Buhara pilavi (Buhara pilaf)

Ingredients

• 2 cups rice
• 4-5 cups water
• 3 cups broth
• 5 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 250 gr. mutton
• 2 medium carrots
• 30 gr. almonds
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Put the rice in a bowl with 2 pinches of salt and add enough hot water to cover. Set aside till the water cools down. Drain the rice, wash away the salt and set aside.

Dice the mutton, put into a saucepan with 4 or 5 cups of water and 1/2 tablespoon of salt and cook over low heat for about 2 hours; when the meat becomes tender, set it aside. Blanch the almonds. Put them into a saucepan with the butter and saute for 2 minutes. Add the rice and saute again for 10 minutes over moderate heat, stirring constantly. Grate the carrots and cook gently by boiling. Add the carrots, the meat, the 3 cups of broth, 2 pinches of pepper and 1/2 tablespoon salt. Cover and cook the rice over moderate heat. When the water is absorbed, let the rice simmer for half an hour on very low heat. Stir well and serve.