Apricot and Pistachio Pilaff

SERVES: 4–6

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Total time: 20 minutes

25 g (1 oz) butter

1 onion, diced

1 garlic clove, crushed

½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground coriander

250 g (9 oz) basmati rice

500 ml (18 fl oz) hot vegetable stock

75 g (3 oz) ready-to-eat dried apricots, quartered

Handful fresh coriander, roughly chopped

100 g (3½ oz) pistachio nuts

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Melt the butter in a large, heavy-based pan with a tight-fitting lid. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes or until golden. Add the garlic, cinnamon and ground coriander and cook for a further minute, stirring continuously.

Pour the rice into the pan and mix well to combine. Add the hot stock and cover. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer, without stirring, for 10 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed.

Add the apricots, fresh coriander and pistachios to the hot rice. Season generously, and stir until combined. Leave the rice to cool, transfer to a container with a lid and chill. Keep the rice cold until ready to serve.