Middle Eastern Lamb Pilaf

Pilav is a Middle Eastern dish that has gained almost universal praise and appeal. It is packed with warming spices and perfectly balances between sweet and salty. With a spicy garlic-inspired zhoug dressing, this pilaf is a delicious dish to serve alongside other Middle Eastern dishes, or simply on its own as a main course. It prepares in less than 40 minutes in the Instant Pot . You only need basic supermarket ingredients to make the pilaf. Prepare for the powerful taste of the zhoug!

Servings: 4-6 people
Total preparation time: < 40 min

Ingredients:

Pilav

• 300 g basmati rice, washed
• Oil, as needed
• 1 onion, diced
• 500 g minced lamb
• 6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 cardamom pods span>
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 400 ml vegetable stock
• 100 g dried apricots, cut into cubes
• 70 g honey roasted cashew nuts, chopped
• Salt and pepper, as desired

Herbal dressing

• 1 ½ cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 15 g fresh coriander
• ¼ tsp ground cardamom
• ⅓ tsp ground cumin
• 75 ml extra virgin olive oil
   

Preparation method:

1. Soak the gewash rice for 15 minutes while you prepare and cook the vegetables and lamb.
2. Select Sauté and add some oil to the inner pot. When hot, add the diced onion and sauté until soft.
3. Add the minced lamb and fry until brown. Then add the garlic, spices and drained soaked rice and sauté for another 2 minutes.
4. Add a generous pinch of salt to the inner pot along with the stock, this should cover the rice mixture.
5. Cancel the Sauté function and secure the lid with the pressure cooking cover in place.
6. Select Pressure Cook and set the time to 3 minutes and choose natural pressure release.
7. While the lamb and rice are cooking, mix all the ingredients for the herb dressing and season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
8. After 18 minutes of natural pressure release, quickly release any remaining pressure and open the lid.
9. Stir the lamb pilaf, season to taste and add the dried apricots and herb dressing. Garnish with the honey roasted cashew nuts and serve!