Ruby Rice (Yaqoot Pilaf)

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.