Description
A comforting and nutritious breakfast recipe featuring wholemeal basmati rice cooked with vanilla, cinnamon, and bay leaves, served with tender stewed apricots, creamy bio yogurt, and crunchy walnut pieces. This dish combines warm spices and wholesome ingredients for a flavorful start to your day.
Ingredients
Scale
Rice and Flavorings
- 200g wholemeal basmati rice
- 200ml whole milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 cinnamon stick
Fruit and Toppings
- 12 dried apricots, split in half widthways (to maintain their shape)
- 4 x 100ml pots bio yogurt
- 12 walnut halves, broken into pieces
Additional Liquids
- 600ml water (for cooking rice)
- 300ml water (for cooking apricots)
Instructions
- Cook the rice: Tip the wholemeal basmati rice into a large, deep non-stick pan along with 600ml water, whole milk, vanilla extract, bay leaves, and cinnamon stick. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then cover with a lid and reduce to a simmer. Cook the rice gently for 25–30 minutes until tender, making sure it doesn’t boil dry toward the end by checking occasionally.
- Prepare the apricots: While the rice cooks, place the dried apricots in a small pan with 300ml water. Cook over low to medium heat for 10–15 minutes until the apricots become tender but still hold their shape. Set aside.
- Finish the rice: Once the rice is cooked, remove the bay leaves and cinnamon stick. Stir half of the bio yogurt into the hot rice to add creaminess.
- Combine and serve: Spoon the yogurt-infused rice into serving bowls. Top each bowl with the remaining yogurt, the stewed apricots along with their cooking juices, and sprinkle with broken walnut pieces for crunch.
- Storage and reheating: Both the rice and apricots can be kept chilled separately for up to 24 hours. When ready to eat the next day, enjoy it cold or reheat until warm, adding a splash of milk to the rice to loosen its texture.
Notes
- Use a non-stick pan to prevent the rice from sticking and ensure easy simmering.
- Do not let the rice boil dry; keep an eye on it to add a splash of water if necessary.
- Splitting the apricots widthways helps them cook evenly while keeping their shape.
- You can substitute bio yogurt with Greek yogurt if preferred.
- This dish can be served warm or cold depending on your preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: vanilla cinnamon breakfast rice, wholemeal basmati rice breakfast, stewed apricots and rice, healthy breakfast recipe, yogurt and walnut breakfast
