Basmati Rice with Lentils, Dried Fruit and Pistachios

  • ½ cup French lentils
  • 1 cup brown Jasmine rice
  • ½ cup golden raisins
  • ¼ cup dried apricots, cut into small pieces
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
  • 1 TB orange flower or rose water, optional
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 TB flat leaf parsley, chopped fine
  • 1/3 cup shelled pistachios
  • 3TB extra virgin olive oil

Rinse the lentils and put them in a large pot with 2 ¼ cups water. Bring to a boil and boil for 30-40 minutes until tender. While the lentils are cooking, prepare rice according to package directions. Mix the dried fruit, rose or orange flower water, if using, and cinnamon in a bowl. In a large heavy-bottomed pot, arrange layers of rice, lentils and dried fruit, sprinkling some parsley and pistachios over the top layer. Drizzle with the olive oil, cover and cook gently for 15-20 minutes. Nice with some plain yogurt on the side.

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