Basmati Rice Dressing with Dried Fruit, Toasted Almonds, and Coconut

By Dunjab

Delicious flavors in this basmati rice dressing recipes -- sweetness from the dried fruits, and spicy flavors from the ginger, garlic, curry and cumin. Perfect with cornish hens.

Ingredients

• 2 cups brown basmati rice
• 2 cups dried apricots, cut into quarters
• 1 cup dried sweetened cranberries
• 1 cup dried unsweetened flaked coconut
• 2 cups slivered almonds
• 3/4 cup butter
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons curry powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
• 1 teaspoon grated lime peel
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a 2- to 2 1/2-quart pan over high heat, bring 3 1/2 cups water and the rice to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until water is absorbed and rice is tender to bite, about 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine dried apricots and cranberries. Cover with boiling water and let stand until fruit is plump, about 15 minutes. Drain.

Place coconut and almonds in two separate 10- by 15-inch baking pans. Bake, stirring occasionally, until golden, 4 to 5 minutes for coconut, 8 to 10 minutes for almonds.

In a 6- to 8-quart pan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add onion and red and green bell peppers; stir until onion is limp, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add ginger, garlic, curry powder, cumin, salt, pepper, cardamom, orange peel, lime peel, and cinnamon; stir just until spices are aromatic, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat. Stir in cooked rice, dried fruit, almonds, and coconut. Spoon into a shallow 3-quart baking dish and cover with foil.

Bake until hot in the center, about 30 minutes.