​​​​​​​​​​Sharing food is always the best way to go for a New Year's Eve party. People arrive at different times, it's much more relaxed than a sit-down dinner and it takes the pressure off preparing everything for a certain time. Here's a great recipe for Turkish pilaf which your guests can help themselves to over the course of the evening.

​​​​Turkish Pilaf Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1⁄4 cup butter

• 1⁄2 lb boneless lamb, cut in julienne strips

• 3 medium onions, chopped

• 1⁄4 cup walnut pieces

• 2 cups uncooked rice

• 1 large tomato, fresh or 1 large canned tomato, peeled, seeded & chopped

• 1⁄4 cup raisins

• 2 teaspoons salt

• 1 teaspoon pepper

• 1⁄2 teaspoon sage

• 1⁄4 teaspoon allspice

• 4 cups boiling beef bouillon or 4 cups water

• 1 teaspoon chopped parsley or 1 teaspoon mint (optional)

Method:

1. Heat the butter over medium heat and sauté the lamb until brown. 

2. Remove the meat from pan and keep hot. In the same butter, cook the onion until it is soft but not brown. 

3. Add the nuts and rice and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the tomato through the bouillon; the dish will sizzle. Stir and cover tightly. 

4. Reduce heat to the lowest possible heat and cook until the rice is tender and all the liquid absorbed (20-30 minutes). 

5. Return the lamb to the rice and heat thoroughly. Let stand, covered, in a warm place 15 minutes without cooking. ​

6. Sprinkle on parsley or mint and serve with shredded pide.

Share, savour, enjoy!