Rice Pilaf with Luxurious Fruit and Nuts – Kids Favorite

This Rice Pilaf is the perfect dish to dress a dinner table. It’s a kids favorite dish where the sweetness of the raisins and the soft smooth cashews almost melt in the mouth.

Rice Pilaf with Fruit and Nuts

If you have ever eaten at an Indian or Middle Eastern restaurant you may have seen savory rice dish with luxurious fruits and nuts. It is very common and also very festive. But the best of all is it’s the kids favorite. Kids love this rice. Whenever I have kids come over for dinner they feast on this dish. The sweetness of the raisins and smooth soft cashew nuts just melt in your move with all those aromatic flavors of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves.

Rice Pilaf with Fruit and Nuts

Both my kids are fond of rice. Personally, I love rice myself. Often the kids will eat this just as it. To them, this is a meal on its own. No side dish, no chicken nothing. Just the rice with all the lovely fruits and nuts. So exotic. I make this at almost every festive occasion here in the family.

Rice Pilaf with Fruit and Nuts

Basmati Rice

Basmati rice is a variety of long and slender grains, very aromatic. It is traditionally from India. The best feature of this rice is that if cooked right, it is soft and fluffy with each grain perfectly separate from each other. That is why it makes a perfect choice for these types of dishes such as this Rice Pilaf with fruit and nuts, Indian Zafrani Pulao, Chicken Biryani.  You will see that I have used this rice in almost all my rice recipes – Quickest Prawn Pulao, Chinese fried rice, chicken pilaf.

Fragrant Rice Pilaf with Fruit and Nuts

RECIPE – Rice Pilaf with Fruit and Nuts (Save/Pin)

Tools

Open faced pan with cover
Spatula
Measuring cup
Basmati Rice

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Basmati rice or similar
• 50 grams butter
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 cup raisins
• and 1 cup cashew nuts
• 1 medium onion chopped fine
• 2 large garlic cloves minced
• 1/4 piece ginger grated
• 3 1/2 cups hot water
• 1/4 cup chopped Cilantro
• 2 sprigs of mint chopped

Spices

• 2 sticks of cinnamon
• 3 cardamons whole or 1/4 tsp cardamon powder
• 2 bay leaves whole
• 1-star anise (optional)

Method:

• Clean, rinse and soak rice in water for 30 mins
• Heat oil in an open-faced pan.
• Saute the whole spices for a minute.
• Add the cashew nuts and raisins – saute for two minutes
• then add in the onions – saute a minute and put the garlic and ginger.
• Drain the rice and add in the pan. Saute for about 2 to 3 minutes
• Add the 3 /12 cups water and wait for it to come to a boil.
• Place knobs of butter all over the rice.
• Close the pan and lower the heat to low.
• Set the timer for 20 minutes.
• When the timer sets off – switch the flame off.
• But do not open the pan. Let the rice sit for 10 more minutes.
• After 10 minutes add the chopped cilantro and mint.

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Rice Pilaf with Luxurious Fruit and Nuts

Rice Pilaf with Fruit and Nuts

This Rice Pilaf is the perfect dish to dress a dinner table. It's a kids favorite dish where the sweetness of the raisins and the soft smooth cashews almost melt in the mouth.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Lunch Dinner

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: Indian rice pilaf, Rice pilaf, rice with fruit and nuts

Adjust Servings Here: 8 servings

Calories: 328kcal

Author: Veena Azmanov

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups Basmati rice or similar
• 50 grams Butter
• 2 tbsp Oil
• 1 cup Raisins
• 1 cup Cashew nuts
• 1 Onion chopped fine
• 2 cloves Garlic minced
• 1/4 piece Ginger grated
• 3 1/2  cups Hot water
• 1/4 cup Cilantro chopped
• 2 sprigs Mint chopped

Spices

• 2 Sticks of Cinnamon
• 3 Cardamoms or 1/4 tsp cardamon powder
• 2 Bay leaves
• 1 Star anise optional

Metric - US customary

Instructions

• Clean, rinse and soak rice in water for  30 mins
• Heat oil in an open-faced pan.
• Saute the whole spices for a minute.
• Add the cashew nuts and raisins - saute for two minutes
• then add in the onions - saute a minute and put the garlic and ginger.
• Drain the rice and add in the pan. Saute for about 2 to 3 minutes
• Add the 3 /12 cups water and wait for it to come to a boil.
• Place knobs of butter all over the rice.
• Close the pan and lower the heat to low.
• Set the timer for 20 minutes.
• When the timer sets off - switch the flame off.
• But do not open the pan. Let the rice sit for 10 more minutes.
• After 10 minutes add the chopped cilantro and mint.

Nutrition Facts

Rice Pilaf with Fruit and Nuts

Amount Per Serving (189 grams)

Calories 328 Calories from Fat 240

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 26.7g 41%

Saturated Fat 7.1g 36%

Trans Fat 0.2g

Polyunsaturated Fat 6.5g

Monounsaturated Fat 0g

Cholesterol 13mg 4%

Sodium 49mg 2%

Potassium 0mg 0%

Total Carbohydrates 24.9g 8%

Dietary Fiber 7.5g 30%

Sugars 2.6g

Protein 9.3g 19%

Vitamin A 0%

Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 0%

Iron 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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