Pine nuts and currants are commonly used in Greek cooking.
You can easily substitute raisins for the ground currants, though.
If you can't find pine nuts, consider substituting for coarsely chopped almonds or walnuts.
Greek Rice with Pine Nuts and Currants (Pilafi me Stafili Korinthiako)
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Greek olive oil
1 1/2 cups long grain rice
4 whole cloves
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 bay leaves
2-inch strip of orange zest
3 cups chicken broth
2/3 cups currants, soaked in 2 tablespoons of sweet red wine for 1 hour
1/2 cup pine nuts
3 tablespoons fresh, chopped parsley (to garnish)
Instructions:
Drizzle the olive oil into a medium saucepan and set the heat to medium.
Let the oil heat for about a minute and then add the rice.
Cook the rice, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes.
Stir in the cloves, garlic, bay leaves, and orange zest.
Cook for 1 minute.
Stir in the broth and cover the saucepan.
Bring the mixture to a boil on medium-high heat.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed.
Uncover the pan a few times during the process of simmering to prevent the rice from
sticking to the bottom.
Once the liquid is absorbed, stir in the currants and pine nuts.
Garnish with the parsley just before serving, if desired.
