This is other Afghani rice dish which is called yaqoot pilaf or Ruby pilaf, due to it’s gorgeous colour that is taken from the cherries and is a reminder of Ruby gem stone. Yaqoot means Ruby the precious gem stone.

This rice dish is similar to an Iranian dish which is made with sour cherries , and  in following photo you can see a photo of this rice :

Ingredients

• 3 cups rice, soaked in salted water for 1-2 hours before cooking
• 1 cup fresh or frozen sour cherries ( tart cherry, Morello cherry)
• ½ cup white sugar ( if you wish your rice has a mild sweet taste)
• ½ tbsp cardamom powder
• ½ cup water
• Olive oil

How to make it?????

In a pot with cherries add sugar and cardamom. Pour ½ cup water on it and allow to cook for over low heat for 15 minutes.

Use a sieve and separate cooked cherries from the syrup. Bring the water in a pot. Drain the salted water of the rice. Add the rice into the pot with boiled water and cook it for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Use a colander and drain the rice.

Turn the rice back into the pot. Add cherries syrup to the rice and mix it well.

Cover the pot with a lid. Allow to steam cook the rice for 20 minutes. Once rice is ready serve it with chicken or beef meat.

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Ruby Rice (Yaqoot Pilaf)

Ingredients

3 cups rice, soaked in salted water for 1-2 hours before cooking

1 cup fresh or frozen sour cherries ( tart cherry, Morello cherry)

½ cup white sugar ( if you wish your rice has a mild sweet taste)

½ tbsp cardamom powder

½ cup water

Olive oil

How to make it?????

In a pot with cherries add sugar and cardamom. Pour ½ cup water on it and allow to cook for over low heat for 15 minutes.

Use a sieve and separate cooked cherries from the syrup. Bring the water in a pot. Drain the salted water of the rice. Add the rice into the pot with boiled water and cook it for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Use a colander and drain the rice.

Turn the rice back into the pot. Add cherries syrup to the rice and mix it well.

Cover the pot with a lid. Allow to steam cook the rice for 20 minutes. Once rice is ready serve it with chicken or beef meat.