Cuisine: Lebanese
Region: Common

It does take a few extra things to do other than simply boiling rice, but, well, the result is… impressive. Rice with Raisins and Almonds can be had as a main dish, or as a side dish – your choice. Enjoy!

Serves: 2 as a main dish and 4 as a side dish
Cooking time: 20 to 30 min
You need: a pot, a baking sheet, a platter

Ingredients

• 1 Tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup (glass) rice
• 2+1⁄2 cups of hot chicken broth
• 1⁄2 cup (glass) toasted slivered almonds
• 1⁄2 cup (glass) toasted golden raisins
• 2 Tbsp melted butter

Instructions

For the rice

1. Put the olive oil in a medium pot.
2. Turn the fire on to medium, put the pot on it and preheat the olive oil.
3. Add the rice and stir so that olive oil coats the grains.
4. Add 2+1⁄2 cups hot chicken broth.
5. Increase the fire to high and bring to a boil.
6. Then reduce the fire to low and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes or until the broth has been absorbed by the rice.
7. Turn of the fire, remove from pot and and set it aside, covered, to cool off – about 20 minutes.
8. Before serving, fluff the rice: separate the grains with the tines of a fork.

For the almonds and the raisins

1. While the rice is cooking, turn on the oven to 180C/350F to preheat it.
2. Take a baking sheet pan and spread an aluminum foil on it.
3. Spread the almonds and raisins, arranging so that they keep separate.
4. Put the baking sheet pan in the oven, preferably in the centre, and toast for 5 to 7 minutes, shaking occasionally. You want the almonds to turn golden and the raisins to be puffy.
5. Remove the sheet pan from the oven, empty the contents to a bowl and drizzle in the melted butter, mixing well. See notes.
6. Set it aside to cool off.

For serving

1. Take a platter, empty the rice on it and garnish the top with the almond and raisin mix.

Notes

• Regarding raisins and almonds: between step #4 and step #5 instead of using a mixing bowl you can drizzle and mix the butter directly on the raisins and almonds on the baking sheet.
• You may want to transfer the buttered raisins and almonds to a dish lined with a paper towel to absorb some of the excess butter – it’s up to you.
• Unsalted butter works best.
• This recipe can be used as a side dish to the Lebanese Style Cardamom Chicken, or can be had a main dish.