is fried. 
6. Add water and mix well. Close the pan with a lid and cook on medium flame till water get dried completely.
7.  Remove the lid and keep the flame in low and stir for another 5mins.
8. Garnish with dried apricots, almonds, caramelized onions and mint leaves.
9. Serve hot with spicy flavored yoghurt.

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