Perde Pilaw with Lamb and Dried Apricot Sauce

From Three Tales of Festive Rice

 

Photo by Scott Peterson

 

 

 

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Perde Pilaw with Lamb and Dried Apricot Sauce


  • Author: Shayee Khanaka
  • Yield: Serves 6-8 1x

Description

In Kurdistan, Shayee Khanaka’s family had a specific pot for this pilaw, which they lined with dough, stuffed with the rice mixture, covered, and lowered into a bed of coals with more hot coals heaped on the lid. At home in Berkeley, Shayee recreates the entire dish on her stovetop, encasing it in flour tortillas instead of the dough.

Shayee always serves this dish with a lamb and dried apricot sauce on the side, and with all burners running, the meal takes her an hour to prepare. During recipe testing, we found we needed two hours, but it was worth every enjoyable minute spent.


Ingredients

Units Scale

For the spice mix

  • 5 teaspoons ground cloves
  • 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

For use throughout

  • Cooking oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Lemon juice

For the rice

  • 2 cups basmati rice (rinsed and soaked for at least an hour)
  • 2 cups peeled and cubed red potatoes
  • 1/2 cup golden raisins
  • 1/2 cup blanched almonds (whole or slivered)
  • 2/3 cup dried tart cherries (such as Montmorency)

For the meatballs

  • 12 ounces ground lamb (can use beef or chicken)
  • 1/4 cup chopped onions
  • 1/2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1/2 tablespoon pomegranate molasses

For the lamb and dried apricot sauce

  • 1 pound lamb stew meat
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 tablespoon spice mix
  • 1 1/2 cups dried apricots

For assembly

  • 1 package flour tortillas (or use the dough recipe below)
  • 1/4 cup butter or ghee

Instructions

For the spice mix: Combine the spices in a small bowl and set beside the stove to use throughout cooking.

For the rice mixture: Bring 2 tablespoons water and 2 tablespoons oil to a simmer in a large pan. Sprinkle potato cubes with ½ teaspoon spice mix and ½ teaspoon salt. Add to simmering water along with 1 tablespoon lemon juice. After 5 minutes, cover and turn heat to medium low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are fork tender, about 15 minutes. Empty cooked potatoes into a large bowl and set aside.

Bring ½ tablespoon water and ½ tablespoon oil to a simmer in a small pan. Add a pinch of spice mix along with raisins. Sauté for 5–10 minutes until raisins have plumped up. Add to the bowl of potatoes.

Add a splash of oil to the small pan along with a pinch of spice mix. Add almonds and fry for 2 minutes. Add to the bowl of potatoes.

Add ½ tablespoon oil to the small pan along with a splash of water and the dried cherries. Add a pinch of spice mix and stir over high heat for 5–10 minutes until cherries plump up and change color. Add to the bowl of potatoes.

To make the meatballs: Combine ground lamb with chopped onions, tomato paste, pomegranate molasses, ½ teaspoon spice mix, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Mix with your hands and form into 1-inch balls. Heat ¼ cup oil in a large pan and fry the meatballs until they are cooked through and browned, about 10 minutes. Add to the bowl of potatoes.

To parboil the rice: Fill a large pot with 4 cups water plus 1 tablespoon oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Bring to a boil as you start preparing the lamb and dried apricot sauce.

For the lamb and dried apricot sauce: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet. Add and sear lamb stew meat with the chopped onion. Stir in ½ tablespoon spice mix and sauté for 1–2 minutes. Add enough water to cover the meat by 1–2 inches. Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes until tender. Check occasionally, adding more water as needed. Add dried apricots plus enough water to cover fruit and meat by 1–2 inches. Cover pan and cook another 30 minutes, adding more water as needed.

When the rice water has come to a boil, drain the soaked rice and add to the boiling water. Cook (uncovered) for 10–15 minutes. (The water will not be completely absorbed.) Drain rice through a large sieve or colander, reserving ½ cup cooking water. Run cold water over the draining rice to cool it.

Oil the bottom and sides of a large pot with a tight-fitting lid. Drape 2–3 tortillas to cover the bottom and sides of the pot. Spread a layer of rice over the tortillas and add about ⅓ of the potato mixture, gently mixing it into the rice. Sprinkle with some spice mix. Repeat these steps two more times, ending with rice on top.

Place the reserved ½ cup of rice cooking water in the small pan, add butter and heat to melt, then pour over the layered rice. Cover rice with tortillas and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid.

Turn heat to medium high until steam comes up through the rice. Turn the heat down to medium-low for 10–15 minutes until rice is done. [Our test kitchen preferred completing this step in the oven at 350° for 30 minutes instead of on the stovetop.]

Remove the pot lid and place a large serving platter over the pot. Invert to unmold the dish. Serve with the lamb and dried apricot sauce.

Notes

Interested in the traditional dough for Perde Pilaw? See the recipe below, which we enjoyed trying out in the Edible East Bay test kitchen.

  • Category: entree
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Dough for Perde Pilaw


  • Author: Shayee Khanaka
  • Yield: Serves 6-8 1x

Description

The traditional pot used for this dough-encased rice pilaf is a deep tapered cone shape. A cast-iron Dutch oven or other large oven-safe pot will work, as will a Bundt mold, which produces a very decorative dish.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • Whole blanched almonds
  • 2eggs
  • 4 tablespoons yogurt
  • 1/2cupolive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 23 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°.

Grease pot (or mold) with butter. Place the almonds around the bottom of the greased mold in a decorative pattern and chill the mold in the refrigerator. Mix eggs, yogurt, olive oil, and salt. Sprinkle in the flour while stirring, adding as much as is needed to get a soft dough that is no longer sticky.

Empty dough onto a lightly floured board and knead lightly. Divide into two uneven pieces (one about twice the size of the other). Roll out the larger piece to ⅛-inch thick and then carefully roll it into a cylinder around the rolling pin. Gently unroll the dough from the rolling pin over the prepared pot or mold and let it drop down inside the mold, gently pressing it into place over the almonds so the dough lines the bottom and sides. Press and stretch it so it comes to the lip of the pot or mold.

Pour the rice mixture inside the dough lining. Roll out the smaller piece of dough to ⅛-inch thick, roll it onto the rolling pin as before, and unroll it to cover the rice, pinching the edges closed to encase the rice mixture.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes until dough is golden brown and rice is fully cooked. (It’s OK to poke a hole in the dough to test the rice.}

Allow the perde pilaw to cool for about 10 minutes, then invert onto a serving dish and present it at your special-occasion table.

 

  • Category: entree