RICE PILAF WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS, ORANGE, RAISINS AND PISTACHIO   
  Ingredients :
    4 tablespoon unsalted butter
    3 medium white onions, 2 cut into thin slices and 1 finely chopped
    ½ teaspoon ground allspice
    ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    Pinch of ground clove
    1 ½ teaspoon salt, approximately
    Pinch of pepper
    6 tablespoons fresh orange juice
    2 teaspoons orange zest
    ¾ cup golden raisins
    1 ½ cups long grain rice
    ¾ cups pistachios, toasted and chopped

  Preparation:

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Lower heat, add sliced onions and stir occasionally until soft and golden (about 25 minutes). Stir in allspice, cinnamon and clove and cook for 5 more minutes. Season with ½ teaspoon salt and pepper. Set aside.

Soak raisins in orange juice. If necessary, add enough water to cover.
Melt remaining butter in a large saucepan and add chopped onion. Cook, stirring occasionally until soft and transparent (not browned), approximately 5 minutes. Add rice and salt and stir to coat rice with butter. Continue stirring for 5 minutes to toast rice. Reduce heat to low if rice starts to stick to the bottom of the pan. Add 2 ½ cups water, stir and bring to a boil. Cover pan, reduce heat to low and cook for 18 – 20 minutes or until rice is cooked. Remove from the heat and let rice sit, covered, for 5 minutes.

Once the rice has rested, fluff the pilaf with a fork.
Drain raisins and discard liquid. Using a fork, fold in the raisins, onions, pistachios and orange zest. Correct seasoning and serve.

Try these other recipes with rice:
Rice with lentils and onions
Christmas’ rice
Dried apricot and pine nut rice
 
        6 – 8 servings
       
 
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