Smoked Rice with Apricots and Smoked Almonds
Last year I discovered smoked rice at the Fancy Food Show in New York. I was intrigued by the incredibly aromatic basmati rice. It had a wonderful smoky fragrance that I knew would translate into a fantastically delicious and uniquely intriguing side dish. After much experimentation to bring out the qualities of the unusual smoked rice, I came up with Smoked Rice with Apricots and Smoked Almonds. This rice paired fantastically with Grilled Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken as well as Smoked Hickory Chicken.
Coming up with the recipe for Smoked Rice with Apricots and Smoked Almonds
It all started with the Royal Smoked Rice display at the 2023 Fancy Food Show. I had never seen smoked rice before and was fascinated by it, especially because it was certified Kosher. Finding the Royal Smoked Rice locally was a bit of a problem though and I ended up purchasing Khazana Smoked Basmati Rice, first at a local produce store and then on Amazon.
From the Corti Brothers web page for Khazana Smoked Basmati Rice:
“Khazana genuine basmati rice is from Northern Indian, where the unique combination of soil, climatic conditions, and rushing rivers flowing from the Himalayas nourish this very traditional rice. Khazana premium basmati rice is aged for months to produced an extremely long, tender, and fluffy aromatic grain. When cooked, the rice expands dramatically. Smoked Basmati rice undergoes a traditional smoking process, right after harvest. It gives the rice a tangy taste with smoky flavor along with its wonderful fragrant aroma and nutty flavor. Smoked Basmati rice is very present in Indian and Persian cuisine.“
The many recipe iterations required to create the final Smoked Rice with Apricots and Smoked Almonds
The initial bag of smoked rice I bought from my local produce store – Marketplace on Oakton. They always have great and often unusual produce as well as a fairly well stocked grocery department. At the checkout, I ended up having an in depth conversation with the checkout lady about how to prepare the rice. She said that she makes it frequently and it’s her family’s tradition to rinse the rice three times before cooking. We also discussed possible recipes and what to serve the rice with. I was psyched.
The first attempt…
The first thing I did was make the smoked rice as I would any basmati rice. I couldn’t find any cooking instructions on the package so I just improvised with the method I used to make plain basmati rice. I also followed the helpful checkout persons advice to rinse the rice three times.
As an aside, I can’t express strongly enough how much I recommend the OXO Rice & Grains Washing Colander. Yes, this is an affiliate link. The reason is that I love this product so much I became an affiliate. True story. It is absolutely the best way to wash/rinse any grain from tiny quinoa to larger rice and anything else you might want to wash. It’s my go to colander for even rinsing gluten free pasta. It’s reasonably priced on the OXO website as well as on Amazon.
And now back to the recipe for Smoked Rice with Apricots and Smoked Almonds…
After getting an idea for the flavors infused in the smoked rice, Dear Husband and I had a brainstorming session. I really felt like something sweet would compliment the smokiness of the rice. We (read: I) decided that dried apricots would probably go well with the rice. It was amazing…except…It still seemed like it was missing something. Dear Husband suggested something crunchy like almonds…
And then there were Smoked Almonds!!!
Dear Husband and I both agreed that the recipe needed some crunch. He recommended something like pistachios or cashews, both would be good, but I really liked the idea of almonds with the recipe. I figured if I was going to add some texture, wouldn’t it be incredible to add some crunchy almonds? And…even more fantastic, smoked almonds to add to the smokiness of the rice with some salty, smoky nuttiness!!!!And that, as they say, was history.
More about rinsing the Smoked Rice
The first and second times I prepared the smoked rice I rinsed them according to the recommendations of the person at Marketplace on Oakton. The third time I made it I rinsed it until the rice ran clear. There was a marked difference in the smokiness (and color) of the rice based upon the number of times I rinsed it.
Additionally, there may have been a difference in the smokiness of the rice based upon how many times I opened the package/how new the package of rice was. A newer package definitely had a smokier flavor than a previously opened one.
It’s worth it to purchase the smaller two pound bags rather than larger ones unless you are making tons of the smoked rice.
The Apricots
While you could add raisins, or dates to the recipe – and they’d both be delicious, I decided to go with diced dried apricots. My first attempt didn’t seem to have sufficient apricots, but the second had way too many. The third time was just right. And the three bears were very happy.I’m definitely going to try this with dates…
Making Apricot Flowers
When my kids call me “extra” this is what they mean. After several attempts at making this rice and photographing each trial, I felt like the recipe wasn’t photographically exceptional. So I tried to figure out how to make flowers out of dried apricots.While this may seem like a “what???” moment, please keep in mind that I used to be a Personal Pastry Chef and taught Wilton Cake Decorating classes. I’m used to making flowers with fondant and other materials/foods. I figured if you flattened the apricots out, then made like 4-5 slits in them, you could fashion the apricots into something resembling a flower.It sort of worked. I used a piece of smoked almond for the center and poof. There were flowers!Ta. Da.
Here’s the Recipe for Smoked Rice with Apricots and Smoked Almonds
As with any of the Kosher Everyday recipes, you can make this recipe to your taste. If you’re not a fan of smoked rice (sad day for you) you can use traditional basmati rice. Try the dates instead of/with apricots. Use your favorite crunchy nut (not your spouse/kids/boss).As always: You are the Executive Chef in your kitchen!
Smoked Rice with Apricots and Smoked Almonds
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Plant Based
- Diet: Kosher
Description
Have you ever tasted a dish that perfectly balances smoky, sweet, and nutty flavors? Imagine a bowl of smoked rice, infused with the subtle smokiness from a hint of charcoal or wood, mingling with the natural sweetness of apricots. Add in the salty, smoky crunch of smoked almonds, and you’ve got a dish that’s not just an great side dish but an experience. Smoked Rice with Apricots and Smoked Almonds is the perfect accompaniment to your favorite barbecue recipes! You can even pair it with Smoked Chicken for an amazing packed-with-Summer-flavor meal.
Ingredients
- 1 cup green onion, sliced
- 2 tablespoons garlic oil, or 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil + 2 small minced garlic cloves
- 2 cups smoked rice, rinsed exactly three times
- 3 cups water
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemongrass, chopped or 2 tablespoons dried ground lemongrass or zest of 1 medium lemon
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 3/4 cups (6-ounces) dried apricots, diced
- 1 cup smoked almonds, coarsely chopped
- Additional chopped almonds and apricots for garnish
Instructions
For the Smoked Rice with Apricots and Smoked Almonds
- Heat the oil in a large 6-8 quart stock pot over medium heat. Add the green onions and sauté until just soft.
- Add the rinsed smoked rice, water, black pepper and salt, stirring to combine. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes until rice is cooked through.
- Remove from heat, uncover and fluff with a fork.
- Add the diced apricots and smoked almonds.
- Can be served hot or cold.
For the Apricot Flowers
- Take a soft dried apricot and flatten it. I used a rolling pin, but you could use your palm or a glass.
- With a sharp paring knife, make 5 slits around the apricot almost to the center but not quite.
- Take the sections of apricot and overlap them to create a flower shape. Add a piece of almond tip to the center.
Equipment
Blue Diamond Almonds Smokehouse Flavored Snack Nuts, 40 Oz Resealable Bag (Pack of 1)
Buy Now →OXO Good Grips Rice & Small Grains Washing Colander
Buy Now →Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 249
- Sugar: 12.5 g
- Sodium: 317.3 mg
- Fat: 12.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 31.3 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
More Ravishing Rice Recipes!
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