For the Vegetarian

Rice Pilaf with Dried Fruits and Almonds

You Will Need
12 dried apricot halves
1 tablespoon margarine
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup jasmine or white rice
1/4 teaspoon ground
cardamom
Salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 1/2 cups reduced-sodium
chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted
Fresh rosemary sprigs (garnish)

What to Do
1. Snip apricots with kitchen shears into small slivers (you need about 1/3 cup).

2. Melt margarine in large nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion, rice, cardamom, salt, and pepper until
rice is toasted, about 8 minutes.

3. Stir in broth, raisins, almonds, and apricots and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until broth is absorbed, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Garnish with rosemary sprigs.

Some More Ideas
Savory rice pilaf: Use 1 cup brown rice instead of jasmine rice. Sauté 1 chopped green bell pepper along with the rice and onion and use 2 teaspoons fresh thyme and 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary instead of the cardamom. Use 1/3 cup toasted chopped pecans in place of the raisins, almonds, and apricots.

Health Points
• Dried apricots are fat-free and full of nutrients good both for blood pressure and cholesterol, such as potassium, lycopene, beta-carotene, and pectin. Plus, apricots are a particularly rich source of iron. While the drying process hurts apricots’ store of vitamin C, many other nutrients get enhanced
Serves 6

Nutritional Information
Key Nutrients 250 Calories, 50 Calories from Fat, 6g Fat, 1g Saturated Fat, 0g Trans Fat, 5g Protein, 44g Carb, 3g Fiber, 75mg Sodium