Pilau with Salmon

Recipe for: PILAU/ PILAFF WITH SALMON

Ingredients:

• 1 tblsp olive oil
• 1 onion, peeled & diced
• 1 clove garlic, finely diced
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 180g brown/ basmati rice
• 60g dried apricots, chopped
• 900ml chicken stock, hot
• 45g chopped nuts e.g. pecans or walnuts
• 45g mixed seeds
• 4 tblsp chopped parsley
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges
• 2-4 salmon steaks, skin on

Method:

1. heat the oil over a medium heat & sauté the onion for about 8 minutes
2. add the garlic, cumin & coriander & stir for one minute
3. rinse the rice, then add to the pan with the apricots & stock
4. stir & bring to a simmer.  Lower the heat, cover & leave to cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is cooked & has absorbed all of the liquid
5. meanwhile, before the rice is done, in a clean small frying pan dry-fry the nuts & seeds, until they become fragrant
6. stir the nuts & seeds into the rice, together with the chopped parsley
7. just before the pilau is ready, heat a little more oil in a clean pan.  Season the salmon steaks on both sides, then fry skin-side down first.  Cook for a few minutes, then turn & cook through, depending on the thickness of the fillets
8. to serve, pile the pilau onto warmed plates, topped with the salmon steaks (skin side up), garnishing the plates with lemon wedges