Description
Moroccan rice is a flavorful dish combining aromatic spices with dried fruits and nuts, perfect as a side or main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups aged basmati rice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 8 threads saffron
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 cup onion (diced)
- ¼ cup barberries (or dried currants)
- ½ cup dried apricots (chopped)
- 2 cinnamon sticks (or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
- 3 ¼ cups water
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 ¼ teaspoons salt (or to taste)
- Pistachios (toasted and chopped)
- Almonds (toasted and chopped)
- Additional apricots (chopped)
- Parsley (chopped)
Instructions
- Start by submerging the rice in a bowl of cool water and squeezing it in your hands to release starch.
- Drain and rinse the rice in a fine-mesh strainer under cool water until the water runs clear. Let it drain and dry for a few minutes.
- Set a wide pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. After 90 seconds, when the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and onions. Stir-fry for 4-5 minutes until the onions are golden.
- Add the drained rice, saffron, turmeric, ground cardamom, cinnamon, barberries, and apricots. Stir for 1 minute to coat the onions evenly in the spices.
- Pour in the water, and add the salt and sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, cover with a tight-fitting lid, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 17 minutes without lifting the lid.
- Remove from the heat and let the pot rest, covered, for 10 minutes. Uncover and gently fluff the rice with a fork.
- If using garnishes, top with toasted pistachios, toasted almonds, chopped apricots, and parsley before serving.
Notes
Use aged basmati rice for best texture and flavor. Adjust spices to taste and feel free to add other dried fruits.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 27 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Moroccan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg