Middle Eastern Fruity Rice
This delicious, warming middle-eastern pilaf dish is packed with interesting herbs, spices and fruit.
Method
Based on 4 servings, adjust as needed.
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 200°C/180°C fan. Warm a good glug of olive oil in a large pot over a low heat and slowly sweat the onion for about 15 minutes until nicely soft and caramelised.
Step 2
While the onion is caramelising, toss the aubergine with a drizzle of olive oil and salt, transfer to a large lined baking tray and bake for 25-30 minutes until soft.
Step 3
Once the onion has softened, add ras el hanout and ground cumin to the pot and fry for 1-2 minutes. Next stir in the rice, sour cherries and half the coriander and half the dill. Finally add 600ml cold water, cover with a tight fitting lid and simmer over a low heat for 20 minutes until the rice is cooked. Season to taste.
Step 4
Whilst the pilaf is cooking, whisk together tahini, garlic, maple syrup, 3 tbsp lemon juice and 1-2 tbsp water in a jug to create a lovely smooth dressing. It may look like it is curdling at first but continue whisking and it will eventually come together! Season to taste.
Step 5
Serve the rice pilaf on a large serving plate, topped with aubergine, remaining coriander and dill, pistachios, pomegranate seeds and tahini dressing.
- Ingredients
- Based on 4 servings
-
30g Coriander, chopped 1x Sainsbury's Fresh Packed Bunch Coriander 30g -
2 tbsp Ras el Hanout 1x Sainsbury's Ras El Hanout, Inspired to Cook 45g -
1 Lemon, juiced 1x Sainsbury's Lemons -
60g Sour Cherries, roughly chopped 1x Sainsbury's Dried Cherries 75g -
20g Dill, chopped 1x Sainsbury's Bunched Dill 20g -
250g Pomegranate Seeds 1x Sainsbury's Pomegranate 250g -
50g Pistachios 2x Sainsbury's Pistachio Nuts 35g -
2 Aubergine, roughly chopped to 2cm 2x Sainsbury's Aubergine -
2 Garlic Clove, crushed 1x Sainsbury's Garlic -
2 tbsp Tahini 1x Al'Fez Middle Eastern Natural Tahini 160g
-
2 tsp Maple Syrup 1x Clarks Original Maple Syrup with Carob Syrup 180ml -
30ml Olive Oil 1x Sainsbury's Olive Oil 500ml -
2 tbsp Ground Cumin 1x Sainsbury's Ground Cumin 43g -
1 Onion, thinly sliced 1x Sainsbury's Onions Loose -
300g Basmati Rice 1x Sainsbury's Basmati Rice 500g -
Maldon Salt, to taste 1x Maldon Sea Salt Flakes 250g