Top | Sara Jane's family favorites

Delicata Pilaf

(recipe, Sara Jane)

Ingredients

  1. ½ tsp. ground cumin
  2. 5 crumbled saffron threads
  3. 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  4. 1 cup diced onion
  5. 2 Tbsp. finely minced garlic
  6. 3 cups ½-inch slices seeded delicata squash (not peeled)
  7. 1 apple, peeled, cored, diced
  8. 2 cups long-grain basmati rice
  9. 3½ cups water
  10. 2 tsp. salt
  11. Pepper to taste
  12. ½ cup sliced in half dried motmorency cherries (from Trader Joe's)
  13. Slivered almonds

Steps

  1. Heat olive oil in pan, add onion and sauté till translucent, add garlic, spices, squash and apple and sauté till squash is slightly softened and it smells good. Add the rice, stir thoroughly to combine for a minute or so. Add the water and salt. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until water is absorbed and rice is tender, about 45 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in almonds and raisins. Cover; let stand about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand uncovered at room temperature. Cover and rewarm in microwave.)