Fragrant Apricot Rice

Elevate your side dish game with this Fragrant Apricot Rice, a vibrant and aromatic recipe that perfectly balances savory spices with a touch of natural sweetness. Crafted with fluffy basmati rice, tender dried apricots, and fragrant spices like cumin, cardamom, and cinnamon, this dish brings Middle Eastern-inspired flavors to your table. Toasted sliced almonds add a delightful crunch, while fresh parsley brightens every bite. Ready in just 40 minutes, this stunning rice dish is easy to prepare but impressive enough for special occasions. Perfect as a complement to grilled meats or vegetarian curries, it’s a delicious and unique way to transform simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 cups long-grain basmati rice
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup dried apricots
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 small yellow onion
• 1 piece cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 cup sliced almonds
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch and prevents clumping during cooking.

Step 2

Chop the dried apricots into small, bite-sized pieces and set aside.

Step 3

Finely dice the yellow onion and set aside.

Step 4

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent.

Step 5

Stir in the cinnamon stick, ground cumin, ground cardamom, and salt. Sauté for 1 minute to toast the spices and release their aroma.

Step 6

Add the dried apricots and rice to the saucepan, stirring to coat the grains in the butter and spices.

Step 7

Pour in the water and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan with a lid, and let it simmer for 15-18 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.

Step 8

While the rice cooks, toast the sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant. Be careful not to burn them.

Step 9

Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the rice to sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and discard the cinnamon stick.

Step 10

Gently mix in the toasted almonds and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1351.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2096.5

Total Fat 44.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 15.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 62mg	0%
Sodium 2419.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 376.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.3g	0%
Total Sugars 38.8g
Protein 39.8g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 360.0mg	0%
Iron 11.1mg	0%
Potassium 1809.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 19.4%

Protein: 7.7%

Carbs: 72.9%