Spiced Beef Mince Pilaf

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, finely sliced
4 cups water or salt reduced chicken stock
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
5 strands of saffron (optional)
2 cups basmati rice, washed
1/4 cup diced dried apricots
250g Coles butcher 3 star beef mince
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup mint
1/4 cup parsley
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/4 cup pistachios, roughly diced

1. Place a medium sized frypan over high heat, add oil, when hot add onions. Cook onions for 5 minutes to achieve a golden caramelised colour.
2. Meanwhile, place medium sized saucepan over high heat, add stock or water, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, coriander and saffron, bring to the boil and then simmer for 5 minutes.
3. When onion is cooked, dice up finely then add to the stock.
4. Add washed rice and apricots stir then simmer until stock is almost evaporated into the rice, lower the heat to low, place a lid on the saucepan and steam rice for 15 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, add a little more olive oil to your frypan, when hot add mince meat and salt and cook for 5 minutes or until mince is cooked through. Set aside.
6. Once rice is cooked, remove cinnamon sticks and place rice on a serving platter or bowl, add mince and stir through to gently combine. Add mint, parsley, pine nuts and pistachios to serve.