Fruit, Nut & Rice Casserole / Caserola cu fructe, nuci si orez

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to medium.

2. Coarsely chop apricots and nuts, and set aside.

3. Mince the onion and chop the pepper.

4. Heat a bit of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion until clear and add peppers. Cook a few minutes until soft. Add curry if desired.

5. Add the raisins, apricots, and nuts. Mix well and removed from heat.

6. In a large bowl, combine cooked rice* and the vegetable mixture. Place mixture in a lightly oiled baking dish and dot with butter. Cover with a lid or foil.

7. Bake for 20 to 30 min.  Check at about 15 minutes to make sure casserole is not burning on bottom of dish. If necessary reduce heat or move the rack up in the oven.

                                                              

Notes: This is a great little vegetarian dish. Serve hot – but cold leftovers are good too.               

 

Variations: Use any type of dried fruit you have on hand (cherries, figs, plums, etc.)  Experiment with adding ginger fresh or powdered, cumin, cinnamon or other spices.  In addition, you can add diced chicken, pork, lamb, rabbit, beef etc.

 

Substitutions: Dried apricot/Fresh apple.

 

References: *See the Basic Rice recipe.