Muhammar Rice with Dates and Saffron — A Sephardic-Arab Side

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Fried onion

1. 1
   Heat the butter in a heavy pot over medium heat.

   ⚙ Pan-fryingStovePot
2. 2
   Add the onion and fry for 10 minutes, stirring, until the onion is soft and deep golden.

   ⚙ Adding to the hot fat and fryingStove

   💡Add by cooking time: what needs long (onion, carrot, meat) goes in first, and what burns fast (garlic, dry spices) goes in last, only until fragrant.

To assemble

1. 3
   Put the saffron in while warm water and soak 10 minutes.

   💡Saffron soaked in lukewarm water releases all its color and flavor; add it at the end so the aroma doesn't cook off.
2. 4
   Add the rice and the cinnamon and cardamom and stir 2 minutes, until all the grains are coated in fat.
3. 5
   Add the dates and boiling water and the saffron water, season with salt and bring to a boil.

   Stove
4. 6
   Turn down to low, cover and simmer 18 minutes without opening the lid, until the liquid is absorbed.

   ⚙ SimmeringStoveLid

   💡A gentle simmer, not a boil: a hard boil dries the food out and clouds it, a slow simmer cooks it evenly.
5. 7
   Turn off the heat and leave covered 5 minutes.

   💡Don't open the lid during cooking: the steam is what cooks the top layer. A towel between the pot and the lid absorbs the drips, so the rice doesn't get soggy.
6. 8
   Toast the almonds in a skillet until golden.

   StoveFrying pan
7. 9
   Gently fluff with a fork, sprinkle the almonds on top and serve.