Middle Eastern Red Rice Pilaf Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper, or ¾ teaspoon paprika plus ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¾ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
• 2½ cups dry red rice
• 1¼ cups chopped peeled acorn squash or butternut squash
• ⅓ cup raisins
• 1⅓ cups finely chopped cucumber
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted